Pride Month may be drawing to a close, but SKITTLES and Queer Britain are ensuring the celebrations—and the stories behind them—continue with the launch of a brand-new interactive experience highlighting London’s rich LGBTQ+ heritage.
The new Chosen Family Map invites visitors to discover eight significant locations across the capital that showcase the importance of chosen families throughout LGBTQ+ history. Alongside the launch, SKITTLES has announced a £100,000 donation to Queer Britain, helping the museum preserve and expand the UK’s LGBTQ+ archives.
Visitors can explore the interactive map now via the official website: https://www.skittles.co.uk/
Discover London’s LGBTQ+ history through chosen family
Created in partnership with Queer Britain, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum, the Chosen Family Map offers an educational and immersive way to explore London’s queer history.
Designed as both a digital resource and a self-guided walking trail, the map highlights how chosen families—communities built through friendship, solidarity and shared experiences—have long provided support, belonging and joy for LGBTQ+ people.
Whether accessed from home, a university library or while exploring London on foot, the interactive trail brings together stories spanning centuries of LGBTQ+ life.
Learn more about Queer Britain at: https://queerbritain.org.uk/
Eight landmarks tell powerful stories
The Chosen Family Map features a collection of historic and contemporary locations that have played important roles in London’s LGBTQ+ community.
Among the featured sites are:
- Julius Caesar Taylor’s Molly House, an 18th-century secret meeting place where queer men found safety and community during a time when same-sex relationships were criminalised.
- Lytton Strachey’s former home, where members of the influential Bloomsbury Group gathered, challenging social conventions surrounding gender and sexuality.
- The LGBTQ+ Traffic Lights in Trafalgar Square, a modern symbol of visibility and inclusion that continues to celebrate LGBTQ+ identity in everyday public spaces.
Together, the locations illustrate how chosen families have shaped generations of LGBTQ+ life through creativity, resilience and connection.
£100,000 donation supports LGBTQ+ archives
To coincide with the map’s launch, SKITTLES is donating £100,000 to Queer Britain.
The funding will support the museum’s ongoing mission to reclaim, preserve and expand Britain’s LGBTQ+ archives, ensuring historically overlooked stories remain accessible for future generations. Queer Britain operates as a registered charity and relies heavily on donations and partnerships to continue its work.
Andrew Given, Chief Executive of Queer Britain, said the collaboration helps bring LGBTQ+ history to life by connecting people directly with the places where these stories unfolded while preserving important cultural heritage.
Emily Owen, Senior Brand Manager at SKITTLES UK, added that chosen families have always been a vital source of support and belonging, with the new map inviting people to explore the communities and individuals who helped define what chosen family means today.
A new way to experience Pride in London
Rather than focusing solely on celebrations during Pride Month, the Chosen Family Map encourages year-round exploration of London’s LGBTQ+ history.
The project reflects the evolving meaning of family while celebrating the people, friendships and communities that have supported LGBTQ+ lives across generations.
As visitors make their way through the trail, they’ll encounter stories of resilience, acceptance and joy—offering a deeper understanding of how London’s queer community has helped shape the city.
