Our Pride in London Picks

Pride In London 2023

There’s LOADS of events this pride, here’s our pick of some of the best


As you MAY have gathered from various ads, articles, tweets and sponsorships, it’s Pride in London next week! It’s the biggest pride festival in the UK, biggest one in the world in fact and the hype this year seems more frenetic than ever.

There’s all sorts going on, with weeks of events in the lead up, and a hundred performers across several stages on the main day of celebration, Saturday July 7th.

It’s always a mad kaleidoscope of colour and crowds, and choosing what to do can be tough – so we’ve picked out some of the best stuff for you to peruse!


Pride Pizza Party

Thursday 28th June

PRIDE AND PIZZA! What’s not to love? This cheesy delight is melting its way into Bunga Bunga in Battersea, and it’s basically going to be really gay and really carby. Watch out, instagays! They’re adding to festivities with some fab cabaret too; queer comedy acts Sian Docksey and Russell Arathoon, and London-based singer Paul Middleton. Oh and ticket prices include a glass of prosecco or a Peroni, plus pizza obvs.

Bunga Bunga, 37 Battersea Bridge, SW11 3BA. 7pm – midnight. From £15.


London Bisexuals Pub Social

Thursday 28th June

A chance for bisexual people plus friends and allies to meet up for a casual chat and to connect with like-minded people. Connecting with like-minded people is, after all, one of the main things pride should be about. No pressure, no schedule, just good times! It’s upstairs at Village, which is slap bang at the end of Old Compton Street, you can’t miss it!

Village, 81 Wardour Street, W1D 6QD. 7pm – midnight. Free. 


Venus Film Screening

Friday 29th June

One of the most exciting LGBT movies to come out of South Asia this year, Venus is a laugh-out-loud and touching comedy about empowerment and love. It’s the story of Sid, a Punjabi living in Montreal, and their transition, and how it affects the people around them. The film will be followed by a live Q&A with director Eisha Marjara. It’s at the BFI Southbank, a wonderfully designed, LGBT-inclusive space, and with its Thames-side location, a beautiful place to be in the summer.

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT. 6:15pm onwards. Tickets from £10.


The Penetration Play

Sunday 1st July

Dashing defiantly into Above The Stag Theatre’s fabulous new location on the Vauxhall embankment, The Penetration Play is one of very few LGBT theatre pieces to focus exclusively on queer women. Over the course of one night, three women experience the consequences of desire. It explores themes of sexual identity and women’s relationship with it, unapologetically and hilariously.

Above The Stag Theatre, 72 Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP. 5:30pm. Tickets from £13.


R & She: Post-Pride Party

Saturday 7th July

The R & She crew have smashed it in the last few years, starting off in a tiny dance basement in Dalston and storming forward in a pair of camo cargo pants to become the most popular LGBTQ hip-hop night in the city. Specifically, they focus on the ladies of R&B and hip-hop, from Beyonce to Rihanna, Missy to Mariah, TLC to Cardi B. This special pride after party is touching down at den of debauchery Sedition in Old Street, brought to you by residents QBoy and Neil Prince, with special guest turns from Bootylicious’s DJ Chillz and Heaven’s Misty B.

Sedition London, 217 City Road, EC1V 1JN. 11pm – 6am. £5 before midnight, £10 after.


Main Stage

Saturday 7th July

If you feel up to braving the crowds, it’s definitely worth swinging by the Trafalgar Square main stage this year. This is the best and most fabulously camp line-up they’ve had in ages, with wig-swinging action from Drag Race stars Courtney Act and Alyssa Edwards, plus disco deliciousness from pop queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor. We love Sophie, she’s so sweet and always puts on a great show. Oh and let’s not forget an appearance by undisputed queen of Pride in London, Sinitta!

There is of course LOADS more going on, but we’ve run out of space for now! Never fear, we’ll be covering much more in our special pride issue next week. To buy tickets for all the above events, head to prideinlondon.org.

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