I'm a queer American who celebrated Pride in London for the first time, and it was the perfect mix of wild and chill times

Malik PeayJul 7, 2023, 20:23 IST

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.

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

I stayed at the Selina Hotel in Camden Town.

Camden Town is a neighborhood in London.Malik Peay

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

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

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

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

Later that afternoon, I knew I wanted to check out Covent Garden before leaving London.

I spent some time perusing Covent Garden.Malik Peay

I ended my trip with a peaceful stroll through Hyde Park.

Hyde Park is a peaceful oasis in London.Malik Peay

I loved my experience at London Pride.

There were little Pride decorations scattered throughout the city.Malik Peay

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