Accessibility

Accessibility at Pride in London 2023

In order to provide the best possible experience, we ask that everyone who wishes to use the Access facilities at Pride in London complete and submit an Access Requirements Form prior to arriving on-site.

Required Documentation

When applying for access at Pride in London, we ask that you provide one of the following forms of documentation which will act as evidence of your requirements. Without this documentation we will be unable to grant you access, or provide complimentary PA Tickets.

Accepted forms of documentation are:

• DLA (Care and / or mobility)

• PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

• A Medical professionals letter (To be reviewed case by case)

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• War Disablement Pension

• Deaf or blind registration

• The Nimbus Access Card

• Blue Badge (Permitted for parking requests only)

If you do not have one of the forms of documentation listed above, please contact us and we’ll be able to advise further. All submitted documentation is kept strictly confidential and securely destroyed after processing.

Please note: Once approved we will only retain your name and email address. We will never use your information for any other purposes (unless specifically stated) or share this with any third parties. People requiring a carer/assistance will need to make their own arrangements for someone to be with them.

We want to make sure Pride in London provides a platform for every part of London’s LGBT+ community including people who are deaf and/or live with a disability to campaign and raise awareness of LGBT+ issues. You’ll find information on access provisions for the Pride in London Parade event on this page, however, if you have a question about accessibility that isn't answered here then please contact us at access@prideinlondon.org or call us on 07743574188

Audio guide to Pride

Please check back for the latest Audio Guide

The Access Requirements form is now open until 12 June 2023.

How to travel to Pride

Depending on where you want to go, below you'll find the closest stops for key locations during Pride.

By tube

Parade Route:

• Green Park

• Piccadilly Circus

• Charing Cross

Parade Access Safe Space:

The Access Safe Space assembly area is Hertford Street.

• Green Park

Trafalgar Square Stage:

• Charing Cross

• Embankment

Leicester Square Stage:

• Leicester Square

St. Giles-in-the-Fields (Family Area):

• Holborn

• Tottenham Ct. Road

Golden Square Stage:

• Piccadilly Circus

To check which tube stations are step-free and for further information on accessibility and the tube, visit the TFL website.

By car

We have a small number of free accessible parking places at the Q-Park in Chinatown. Please note Q-Park closes at 10am due to road closures being put in place. Please complete the access requirements form above to apply for one of our limited places. The maximum height for vehicles is 1.98m (6ft 5in), although we will try to find another parking area if your vehicle is too tall. Our shuttle bus can then take you to the Parade Access Safe Space or Trafalgar Square.

Access shuttle bus

Two wheelchair accessible shuttle buses will be available on the day to help people with access needs get to main areas on our footprint. These will run approx every 30 minutes between 9:15am - 10:45am. The last pick up will be from Paddington Railway Station pick-up point at 10:45am to the Parade Access Assembly Point.

Please fill out the access requirements form to apply.

Once your application has been approved for our Shuttle Bus, please wait at one of the below pick up points:

• Q Park in Chinatown (WC2H 7PR)

• Hilton London Paddington (W2 1EE)

Drop off:

• Parade Access Safe Space (Hertford Street)

The bus will be clearly marked with Pride signs in the windows and our Access volunteers (with bright orange T-shirts) on-board.

Accessibility at the parade

Watching the parade

On the Parade route we have an accessible viewing area next to the Grandstand on Haymarket SW1Y.

Joining the parade

We offer a Parade Safe Space for anyone who identifies as Deaf or disabled or has additional access requirements. Located near the front in a quieter section of the parade, we have a hop-on hop-off wheelchair accessible bus and a fantastic team of trained access volunteers and BSL interpreters. We are also assistance dog friendly.

Access Assembly Point

Please pre-apply for any access provisions you require using our access requirements form above. Please be aware spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.

We want to ensure everyone can stay together to enjoy themselves - Personal Assistants/Support Workers/Carers/Family/Friends are welcome.

The access assembly point is Hertford Street. Check our travel tips above for more information on how to get there.

Our volunteers and a BSL interpreter will be available from 10:30am to welcome you and answer any questions you may have about the rest of your day.The Parade is scheduled to start at 12pm mid-day, we join approximately 15 minutes after it has started. You will need to be at the Access Assembly Point by 12pm to ensure you can join the parade safe space.

There will be an accessible toilet available at the assembly point.

Our Access Volunteers are there to help us move from the access assembly point into the parade. Volunteers also travel the route of the parade with you.

Although we are at a quieter section of the parade, it is still very noisy and as we travel the Parade route spectators will be clapping and cheering. We do not allow whistles or megaphones in the Safe Space as we want to reduce the immediate noise for people in our group with sensory sensitivities and assistance animals.

You are welcome to bring banners with you but our volunteers cannot help you carry them.

Once the parade has started, if you wish to leave you can do so at set points, but it is not possible to re-join, so if you have plans to meet friends arrange to do so when you reach Trafalgar Square.

It takes approximately 2 hours to travel the parade route.

We do have a shuttle bus that will travel with us that can be used for rest, or as somewhere quieter to experience the parade from. The shuttle continues with the Safe Space to Trafalgar Square – again with our volunteers on board.

Arriving at Trafalgar Square from the Parade

When the Parade reaches Cockspur Street, the Access Safe Space will leave the Parade and move down Pall Mall East.

Access volunteers will then lead the group to the Trafalgar Square viewing platform where we have a direct view of the stage, speech to text and BSL interpreters on the screens.

We also have a ‘changing places’ mobiloo toilet, a wheelchair charging point, a rest area for assistance animals and a quiet rest tent if space away from the crowds is needed.

Accessibility at our stages

Trafalgar Square

Viewing platform

We offer an accessible viewing platform in Trafalgar Square which will be right in the heart of the square on the North Terrace, staffed by a dedicated Access Manager and volunteer stewards, with support from our Security provider.

Pre-apply for any access provisions you require using our access requirements form above. Please be aware spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.

We want to ensure everyone can stay together to enjoy themselves - Personal Assistants/Support Workers/Carers/Family/Friends are welcome, however, groups (3+) will be asked to leave if we are close to capacity to provide space for those with access requirements.

Access attendees and a +1 can remain seated for the duration of the event.

Your wristband (apply here) will give you access to the viewing areas and toilet, so you can come and go as you please, subject to availability on the day.

Due to the structure limitations, it will not be possible to provide cover from adverse weather conditions, so please bring an umbrella (and if needed, an umbrella clamp) that can be used to shelter from rain or excess heat!

In Trafalgar Square we also provide:

• Assistance dog rest area

• Wheelchair charging point

• Quiet tent (which can be used for rest or as somewhere quieter to have a break from the event- this is not soundproof. A live feed from the main stage will be screened inside the tent)

• Accessible toilet next to the viewing platform.

• Induction loop running around the entire viewing platform

• Roaming BSL Interpreter

• Changing Places Unit

• First Aid point

Trafalgar Square

On the Trafalgar Square stage, we will have a BSL interpreter. The screens will have both an interpreter, and a live speech-to-text service.

Leicester Square

For the Women’s stage in Leicester Square we will have a BSL interpreter, an accessible viewing area with seating and accessible toilets.

Golden Square

For the stage in Golden Square we will have a BSL interpreter. Accessible toilets will be available.

Timeline

We aim to process applications within 10 days of attendees submitting an Access Requirement Form; however, due to the high volume of applications, this may not always be possible.

Applications close June 12th, 2023

Once your application has been approved, you will receive a confirmation email, detailing the facilities you have requested.

FAQ

Will there be accessible toilets available?

Yes! We have accessible toilet facilities around the event as well as a changing place unit located at Trafalgar Square. To use these facilities, please pre-apply here.

Is there disabled access parking?

We have a limited number of bays at Q park Chinatown, pre-apply here to reserve a spot. Please be aware, this is on a first come, first served basis.

Do I need tickets?

No, you don’t need tickets to attend; however, you do need to pre-apply to use any access provisions. Pre-apply for access here.