{"product_id":"queer-shelves-lgbtq-literary-activists-in-london-cycle-tour-saturday-13-june-2026-12-midday","title":"Queer shelves: LGBTQ literary activists in London cycle tour - Saturday 13 June 2026 12 midday","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"sqsrte-large\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoin Open City for a cycling tour in celebration of Pride month exploring the fascinating history of LGBT literary activism from the East End to Bloomsbury\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" class=\"sqsrte-large\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlease ensure all attendees in your booking complete this \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/form.jotform.com\/211392889979378\"\u003ecycle tour release form\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cwbr\u003ebefore arriving for the tour. \u003c\/wbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003eThis fun and inspiring cycle tour led by Golden Key Academy graduate Justin Manley celebrates the history of the bookshops, libraries, and archives which have been preserving and sharing queer stories in London for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003eBookshops and public libraries have long brought readers and writers from a range of diverse and campaigning backgrounds together. This leisurely three-hour cycle between Mile End and Bloomsbury is a celebration of literary LGBTQ resistance and resilience in London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eSee the public library that defied the government to keep LGBTQ stories on its shelves. Visit the bookshop whose inventory of LGBTQ literature was seized by the government, and the booksellers who fought in Central Criminal Court and won back their books and their right (everyone's right!) to keep selling them. Hear about the archives where banners and posters from decades of protests are preserved and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003eHighlights of the route include: Holborn Library, Bishopsgate Institute and The Common Press Shoreditch High Street a key example of queer book activism today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhoto by: \u003c\/strong\u003eJustin Manley \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eKey information\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eParticipants must be competent riders and bring their own bicycle. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeeting point:\u003c\/strong\u003e In front of the Tower Hamlets Local History \u0026amp; Archives, 277 Bancroft Rd E1 4DQ. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe 2nd stop on this tour is The Common Press Bookshop\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnd point:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gay's the Word bookshop, 66 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuration:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 hours approx\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty: \u003c\/strong\u003eModerate, the route does include some large main roads, and slopes (gently!) upwards for much of the route.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.8 miles \/ 11km\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccessibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e There is a very gentle downwards incline across the entire route. There are no places where participants are required to carry bicycles up or down stairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e*3 of stops on the tours are shared between this and London Libraries cycle tour Justin also leads for Open City. The content of only one of those stops, Gay's the Word is the same. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OpenCityShop","offers":[{"title":"Pay it forward ticket","offer_id":56876210127226,"sku":"TOURS","price":29.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Standard ticket","offer_id":56876210159994,"sku":"TOURS","price":19.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Over 65s ticket","offer_id":56876210192762,"sku":"TOURS","price":13.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Under 25s ticket","offer_id":56876210225530,"sku":"TOURS","price":9.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unwaged ticket","offer_id":56876210258298,"sku":"TOURS","price":9.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1068\/1786\/files\/Queer_Shelves_Open_City_c.JustinManleyjpg.jpg?v=1778496560","url":"https:\/\/shop.open-city.org.uk\/products\/queer-shelves-lgbtq-literary-activists-in-london-cycle-tour-saturday-13-june-2026-12-midday","provider":"Open City Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}