The journey to Cardiff Pride 2025 started bright and early at Neath railway station, where I met up with friends already travelling down from Swansea railway station on the packed train towards Cardiff. Even before arriving, the excitement was building as more rainbow flags, glitter, and smiling faces filled the carriages heading into the capital.
Coffee, Chocolate and Pride Atmosphere
Our first stop after arriving at Cardiff Central railway station was the always tempting Mrs Potts Chocolate House for coffee and a much-needed sweet treat. The café was buzzing with Pride visitors escaping the humid weather for a quick break before the celebrations really kicked off.
Afterwards, we headed outside Angel Hotel to watch the front of the Pride march gathering. The atmosphere was electric. Bands played loudly through the streets, crowds cheered from every corner, and thousands of people lined the route ready for the parade to begin. You could feel the excitement everywhere.
Joining the Pride March
Once the march started, we joined the colourful crowd for a short section of the route. With music echoing through the city centre, rainbow banners waving above the streets, and people dancing as they walked, it felt impossible not to smile. Cardiff was alive with colour and celebration.
Pride Cymru 2025 marked a major milestone, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the very first Pride march in Wales. Across the weekend of June 21st and 22nd, more than 50,000 people attended events across the city. The huge parade travelled through the centre of Cardiff before ending near the main festival site in Bute Park and Cardiff Castle.
Lunch at O’Neill’s
After soaking up the parade atmosphere, we escaped the crowds for lunch at O’Neill’s Cardiff. The break was definitely needed after walking through the humid city streets all morning. Pride weekends always seem to involve plenty of walking, plenty of noise, and somehow never enough cold drinks.
Finding the Soul of Pride
Although the Main Stage in Coopers Field featured major acts and headline performers, we decided to skip it this year. The ticket prices and corporate feel simply were not for us. Instead, we headed over to The Big Queer Picnic at Sophia Gardens — and honestly, it felt far more welcoming and relaxed.
Spread across the grass were groups of friends enjoying picnics, chatting, laughing, and celebrating Pride in a much more laid-back way. Small amateur bands performed on a modest stage while people relaxed under the warm summer skies. It may not have had the giant production values of the main festival site, but it had heart, community spirit, and personality.
We also bumped into a few familiar faces during the afternoon, making the day feel even more special.
Heading Home
As evening approached, we slowly made our way back towards Cardiff Central for the train journey home. Tired, slightly sunburnt, and definitely overheated, we still left Cardiff with smiles on our faces after another memorable Pride celebration.
Sometimes the best parts of Pride are not the giant stages or celebrity performances. Sometimes it is simply travelling with friends, hearing local bands, sharing laughs in the park, and enjoying the feeling of community around you. Cardiff Pride 2025 gave us exactly that.