6 LGBTQ+ Writers You Should Know for London Pride Month

It’s nearly the end of Pride Month, but the celebrations aren’t over yet!

The UK’s first ever Pride march took place in London on July 1, 1972. That’s over 50 years of Pride in the capital, which has since grown into one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world.

Reading is a fantastic way to improve your English while exploring different perspectives and cultures. To celebrate Pride Month, we’ve gathered six LGBTQ+ writers who bring London to life – in all its colours. 🏳️‍🌈

1) Virginia Woolf 🌊

One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf was a central figure of the Bloomsbury Group, a collective of artists, intellectuals, and writers based in Bloomsbury, London. Woolf’s writing is groundbreaking not only for its experimentalism and style, but also its progressive exploration of gender and sexuality. While Woolf never publicly labelled her sexuality, she had romantic relationships with both men and women, the most significant of which was with fellow writer, Vita Sackville-West.

Recommended Reading:

• Orlando is a gender-bending fantasy following the extraordinary life of Orlando, who lives for centuries and mysteriously changes from a young nobleman into a woman halfway through.
• For an intimate portrait of her relationship with Vita Sackville-West, check out Love Letters.

2) E. M. Forster🖋️

Best known for A Room with a View and A Passage to India, E.M Forster was an important novelist writing in the early 20th century. While Forster kept his sexuality private during his lifetime, he had relationships with men and later became an advocate for gay rights.

Recommended Reading:

• Maurice follows a young man coming to terms with his sexuality in Edwardian Cambridge and London. Unusually for its time, the novel ends on a hopeful note.
  
  

Oscar Wilde 🎭

Born in Dublin but often associated with London (our Twin Dublin students can check out his colourful statue in Merrion Square!), Oscar Wilde is one of the Victorian era’s most loved writers and playwrights. Famous for his sharp wit and social commentary, Wilde was sadly imprisoned for “gross indecency” because of his relationships with men, but today, he’s remembered as a true literary icon and important figure in LGBTQ+ history.

Recommended Reading:

• The Picture of Dorian Gray is a dark, witty novel exploring beauty, desire, and morality in Victorian London.

Jeanette Winterson 🍊

Despite her sometimes-controversial public image, Jeanette Winterson’s influence in contemporary literature is undeniably strong. Drawing on her childhood in a strict religious household, her novels explore identity, sexuality, and religion in imaginative and innovative forms. Jeanette Winterson is originally from Manchester, but now lives in London, which features in many of her novels.

Recommended Reading:

• Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story inspired by her childhood.
• The PowerBook is an inventive exploration of love, storytelling, and identity in the digital age, with Ali, the protagonist, reuniting with their beloved across different places, eras, and bodies.

Hanif Kureishi 🌆

Born and raised in South London, Hanif Kureishi’s work explores race, sexuality, and identity in multicultural Britain. Openly bisexual, Kureishi helped broaden representations of both queer and British Asian experiences in literature.

Recommended Reading:

• The Buddha of Suburbia is a funny and insightful coming-of-age novel following a mixed-race teenager navigating life and love in 1970s London.

Sarah Waters ⚓

Sarah Waters is one of Britain’s most popular historical novelists. Her books are known for bringing forgotten LGBTQ+ histories to life, particularly the experiences of women who loved women. Combining meticulous historical research with gripping storytelling, Waters has introduced countless readers to queer stories from Britain’s past.

Recommended Reading:

• Tipping the Velvet follows a young woman who leaves her hometown for Victorian London, where she discovers the city’s vibrant theatre scene alongside her own sexuality.

🚀Study English in London with Twin

Ready to take your English to the next level? Study in London’s Royal Borough. With flexible, tailored English tuition, a focus on real communication, and a packed social programme, you’ll make rapid progress while fully immersing yourself in British culture.

Study English in London, Eastbourne, or Dublin — and turn your 2026 into the ultimate adventure.