Pride London is the UK’s largest gay pride event, and has a long and varied history. A registered charity, Pride London brings together a wealth of organisations, including the Metropolitan Police and the London Mayor’s Office. But enough of the boring stuff; Pride London is just as cosmopolitan and vibrant as you would expect from one of the world’s largest global cities.

The parade is one of the main attractions, naturally, comprising of everything from drag queens, to football teams, to bellydancers, service men and women, the older LGBT community bus, and even, for the first time last year, the Conservative party themselves (in a bid to erase years of political gay-bashing). The parade runs through central London, taking in Trafalgar Square and Theatreland on its way. Last year Trafalgar Square hosted the main stage, with acts performing from midday until around 6pm, and stalls all around the square for a multitude of LGBT causes and companies. This year, the event returns to its traditional location in Leicester Square.

Pride London has been criticised for becoming too commercial and apolitical in the past few years. The presence of the pink pound is never far away during pride; the posters and banners advertising sponsors of this massive event are everywhere, and politics is generally forgotten. That said, if it’s a party you want, it’s a party you’ll get. Every bar in Soho will be packed out, running drinks promotions and special guest performances until late, and the party in Soho Square, pumping out commercial house until late into the night, is definitely the place to be for the true scene kings and queens (remember to get there early if you want to get in; in 2008, the queue to enter the park snaked all the way around the square).   

Aside from the masses of camp disco entertainment available at the main stage, Pride London attempts to provide something other than gay boy heaven, although the success of this has varied. The women’s stage last year was far into Soho, tiny, and featured a DJ hidden away in a tent and a host of downbeat singer songwriter performances; girls, don’t hold your breath unless it’s soulful twanging you’re into. The BAME stage (Black and Ethinic Minorities) is rather more entertaining, this year to be located at Carlisle Street, featuring Arabian Nights themed dances and fairytale street arts, as well as MCs, RnB artists and drag acts.