Pride: Cities to visit with good bookshops.

Welcome back to my blog readers. Today I want to share with you some of the cities that I think are good for LGBTQIA+/pride celebrations and have nice bookshops too. Of course I have not visited every city but I am here to provide some examples.


1: Brighton. 

Now as "gay capital" of the country with a big pride event, this was an obvious choice. Aside from the main pride event, they do a trans pride too which is nice to see. They also have a nice mix of bookshops. There are quite few together down the Laines. As you can see from my previous post, I shared details of Books for Amnesty which I recently visited.


2: Birmingham.

Here is a city that knows how to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ and stand up to hatred. The National Trust owns a property in Birmingham city centre called Back to Backs, with it's logo in white on a rainbow background. Permanently there! Anyway, it sits right by Gay Village and Chinatown.

Regarding the bookshops there are multiple bookshops scattered across Birmingham from Kings Heath to Harborne. I always manage to find a good bookshop and can get some great books. Nearby Solihull and the village of Knowle offer two nice Oxfam bookshops too.


3: Canterbury.

Every year Canterbury puts on a free pride event with big names artists and celebrities. In the past celebrities such as members of S Club, Katie Price and Baga Chipz are just some of those who have appeared. This year was a temporary change to a smaller venue though it was still fun as I did go.


4: Manchester.

 I have been to Manchester a few times, though not got round to visiting the pride event. Which I am in no rush too for my own social conscious. The main sponsor from last year's pride event was Booking.com who were profiting from the current genocide and were siding with Israel in a sense. That alone tells me all I need to know.

Ignoring this Manchester is a good choice for LGBTQIA+ people to visit and they do have their own Gay Village.

Anyway, moving on. When I last visited, I found some great bookshops. There is a decent selection for any bookworm and not all in one place.
 

5: London.

I go to London around the end of August each year as I go to Bi pride which is free. It is a smaller pride compared to the main London pride which is extravagant from what I see. I am not one to enjoy places too busy so I am yet to visit.

Anyway London has it all! Multiple, multiple bookshops. Morden, Finchley, Russell Square, Balham, Osterley, Wimbledon... (The list goes on). You can always find a bookshop whether you are in the centre of London or in a suburb. The bookshops can be so varied too.


Now these are five cities I have been too that I think are ideal for LGBTQIA+ people and if you want a new, good book to read. Do feel free to add in the comments if you think there are any cities that should be on my list and are not.


Until next time,


Thomas.

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