the parade

Every year huge crowds pack the streets of London to watch the spectacular parade of celebrities, floats, and performers celebrating the UK's largest gay and lesbian festival.

This year's confirmed route will once again include West End's world renowned Oxford Street and Regent Street, and take in iconic landmarks including Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Piccadilly.

The parade will make its colourful way down Oxford Street and Regent Street and right through the heart of London’s West End! This year’s theme is Fairytales, Myths and Legends so bring your Prince Charming, your Belle, or even your beast, and join us for one of the most visually spectacular Prides ever.

Assembly will be in Baker Street from 11:00, and the parade departs at 13:00.

To view an interactive map of the parade click here.

floats

We have been increasing the number of floats participating in the Pride Parade each year, and they are one of the most exciting sections.

Each year many groups enter an application for a float so you need to start preparing earlier than previous years and submit your application as soon as practical. This is the ideal time to promote your group, charity, club or pub.

We hope this year's theme of Fairytales, Myths and Legends will conjure up an abundance of ideasso make sure your Floats & Groups are as colourful and as imaginative as possible.

There are two options; you can create your own float from scratch or you can take advantage of the Pride Built Floats Scheme - we'll take care of organising the vehicle, safety equipment and sound system.  You just need to create your design and dress your float to impress.

Registration for floats has now closed.

walking groups

Pride 2008 promises to be the best Pride ever - so what better opportunity to showcase your group, charity, business event or club?! With crowds of over half a million expected to pack Oxford and Regent Streets, through to the heart of London's West End it's the kind of exposure that can't fail to have an impact.

Whether you want to attract members to your group or team, find volunteers for your community project, increase your brand recognition or simply be a part of one of London's most iconic events; entering a walking group is a fantastic opportunity to be seen. And the best thing about being a walking group is that you're as close as it's possible to get to the people you want your messages to reach.

Whether there are 2 to 2000 of you, you can join London parade 2008 as a walking group, simply fill in the walking group application form and provide us the details we need to get you registered. Once that's done you can concentrate on the fun part, deciding how you are going to get yourselves noticed dressing up for this year's theme - fairytales, myths and legends. There's no shortage of opportunities to be fabulous!

Once registered one of our Walking Group Managers will be in touch to make sure that you have access to all the information and support you'll need and they can answer any question you have.

Registration for Walking Groups has now closed, however everyone is welcome to join the parade so see you on Saturday!

Walking Groups FAQs

Q:     When and where does our group have to be on the day?
A:     Well the good news for those of you who took part last year is that we're looking to simplify the process for getting the groups in place on the day, and we are likely to eliminate the check in process! We are still working on the finer details, and I will email you all (and your alternative contact) about a week before the event with exact timings and arrangements. As a guide though you should aim to have your group in the Baker Street are by about 12.00.
 
Q:     I want our group to be in a particular place within the parade, can you arrange that?
A:     We get many, many requests to be placed in a certain location within the parade, or to be near to, next to or away from another group. Because we get so many, such requests, because the parade incorporates both walking groups and floats and because we have to ensure that the parade has a logical sequence (not putting all the musical groups next to each other for example, or it would just be a noise!) it is simply not be possible for us to meet all of them. That said however, there is no harm in asking! If you do have such a request, by all means send me an email and let me know, we will always do what we can to meet them - but there are no guarantees!
 
Q:     We're planning on having a sound system on a trolley - is that OK?
A:     That's fine, but there are some rules! Firstly, you will need to power your stereo and it is really important that you remember that you must not power it using a petrol powered generator for obvious safety reasons, you may use diesel but we'd recommend that you power it using a car battery. (The health and safety policy force me to tell you to make sure this is set up by a competent person and that it is fully safe!). You not switch on your music until you are out of the parade build area on Baker Street (or us poor organisers wont be able to hear each other!)
 
Q:     Can we distribute leaflets and freebies?
A:     The best thing about being a walking group is that you can! Provided that you don't throw anything into the crowd entering a walking group is the best way to get close to the people you want to be noticed by! You shouldn't allow this to slow you down though - keep up with the parade.
 
Q:     Can we march in costume and carry banners?
A:     Of course - it wouldn't be Pride London if people didn't - we actively encourage it! If you are still not sure of your plans yet you should bear in mind that this years theme is So bring your Prince Charming, your Belle, or even your beast, and join us for one of the most visually spectacular Pride’s ever! But please ensure that all costumes maintain your modesty, nudity is strictly prohibited.

parade map

 Click here for the interactive Parade Map