Top Five Pride Experiences in Britain for 2023
With Pride Month around the corner, It’s time to lock in your 2023 calendar and start planning a trip to one of the world’s most welcoming nations. From England, Scotland and across to Wales, these countries know how to show their LGBTQIA+ pride as 2023 is teeming with exciting events, eye-opening exhibits, captivating city tours and so much more in between. Whether you’re in the UK for the party, or seeking a snippet of queer culture, visitors will find LGBTQIA+ friendly events and experiences in full swing all over Britain in 2023.
Celebrate Pride in major cities
From the first parade in London in 1972, Britain has been shining a light on love, inclusivity and freedom and celebrating gay pride for more than 40 years. With city-wide celebrations bringing flair and flamboyance to bustling streets, it’s time to dance the night away at several major events happening across the nation in 2023.
Kick off the celebrations in May as Birmingham Pride (27 – 28 May) goes all out with one of the UK’s largest LGBTQIA+ festivals, when the streets of Brum’s gay village pulsate with a carnival parade and live music. In June, celebrate Pride Cymru (17 – 18 June) in Cardiff, the biggest annual event in Wales' LGBTQIA+ community and watch the city come alive with a colourful parade, a music festival, comedy shows and more. Afterwards, head north for Scotland’s longest running celebration of diversity at Pride Edinburgh (24 June) when thousands from all walks of life march through the city, before finishing with a pride festival. In July, experience Pride in London (1 July) the UK’s biggest Pride. From the Pride Parade travelling past some of city’s most iconic sites, to world-class entertainment, visitors from across the globe descend on the nation’s capital for a huge celebration of LGBTQIA+ love. Not ready to take the dancing shoes off just yet? Liverpool and Newcastle also celebrate Pride in July with a buzzing weekend of community-driven events. Rounding out the summertime festivities, Manchester’s Gay Village will play host to one of the biggest dates in the LGBTQIA+ calendar when Manchester Pride takes centre stage in August (25 – 28 August).
Explore Britain’s ‘LGBTQIA+ Capital’ – Brighton
Unofficially referred to as Britain’s “Gay Capital”, Brighton is a seaside town located less than an hour by train from London. Regarded for its open attitude and array of boutique hotels, vintage and designer shopping and diverse cuisine, it’s also home to plenty of LGBTQIA+ owned and friendly pubs and bars that are fitting for both an afternoon tipple and dancing well into the night. Many descend upon Brighton’s iconic shoreline each August for Brighton Pride which is one of the biggest Pride festivals in the UK.
When the city’s not awash with Pride festivities, there’s still plenty of charming seaside spirit to soak in. Explore the free-spirited village of Kemptown, which is at the very heart of Pride celebrations every summer and was also named as one of Time Out’s Top 50 Coolest Neighbourhoods for its spectacular seafront, vibrant nightlife and impressive regeneration project, which includes plans to improve biodiversity and accessibility. In spring, Kemptown will also see the opening of the UK’s first ‘national open water swimming centre of excellence’ with Sea Lanes Brighton.
For those looking to learn more about Brighton’s queer history, follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, Dusty Springfield and other notable gays and lesbians on the Piers & Queers History Tour, or delve into the lives of those who have helped shaped Brighton for what it is today by exploring the Queer the Pier exhibit at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Don’t leave town without also paying a visit to one of the many LGBTQIA+ locally owned businesses, including Brighton Gin, The Feminist Bookshop and Semola Restaurant - to name a few, or visit the Queer Makers Market, held on select dates by The Ledward Centre.
Support Queer cinema
Britain is the setting of countless films and TV series loved by audiences around the world, many of which proudly focus on LGBTQIA+ stories, characters and history. Whilst most might be familiar with the larger Hollywood-scale productions, film buffs will rejoice in celebrating the community of independent filmmakers with some of the best new LGBTQIA+ cinema at several queer film festivals held throughout the year across Britain.
Kicking off the festival season is BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, the UK’s largest queer film event. This year’s festival will take place from 15 – 26 March and will for the first time feature immersive and XR work, as well as see the return of Five Films For Freedom in partnership with the British Council. The 2023 programme for BFI Flare was released on 15 February, with tickets going on sale shortly afterwards. In Wales, don’t miss the Iris Prize LGBTQIA+ Film Festival which takes place annually in Cardiff in October and is a BAFTA qualifying festival for British film. During the week-long festival of international film screenings, panel sessions and parties, 50 short films by or about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people compete to win the world’s largest short film prize. Further north, experience the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF), whilst the annual festival in Glasgow takes place in October, SQIFF also offers year-round events across various locations to celebrate and raise awareness for LGBTQIA+ films.
For those left feeling inspired, don’t miss out on seeing first-hand some of Britain’s most well-known LGBTQIA+ filming locations with our guide to visiting many of the iconic settings here.
Discover Britain’s LGBTQIA+ history & heritage
Britain has been celebrating gay pride for over 40-years, however the nation’s queer history stems farther back. LGBTQIA+ histories stretch from Britain’s cities to the countryside, royal households to parliament, and visitors can poignantly commemorate the challenges faced by the queer community throughout the ages with several experiences.
One of the most fascinating examples of Britain’s queer past can be found in the stories of Britain’s palaces. Visitors can celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month with a visit to the Tower of London and embark on an immersive after-hours theatrical tour to learn about the many LGBTQIA+ stories linked to this iconic landmark with Queer Lives at the Tower (February). Other exhibits from the Historic Royal Palaces, include Permissible Beauty (14 January – 12 March) which takes a closer look at how the 'Windsor Beauties' defined beauty in the 17th century, and how they have inspired new portraits of creative talents from the Black British Queer community. Whilst Kensington Palace’s new Crown to Couture exhibit (5 April – 29 October) shines a light on how the trailblazing fashion of 18th-century nobility has inspired today's iconic red-carpet looks.
For those looking to delve deeper into London’s rich LGBTQIA+ history, the UK Parliament offers a LGBTQIA+ history guided tour, or join Queer Tours of London for an interactive walking tour that brings to life London’s queer history and hopes for the future. Afterwards, pick up a novel at the UK’s oldest LGBTQIA+ bookstore at Gay’s the Word and don’t leave London without visiting Queer Britain - the nation’s first museum dedicated to the heritage of LGBTQIA+ communities which opened in 2022 in Granary Square. Visitors can also discover the history of LGBTQIA+ communities up north with a Blue Badge Guide walking tour to explore Edinburgh’s queer past. Over in Manchester, take a stroll along the Manchester LGBTQIA Heritage Trail (also called the Out in the Past Trail) to visit sites of importance for gay history with a series of guided walks around the city.
Other events not to miss in 2023
With already a host of events and one-of-a-kind experiences keeping the nation buzzing with pride year-round, there’s still plenty more to explore. For those looking for even more reasons to celebrate equality and diversity in Britain, here are six more events to add to the diary for 2023:
Queer Fringe Festival, Cardiff (June TBC): Wales’ first LGBTQIA+ Fringe Festival debuted in 2022 and after a roaring success the festival is slated to return again in 2023. Founded by the team behind Cardiff’s The Queer Emporium, the festival takes places across the entire city throughout Pride month where it sees venues and artists collaborate to showcase an array of events spanning theatre, comedy, live music, film, drag, art exhibitions and more.
Brighton Bear Weekend, Brighton (6 – 9 July): Britain’s bear community are sure to come out to play for this Brighton Bear Weekend. This increasingly popular date for bears and cubs comprises a range of events, including a garden party, a club night, a Sunday roast and bear-a-oke. The event is also a significant supporter of the Brighton Rainbow Fund.
Sparkle Weekend, Manchester (8 – 10 July): This is the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity, welcoming all members of the transgender community as well as friends and families. Since 2005’s one-day inaugural event, it’s expanded into a three-day schedule of culture, music, comedy, film, sport and debate.
UK Black Pride, London (August): The UK Black Pride is one of world’s largest celebration for the African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean-heritage LGBTQIA+ community. Previous years have blended live music, politics and poetry with a carnival atmosphere. The annual event features performances from dancers, singers, DJs and speakers.
Edinburgh International & Edinburgh Festival Fringe (4 – 28 August): Set in the beauty of UNESCO world heritage city, the annual Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival together make up the largest arts festival in the world. The city becomes an explosion of colour every summer and visitors can expect to see everything from cabaret to circus, magic and opera. Or catch buskers, face painters, hair braiders, palm readers and living statues who cram into the city’s Georgian streets.
SHOUT Festival, Birmingham (November): Championing queer arts and culture, SHOUT is Birmingham’s annual event to showcase LGBTQIA+ film, visual art, music, theatre and literature. Taking place at venues across the city, SHOUT celebrates and platforms the work of LGBTQIA+ artists and communities from around Birmingham and the West Midlands.