#RainbowCrossing's have been popping up all over London's roads over the last 2 years as a way to celebrate LGBT+ residents, workers & visitors.

With #PrideMonth long over we've been researching which Boroughs have installed these crossings, when & where.

A thread...

The first actual Rainbow Crossings came back in 2014 and was not done by a local authority but TFL.

It was led by former Chair of TFL’s LGBT Staff Network, @MartynLoukes

The crossings weren't permanent but popped up 3 times in 2014 for Pride in London, Gay Marriage and...

TFL also teamed up with Stonewall in September 2014 by laying a crossing outside of Arsenal Underground station in support of their #RainbowLaces campaign.

After the boom of 2014, it would be 4 years until another Rainbow Crossing would appear in London again.

TFL would also go on to deliver London's first same sex traffic light filters (by Trafalgar Square along from legendary LGBT Cabaret venue, Halfway to Heaven) which appeared in support of Pride In London 2016 with the Mayor for London and are still there today.

1/15 - Newham (June 2018 and June 2019)

In June 2018 the first Local Authority to install a temporary #RainbowCrossing was Newham.

This was a joint venture between Newham Council and #ForestGaytePride, one of London’s leading borough Pride events.

This was repeated in 2019

2/15 Merton (June 5th 2019)

The first permanent #RainbowCrossing installed in London was in the borough of Merton outside LGBTQ+ venue 'CMYK' on The Broadway, Wimbledon.

June appears to be a popular month to install #RainbowCrossings as part of #PrideMonth

3/15 Greenwich (June 17th 2019 and June 15th 2020)

Greenwich installed 3 temporary crossings at the Junction of Thomas Street and Wellington Street.

In 2020 they would go even further when the council installed temporary crossings at 7 different locations across the borough.

4 & 5/15. Hackney & Tower Hamlets (June 24th 2019)

Hackney have installed 2 crossings. The 1st on East Road Shoreditch & the 2nd between Hackney and Tower Hamlets on Hackney Road.

This would coincide with Pride in London and UK Black Pride which was held in Haggerston Park.

6/15. Waltham Forest (June 24th & July 5th 2019)

As part of their Borough of Culture 2019 & Pride in the Borough celebrations, Waltham Forest installed a permanent rainbow crossing on Hoe Street.

They was preceded by London’s first LGBT Bus shelter in Leyton Mills.

7/15. Westminster (July 5th 2019)

Westminster installed their temporary #RainbowCrossing just in time for #PrideinLondon 2019 with thanks to the Mayor of London in partnership with Westminster Council on Regent Street.

8/15. Lambeth (August 16th 2019)

The final crossing of 2019 laid 2 permanent crossings at the site of the UK's first LGBT centre on Railton Road opposite Brockwell Park.

The road was installed on Madonna’s 61st birthday and that in itself deserves a honourable mention!

9/15. Brent (January 16th 2020)

Before COVID-19 came to town, The new Borough of Culture Brent started 2020 by installing their permanent crossing outside the Brent Civic Centre.

A total of 6 roads had been planned but due to the pandemic the plans have been put on hold.

10/15. Haringey (February 5th & February 13th 2020)

The 1st London borough to have a crossing outside of a school as part of #LGBTHM

There is another crossing on Wood Green High Road outside the VUE Cinema.

Both are permanent additions in the borough.

11/15. Wandsworth (May 27th 2020)

After a quiet few months for everyone across London, the lockdown installations were warming up for Pride Month and Wandsworth installed their permanent #RainbowCrossing on Lavender Hill outside of the iconic Battersea Arts Centre.

12/15 Sutton (June 25th 2020)

With no Pride in London 2020 Sutton cheered up the locals by having their permanent crossing installed in a prominent town centre location by Sutton Library at the junction of St.Nicholas Way and Hill Road.

13/15. Kingston (June 25th 2020)

Kingston had their #RainbowCrossing installed on the same day as Sutton's over on ‘Eden Street’ and has quickly become a local landmark to shoppers and businesses.

Even catching the eye of 80s legend @HazellHD !

14/15. Camden (June 27th 2020)

Over on #Camden High Street , 4 permanent crossings were installed at the junction of Jamestown Road and Hawley Crescent.

This was followed with a programme of virtual events including online exhibitions, playlists and more #WeMakeCamdenProud.

15/15 Richmond (July 21st & 22nd 2020)

And our final entry for the #RainbowCrossings list is over in Richmond where the council laid 2 crossings.

1 outside of Richmond Station and the 2nd on King Street in Twickenham.

And that, for now, is Rainbow Crossings of London a sof November 2020

Please do let us know if we've missed anyone out by emailing us on [email protected]

If there any mistakes we will happily correct them.

You can read the full feature here https://bit.ly/3miI828