Last Updated on May 5, 2024
Pride Month is upon us, and I wanted to share some of Britain’s best lesbian & LGBTQIA events in 2024. If you’re planning a trip to Great Britain, why not try to combine it with one of these fantastic events? But even if you don’t make it there for a queer event – I am also sharing a lesbian / queer place in each of the cities below that I think is worth checking out at any time of the year.
The best lesbian and queer events & Pride festivals in Great Britain
1 Oxford Pride, Oxford
When? Saturday, 8th June 2024
Oxford Pride is a smaller Pride Festival, but in one of the most charming towns in Great Britain, which is why it is worth a visit for sure! It is also the perfect lesbian event for anyone who finds massive crowds daunting – with only a few thousand people, Oxford Pride feels a lot more intimate than larger events such as London Pride (see below). Get ready for a long day: the parade starts early at 10:30am, and you can dance at the after party at The Plush Lounge into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Must-visit queer spot in Oxford: Jolly Farmers – Oxford’s (and one of the UK’s) oldest running LGBTQIA pubs
2 Edinburgh Pride, Edinburgh
When? Saturday, 22nd June 2024
Edinburgh has a couple of great queer festivities in the summer: Edinburgh Pride in June, and the Fringe Festival in August (see below) also has a notable amount of queer events. The march will start at 1pm at the Scottish Parliament and is followed by a festival with a line-up of queer bands and a community fair.
Must-visit queer spot in Edinburgh: Regent Bar (2 Montrose Terrace) is a cozy LGBTQ pub.
3 London Pride, London
When? Saturday, 29th June 2024
Of course I have can’t have a list of lesbian events in Great Britain and NOT mention London Pride! This is Britain’s largest and most diverse Pride event, with up to 30,000 participants and 1.5 million spectators. The parade usually starts at Hyde Park Corner and travels along Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus and then further on to Trafalgar Square, finishing near the River Thames. The route traces part of the historic route from the original 1972 Pride March. In the afternoon, Soho turns into one big street party, with all of the gay bars and clubs putting on Pride parties.
Must-visit lesbian spot in London: She Soho (23a Old Compton Street)
4 The Sparkle Weekend, Manchester
When? 8 – 10 July 2024
Manchester is home to the second largest queer community in the UK, and The Sparkle Weekend is the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity. It particularly focuses on members of the transgender community and their loved ones. The event is held every year in Manchester’s Gay Village, and it offers an exciting program including live music, talks, and workshops. The event has seen over 20,000 visitors in previous years – the largest gender diversity celebration in he UK.
Must-visit lesbian spot in Manchester: Vanilla, a lesbian bar in Manchester’s gayborhood that has been around since 1998
5 IW Pride, Isle of Wight
When? 19 – 21 July 2024
Isle of Wight Pride is the UK’s youngest Pride event – it only started in 2017! The event takes place on the beach of Ryde, so if you’re a beach lover, this Pride is for you! Even though this is a relatively small event, the 2024 festival has a great line-up of performances: former Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 5 Winner Ginger Johnson are headlining!
Must visit queer spot on the Isle Of Wight: Bar 74 (74 Union Street, Ryde) is an inclusive bar with fun events throughout the week
6 Glasgow Pride, Glasgow
When? Friday, 19th July – Sunday, 21st July 2024
50,000 visitors attended Glasgow’s Pride in 2023, making it Scotland’s largest Pride! And the city is expected to see even more Pride attendees and spectators in 2024. There are more than 22 different events and parties celebrated across the city, and the main Pride march takes place on Saturday, 20th July. It starts at Glasgow Green at 1pm and heads to George Square from there. After the Parade, check out the Pride Hub at Strath Union, where you’ll find entertainment, education, drinks and food. There are a number of noteworthy parties, including Pride after parties at The Barrowlands Ballroom and at Revolution, and the AMXM Pride Party on Glassford Street.
Must visit queer spot in Glasgow: Katie’s Bar (7 John Street) right in the trendy Merchant City, Glasgow’s main entertainment and dining hub
7 Brighton Pride, Brighton
When? Friday, 2nd – Monday, 5th August 2024
Brighton Pride is one of the largest Pride festivals in the UK, and is still one of my favorite Pride events I’ve ever been to. The two main days are Saturday and Sunday, with the music festival Fabuloso in Preston Park. The musical line-up is outstanding, with Girls Aloud, Sophie Ellis-Baxter and Billy Porter headlining on Saturday, 4th August, and Mika, S Club and Gabrielle headlining on Sunday (4th August). This may be the greatest line-up Brighton Pride has ever seen?! In addition to music, there’s also queer theater, there are dance tents with DJs, and and a range of immerse experiences.
Must visit queer spot in Brighton: The Actors Pub (4 Prince’s Street), formerly known as the The Marlborough Pub and Theatre, is not exclusively gay, but very inclusive and known for their queer events.
8 Edinburgh International Festival and Festival Fringe, Edinburgh
When? 2 – 26 August 2024
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the most famous celebrations of arts and culture in the entire world, and attracts visitors from dozens of countries. There are hundreds of stages throughout the city where visitors can see a range of performances – from big names to small newcomers. For three weeks, Edinburgh turns into one big celebration, with live music, comedy, opera, exhibits, musicals, cabaret, circus, and so much more. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a very queer-positive festival. Each year, there are dozens of LGBTQ performers: musicians, comedians, poets, and actors – there’s something for everyone!
Check out some of the queer events during Fringe here.
9 UK Black Pride, London
When? Sunday, 11th August 2024
UK Black Pride will take place in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, for the third time this year. Since its inauguration, UK Black Pride has one of Europe’s largest events for the African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean-heritage LGBTQIA+ community. There will be talks, live music, poetry and dance with a carnival atmosphere.
10 Iris Prize Festival, Cardiff
When? Tuesday, 8th – Sunday, 13th October 2024
The annual Iris Prize Festival is Cardiff’s queer alternative to the Cannes Film Festival. Film makers from all over the world come to Cardiff to present queer stories, ranging from LGBTQIA+ short films to full feature films. There are also panel discussions, Q&A sessions with film makers, and more. This is a queer event in Great Britain that LGBTQ movie buffst shouldn’t miss.
Must visit queer spot in Cardiff: Cardiff has a number of LGBTQIA venues that are worth checking out, including The Queer Emporium (where you also find the queer Paned o Gê bookshop), The Golden Cross, Pulse, Eagle and Mary’s. The great thing is that they’re all in walking distance from each other!
Have you been to any lesbian / queer events or Pride celebrations in the UK that I didn’t list above? Share them in the comments below if you think they’re worth visiting!
