I'm an American who celebrated Pride in London for the first time.
Malik Peay
I'm an American who traveled to London for its annual July Pride celebration.
I loved the events, parties, and live music throughout the city, and there was some great nightlife.
I also found peaceful spots to relax in, like Primrose Hill and Hyde Park.
Celebrating Pride has become an annual must for me.
I grew up going to San Francisco's Pride Parade and have since been over five times. This year, I also went to Los Angeles' and Paris' LGBTQ+ celebrations.
But I knew London had a long-standing Pride celebration, and I wanted to experience another city's take on the global event. I had no expectations going in, but I knew I wanted to see London light up with joy and color for the first time
The parade took place on July 1.
In the UK, Pride Day is celebrated at the beginning of July.
Malik Peay
This year was the 51st anniversary of the UK's annual Pride parade in London. The first march was held in 1972 to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York.
The parade started at noon in Hyde Park and traveled all the way up to Trafalgar Square in Westminster. At the end of the route, there were concerts, celebrations, and public events taking place.
Thousands of queer performers, musicians, and allies rallied together to support the cause with flying colors, singing, and dancing. As a queer individual, it was eye-opening to see these displays of progress in such historic places.
I stayed at the Selina Hotel in Camden Town.
Camden Town is a neighborhood in London.
Malik Peay
When I'm on vacation, I make sure to always schedule a day of comfort since traveling to big cities usually includes lots of walking and less sleep.
Camden Town is a diverse area and the Selina Hotel hosts wellness events — like a spoken-poetry night and morning yoga sessions — I could attend to set myself at ease before and after the hecticness of London Pride.
I also loved how there were so many pubs and parks within walking distance of the hotel. I tried Nando's, a South African fast-casual chain, for the first time and talked to so many 20-something residents who were out and about enjoying the summer night.
I love huge commemorations and crowds, but I need breaks throughout the day.
I found some quite park time amid the hustle and bustle of London Pride.
Malik Peay
To take a break from all the festivities, I traveled to Primrose Hill in Regent's Park to catch a sunset.
There were young residents and visitors scattered throughout the Camden park enjoying the view. We also saw people blowing bubbles and buying treats from ice-cream trucks.
This part of London is home to many live musicians and Jazz cafes, which is more of the low-key vibe I look for to end a busy day outside.
I met some more friends to eat dinner at the CloudM Tower of London bar.
The rooftop bar has a great view of the Tower of London.
Malik Peay
Getting a 360-panoramic view of one of London's most historical landmarks was a tourist's dream.
CloudM is on the seventh floor of the CitizenM hotel. There, you can relax with premium cocktails and a great charcuterie board full of cheese, bread, and cured meats.
I love a slow start to a night out because the chaos of Pride can be a lot.
The hotel was also hosting panels with queer leaders to kick off Pride Month. Black fashion trailblazer Darkwah, nonbinary artist Virgin X, and Bangladeshi/Caribbean producer Ellis Miah spoke about taking up space in music.
CitizenM is also located near Shoreditch and Soho where a lot of queer nightlife happens.
The night of the parade, I went out in Shoreditch, which felt young and fresh.
There were plenty of bars and clubs to check out in Shoreditch.
Malik Peay
A local around my age told me that Shoreditch is usually where everyone flocks to for a fun night out. We started at the Seed Library bar to listen to hip-hop and went from there. The East London block has plenty of nightlife spots to choose from.
There were so many tourists and locals wearing rainbow attire, such as glittery unitards and button-downs, at the bars and clubs in Shoreditch.
I could feel the joy in the air, and most of these spots were playing empowering music from artists like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
To unwind the next day, I devoured London's most emblematic meal: fish and chips.
I had to try some fish and chips before leaving London.
Malik Peay
I had a peach cider to pair with my hearty serving of fish and chips. This was one of my favorite meals in London.
If you have a chance to try the food at Dishoom or Nando's, I'd also recommend those local favorites.
Later that afternoon, I knew I wanted to check out Covent Garden before leaving London.
I spent some time perusing Covent Garden.
Malik Peay
Covent Garden in London's West End is a city landmark. The buzzing market has every type of restaurant and gift shop a traveler could hope for.
It fills with tourists and locals from morning to sunset, and many street performers come by to show off their talents.
You will often hear loud cheering from spectators watching a break-dancer or singer. And if you're lucky during Pride, you may even catch a drag queen giving a performance.
I ended my trip with a peaceful stroll through Hyde Park.
Hyde Park is a peaceful oasis in London.
Malik Peay
Walking in Hyde Park can take all afternoon. It borders Buckingham Palace and is just a short walk away from Big Ben and Westminster Chapel.
I loved visiting London in the summer because the sun would pop out every now and then. It was certainly busy with tourists, but finding cherished moments of stillness are by far the best times of my international excursions.
I was glad I was able to experience the magic of Hyde Park before leaving.
I loved my experience at London Pride.
There were little Pride decorations scattered throughout the city.
Malik Peay
In Soho, where many Pride flags are plastered everywhere, I felt a spirit of kindness and warmth when walking the roads that intersect colonial landmarks. I really think London is at the epicenter of culture and consumerism.
I loved the way I saw friends go out to pubs daily and fill the streets during summer nights. It's an active city that thrives on individuality and a unique sense of togetherness — making it a perfect place to celebrate Pride.
