15 Incredibly Cool LGBTQ+ Friendly Destinations Around the World – Thrillist

London might have flashy nightlife, bougie hotels, and renowned shopping, but the UK’s second-largest city has the queers on lock, boasting the country’s largest pride parade. Why else would they have filmed the original Queer As Folk television series here along its fabled post-industrial streets back in the late ‘90s?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all football, all the time in Manchester (though there’s plenty of that, of course). England as a whole scores a respectable 82/100 on the Equality Index, with the 2013 same-sex marriage act setting the tone for eventual marriage equality throughout the UK. Anti-discrimination laws have also been in effect for over a decade, and Manchester’s strong labor union ties has helped historically position it on the more progressive end of the political spectrum. As long as you’re cool with a little rain, you’ll find this northern escape as welcoming and stimulating as they come.

As mentioned, the annual Manchester Pride celebration is an unbeatable experience, and it’s buttressed by other LGBTQ+ events like the Sparkle Festival, Queer Contact Arts Festival, and Drag Fest UK throughout the year. The Gay Village, centered around Canal Street, is an obvious home base for queer visitors, with its cluster of LGBTQ-owned and -operated bars, clubs, restaurants, and small businesses.

Richmond Tea Rooms provides a quintessential British experience complete with fine China, while G-A-Y serves up the youthful club vibes, Vanilla caters to the thriving lesbian population, and The Rembrandt, the Goose, and Churchills continue to hold court as the city’s OG queer gathering places. Speaking of OG, consider booking a gay heritage tour with Manchester Guided Tours. They’ll take you past all the queer sights, including the monument-heavy Sackville Gardens where tributes to Alan Turing, Trans Remembrance, and those affected by the AIDS pandemic stand tall. —Meredith Heil