As Britain’s most famously sprawling metropolis, London’s queer scene has long been characterized by LGBTIQ+ clubs and bars that line the streets of Soho and Vauxhall’s historic presence as a gay haven. Present on However, the past decade has seen a dramatic change in the capital’s nightlife as London’s queer communities have created more and more of their own venues to cater for specific needs.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to shake your legs, inclusive community spaces, or the latest literature from queer authors, London is a popular destination for LGBTIQ+ travelers.
The best gay bars, clubs and parties
Perhaps the best thing about queer nightlife in London is that all kinds of events can be found all over the city. Sure, barhopping becomes an extreme sport throughout the capital but the diverse range of clubs, bars and parties far outweighs it.
A road you can do Waltz up and down, chasing an election night, Kingsland High Street. The bustling East London street plays host to all manner of quirky alcoves. The Glory, an LGBTIQ+ pub, performance space and self-proclaimed “drag hothouse”, beckons festival-goers every Friday and Saturday with its weekend discos and basement club – a place that stars Drag Race UK. Breaks out. Bimini Bone Bolash Describes as having “an all-around incredible vibe…it’s everywhere. It’s for everyone.”
Sitting right down the street. The karaoke hole – or, more simply, to “The K Hole” starter, which does what it says on the tin. It’s a very “come for karaoke, leave with a bunch of newfound weirdo friends and a minor obsession with drag stars hosting variety shows” kind of place.
It’s Karaoke Hole’s fabulous big sister just a few doors away, however, has my heart set on it. Billing itself as “East London’s premier queer pleasure palace”, Dalston Superstore is a club, cabaret spot, gallery and community space, among many other things. My strange childhood years are marked by nights spent within the colorful, charming walls of this venue, dance music echoing from sweaty, glamorously dressed bodies. You’ll find the space’s famous drag brunch, as well as nights like “Transvision” – a trans-centered club night – and “Fast and Furious” – a hardcore bisexual rave. You won’t be short of options for your next intense camp.
While there are certainly many queer venues, including the iconic Royal Vauxhall Tavern in south London, whose rainbow doors have been open for decades, regular parties have become the norm from queer collectives around the city.
Take it Pxssy palace, For example. A club night for queer women, non-binary and trans people of color, many of their parties take place in and around East London, but they also host special events and DJ productions, such as Falling Weather. Skate lets on winter skate nights. Their playfully themed club nights at Somerset House range from latex-clad kink to proper girl boss soirées.
Queer black leadership A dream collection From their rum punch-infused brunches near London Bridge to their traffic light parties along the river in Greenwich, South East London, the venue offers unadulterated enjoyment. If you’re chasing a dance party that brings carnival energy all year round, Strange usage Marks these boxes as “London’s most dutiful black night”. You’ll find nights full of afrobeats, soca and dancehall at their East London venue. Color Factoryas well as across the Thames in Brixton.
LGBTIQ+ spaces outside of clubs.
Not everyone is comfortable in the club and thankfully London’s queer spaces extend far beyond the dance floor. gave London LGBTQ+ Community Centre Such is a valuable place. A prestigious, intergenerational centre, it managed to raise £100,000 in 2018 from individual community donations. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the center’s physical home has been open for much longer than the mere year it hosts events. .
Create weekly updates about new events happening in the Community Center. Follow their Instagram. Well worth it. From language exchange groups for LGBTIQ+ learners and fluent speakers of French, Spanish, Dutch and more, to film screenings, open mics and craft workshops, autistic, neurodiverse, trans, 50+, and interracial. As far as meetings dedicated to communities – there will be. Definitely an event where you can meet relatives.
A similar dedication to quiet, inclusive spaces carries through. Suffering, a mental health center that prioritizes queer and black people and people of color. As well as hosting Sober Club Nights, the past few years have brought Misery to the community with summer fairs – with performances, grief rituals, tattoos, massages and crafts – as well as their latest free monthly plant-focused event series. Seen together.
“Misiri Medicine: Plant Magic” sees participants take herbal walks to various green spaces around the capital every first Saturday of the month, while being directed to facilitators to soothe themselves through plant medicine. Suggestions are given. Visiting lush green spaces amid London’s infamous concrete jungle, events like these are perfect for travelers who crave an alternative exploration of the city.
If learning about the long-standing presence of queer people in Britain sounds more like your idea of a good time, look no further. Queer Britain. The country’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain, opened its doors to its first physical home in King’s Cross, North London in early 2022. The museum boasts sounds, objects and images spanning 100 years of strange life – all free to explore. Delve into the insights and complex histories of London’s communities before finishing your tour with a visit to the gift shop for your own Queer Britain merch. The book section is curated by top queer bookshop, Gay’s The Word, with all profits going to the museum and its affiliated charity.
If you want to see a wide array of queer literature, visit The Word Bookshop, a gay bookstore between King’s Cross and Russell Square. The oldest LGBTIQ+ bookstore in the country, you’ll find all kinds of fiction and non-fiction in this cozy alcove, from classics to the latest published titles. Time your visit right and you can meet some of your favorite authors at book launches, readings, panel discussions and signings.
Dates in your diary.
While London’s queer scene resonates year-round, it’s naturally the call to Pride events that beckon both LGBTQ+ travelers and locals alike. Annual summer events such as UK Black Pride And Pride in London See thousands of queer people at performances, day parties, after parties…you name it. However, the latter has generated a great deal of controversy over the years due to its poor engagement with trans, black and brown LGBTIQ+ communities. As a result, since 2019, a new trans-centric pride march has emerged. London Trans+ Prideoffering both a celebration of trans existence and a protest against archaic legislation and hollow trans healthcare provisions.
BFI flare upEurope’s biggest queer film festival, takes place every spring at the BFI Southbank, just south of the river near Waterloo. Founded in 1986, the festival showcases the best in new LGBTIQ+ cinema from around the world, with opportunities to hear from exciting up-and-coming stars at the gala and buzz.
Resources and need to know
While the UK positions itself as a progressive beacon when it comes to queer inclusion, hostility towards trans people from mainstream media, pundits and celebrities is growing at an alarming rate. Many of the spaces listed above have emerged and developed to resist queerphobic and transphobic policies and systems within the country’s institutions.
As queer people know, there is no such thing as a safe city, let alone a safe country for us – to suggest otherwise would be dishonest. Legislative considerations do not equate to “progressive” or changed cultural attitudes, especially when many of the people who make up London’s queer communities are not properly recognized (or Not recognized at all). However, the above places and events exemplify our commitment to keeping other queer people as safe as possible when we come together. For example, Pxssy Palace offers a taxi system that helps trans and disabled party-goers get home safely after club nights. Unfortunately, getting home safely by taxi – especially avoiding drunks on public transport – is often a big afterthought after a big night out.
Overall, London is incredibly well connected, with tubes, trains and other forms of public transport quickly getting you from one corner of the city to another. If that’s more your speed, bikes can be rented throughout the city.
Match A treasure trove for travelers and locals alike – looking to make new connections, with exciting events listed daily across the city and online, including movie nights, speed dating, winter markets, quirky dates Excursions and more. Moonlight Experiments Also lists exciting new exciting events, Vogue Balls, workshops and the like. The aforementioned London LGBT+ Community Center is also an invaluable resource for accessing sexual health screening and mental health support.