London pride
Participants pose with police during the annual Pride London parade Olivia Harris/Reuters

One of the world's largest LGBT+ festivals will take place in the capital today with thousands of people expected to turn out.

This year the London Pride march has taken on the theme of 'heroes' and will celebrate those who have made the biggest difference to the LGBT community.

The parade began at Baker Street at 1pm and moved through Oxford Street, which is closed for the event, before finishing at Whitehall at 4.30pm.

More than 250 group will be taking part in the parade with prizes for the best costumes and best campaign group.

Alan Turing's family will be walking in today's London gay pride parade, in what is expected to be the biggest event to date.

Family members including his great-niece Clare Dowling will be representing the legacy of the revolutionary computer scientist. She will be marching alongside Japanese technology company Fujitsu who have chosen Turing as their Pride Hero for his contribution to technology.

UKIP's LGBT group joined the Pride in London parade, despite organisers having banned them due to safety concerns.

LGBT in UKIP met off the parade route shortly after 1pm today, and attempted to join groups marching as they walked through the capital's West End.

Asked why the group was marching, Richard Hendron, organiser of today's march told PinkNews, "In support of LGBT rights, as well as in support of our rights to be here. We want to show that if there is any homophobia [in UKIP] it is dealt with and we are progressing.

"We've been walking round here and no-one has actually shouted at us, so I think we are going to be very safe," he said when asked whether they felt welcome.

There were reports that an Isis flag was spotted amongst the crowds.

Entertainers include Blue, Britain's Got Talent winners Collabro and Rebecca Ferguson, who will appear on the main stage in Trafalgar Square from 1pm-8pm.

There will also be a Women's Stage in Dean Street and a Cabaret Stage in Wardour Street.

Gay Pride in numbers

1970: The first Pride march was held in New York, a response to the Stonewall riots

3m: Number of people who attended the largest parade in Sao Paolo, Brazil in 2006

70: People who attended the smallest Pride march in Sligo, Ireland in 2006

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