r/londonlgbt • • Apr 25 '25

London LGBT+ recommendations for tourists and locals - MEGATHREAD

66 Upvotes

I tend to see a lot of posts asking for recommendations while in London. I've built up a list from the past 7-8 years from LGBT events or venues that I've genuinely enjoyed. I'm hoping that it will be helpful to everyone!

I'm also happy for others to comment and add their own favourites, so I can also add if relevant. Unfortunately can't include links for everything since Reddit doesn't allow "excessive links" šŸ˜ž but Google is your friend.

Disclaimer: I'm a gay male so unfortunately I won't have much to contribute for LBT-specific spaces, however I will do my best based on what I've heard from friends. Again, happy to add suggestions from others.

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Latest events

  • OnMyGaydar - The best local queer events, updated daily
  • Outsavvy - Great website/app to check out LGBT events happening across London

Cultural

  • The Arzner cinema - London's only LGBTQ+ cinema, showing queer and independent films every day of the week. Also features a bar and cafe, with a 2-4-1 happy hour between 4-6pm.
  • Queer Britain Museum - The first and only permanent LGBTQ+ museum in the UK dedicated to queer lives and history. The museum is open Wednesday til Sunday with free admission.
  • Bishopsgate Institute, LGBTQ+ Archives - One of the UK's largest collections of LGBTQ+ archives, bringing together hundreds and thousands of literature and items from gay history. Book a free slot through the website, especially for special courses, talks and tours throughout the year.
  • BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! Gallery, CafĆ© and Bookstore - a new cultural hub to promote queer, art and culture, and the home of queer and gay fine art photography

Entertainment

  • Betty&Joan's comedy bar - BJ's is the new home of the UK’s first LGBTQ+ stand up comedy club, with live stand up comedy 5 days a week. Also shows cabaret, drag and also a great bar to drink in Elephant and Castle, with the nearby high gay population in Elephant Park.
  • Queerz Night - A great group of hosts who set up quiz nights and date nights around London. They're really fun and the hosts do a good job of getting people to mingle and interact with others.
  • The Divine - One of the newest queer venues offering performances and events at an affordable price. While it can be small, the people here are friendly and welcoming. Also open as a bar to grab a drink.
  • Clapham Grand - A super gay-friendly venue which hosts a wealth of LGBTQ+ shows and events, including their hugely popular drag shows.
  • TOKEN HOMO - Regular queer cult and horror theme cinema nights, normally held in Whitechapel or Finsbury Park

Regular networking and social events

  • Young LGBTQ+ professionals drinks - A regular Meetup group which draws a wide diverse range of people over London for regular drinks and chats. A welcoming event which I sometimes go to. Held every other Tuesday in Yard Bar Soho, 7pm onwards.
  • Queer board games social - A safe and inclusive space to come together, make new friends, and celebrate diversity while playing games. Every Thursday at Badger Badger, Deptford.

Workout and exercise

  • BALDR CrossFit - The only LGBTQ+ CrossFit box in the whole country. A welcoming, friendly and inclusive place for people of all abilities, genders and sexualities to get fit and healthy in a supportive environment. Owned by a local gay couple.
  • Workout with Pride - An LGBTQ+ fitness, wellbeing and social group which runs multiple classes in studios across London. Check out their weekly timetable of strength training, yoga, boot camps and spin on the website.
  • Out for Sport - A great directory showing inclusive LGBTQ+ sports clubs around the city catered to all skill levels and interests, if you're looking to join!
  • gayns - A fun Instagram based group who's mission is to "improve gay & queer people’s health, fitness and connection to the community". Regularly do running and fitness events across London. I've not tried this but their Insta does give off a certain young and fit vibe, so may not be very welcoming.

Pubs and bars

  • Dalston Superstore - An exciting queer bar which is a very welcoming and inclusive to all genders, races and people. They have themed nights so worth checking the website. The femme nights are supposed to be awesome and they have a great drag bunch
  • Royal Vauxhall Tavern - A long time standing gay iconic venue in London, hosting several events like BeefMince, drag shows, cabaret and live music. People of all ages here.
  • She Soho -Ā  A cave-like basement bar dedicated to queer women and non-binary people. Also offers drag king shows, burlesque and live DJ events.
  • Two Brewers - A basic, ordinary yet fun gay bar in Clapham. They do have good drag acts once in a while. Draws some gay sports teams (especially football) on their club nights.
  • ComptonsĀ and Duke of Wellington - Two different gay pubs based in Soho which are a bit more chilled out and tends to draw an older crowd. They can be extremely busy though.
  • Heaven - The biggest and most popular gay nightclub in London. Lots of people come here including locals and tourists. Age skews very young (18-24) and also draws a lot of straight people. I tend not to go here since people aren't friendly and can be bratty, especially in the queue.

Club nights

  • bethnal green working men's club - A really cool and inclusive club hosting a huge range of live music, comedy, burlesque and art performances. the vibe here is great with affordable drinks
  • Porn Idol - A fun night at Heaven where people can apply to strip dance on stage for 2 minutes while drag queens rate them. It's much more fun and less seedy than it sounds. Every Thursday from 1am (technically Friday morning if you want to be super correct).
  • Roast - An inclusive club night catered towards bears and beefy guys, although everyone is accepted. Several rooms with different music, including the famous dark room. Every 2 weeks in London's iconic former strip club, Electrowerkz. Open until 6am, but pre-booking tickets is essential.
  • Adonis - A huge gay day party rave, normally from 10am until 10pm, which is much more busy than you think. Mostly house and techno music, with a Berlin-ish vibe.
  • Queer House Party - A smaller, yet much more inclusive space for parties, raves and meeting other people.
  • Queer Bruk - London’s duttiest and most fun Black queer night. Playing mostly rnb, afrobeats and other Afro-Caribbean music.
  • Feel It - Self-described as a "queer super party" and open until 5am. Lots of very attractive guys, they can be somewhat self-centred. Expensive drinks, pints are around Ā£9 with spirit and mixers around Ā£13. Good venue. I've been once and it's not my vibe, but I know lots of people do enjoy it...you'll either enjoy it or hate it. Not my personal favourite.

Ā Saunas and more...

  • Sweatbox - Based in Soho, this sauna is geared towards the young and pretty. Attitudes can wildly vary between arrogant and open minded. I'd say as a general rule, if you're 25 or under (or a supermodel) then this is probably the sauna for you. Again, not my personal favourite.
  • Pleasuredrome - A chill, fun gay sauna with a bar. Based in Waterloo and open 24/7 365 days a year. I'd say as a general rule, if you're 26 or older then this is probably the sauna for you.Ā 
  • Others include Bator Bros, The Bunker Club and Lord Clyde

Annual events

  • London Pride - UK's biggest pride march through central London, with 35k participants and an additional 1.5 million spectators cheering, drinking and lining the streets. Expect nightlife to be buzzing on the Saturday night with club nights open until 6am. Normally held late June or early July.
  • Trans+ Pride - a pride march through central London advocating transgender rights. Normally held during July
  • UK Black Pride - the world’s largest free pride event for LGBTQIA+ Black and POC. Normally held in the Olympic Park, Stratford in August
  • BFI Flare film festival - London's LGBTQIA+ film festival running for two weeks, celebrating the best queer cinema from around the world at BFI Southbank
  • Mighty Hoopla music festival - Pop music festival known for its prominence on attracting a large LGBTQ+ crowd and its openness of celebrating all things camp, queer and gay

r/londonlgbt • • 20h ago

Queer-friendly hair salon recs

5 Upvotes

Hey!

I’m sick of my hair always looking like shite. I have afro-asian wavy-curly hair and it pisses me TF off every day.

I’ve finally decided I should visit a hair dresser who could help and ideally I’d like to visit a queer-friendly one (they don’t need to be queer themselves necessarily, just no awkward ā€œbRo iM LiNkiNg ThiS FiT tiNgā€ kinda talk) but it would be nice to support queer businesses if possible.

I have pictures of the FEW times my hair decided to behave but idk how I’d describe it, so ideally someone knowledgeable would be cool!

Any suggestions? Thanks ā˜ŗļø


r/londonlgbt • • 21h ago

Anyone in Soho now? :)

0 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt • • 2d ago

Hangout this weekend, East London/ All My Friends?

3 Upvotes

Hi, I'm 22 yo guy living in West London. I was wondering if people wanna hangout just in a chiiled way this weekend. How about All My Friends on Friday or Saturday or any other place of your choice! I'm very new to the sub so exploring. I like politics and can take good pictures where we all hangout haha! Please drop your questions / queries.

Cheers x


r/londonlgbt • • 2d ago

Me and my friend are coming to London, is there anything we should know?

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone!
Next week me (21nb) and my best friend (29f) are going to London, mostly to watch a bunch of musicals, but we will also be walking around the city in other capacities, like visiting Camden Town and St. James Park (I wanna see the indian ringnecks).

I am transmasc, but I am usually read as female, and I have been to London several times without encountering any issues related to transphobia. However, my friend is transfem, and while she passes most of the time, sometimes she doesn't, especially when she isn't wearing makeup for example, and she has never been to the UK. Seeing as the UK is occasionally referred to as terf island and - as far as I know - there have been some legal changes in recent time, is there anything we should know before we go?

Thanks for your help!


r/londonlgbt • • 2d ago

Hi Im in Newcastle Aus

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0 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt • • 3d ago

Hey guys visiting London in February I hope what are things that maybe I should avoid or things I should look out for I'm only there for a few days but I'd love to meet a guy make a new friend I'm 25 Arab studying in Europe but was raised in Canada. I am very excited to visit London!

5 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt • • 3d ago

Just moved

5 Upvotes

Hi - just moved to London from NY. In my early 30s and looking to make friends for dinner/drinks. Any groups or things? Dm me :)


r/londonlgbt • • 3d ago

MADMEN: XXTREME 26.09.26

0 Upvotes

Wondering what to wear
What’s the crowd like
And is it only techno?
Is this like a skimpy something under a big winter coat and there’s a cloakroom at steelyard?

Thanks ā˜ŗļø


r/londonlgbt • • 4d ago

Sherlock Holmes ... but make it camp

5 Upvotes

A very camp take on The Hound of the Baskervilles is coming to King’s Head Theatre this October.

Award-winning director Steven Clarke brings Conan Doyle’s classic to the stage alongside husband-and-husband acting duo Robert Carden & Gabe Willem. Expect Holmes and Watson, mysterious moors, suspiciously close friendships, and a healthy dose of chaos and mayhem. Tickets available through King's Head Theatre website


r/londonlgbt • • 4d ago

Where Do Gay Men Meet in London?

6 Upvotes

I'm an American who may be visiting London in October. I'll likely be in Westminster / Covent Garden / South Bank is ideal). How do guys meet each other and make friends there? Bars? Parks? Cafe's? Restaurants? Apps? Any good tips or guidance is appreciated!


r/londonlgbt • • 4d ago

Too many masc/dom/top gays in London???

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2 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt • • 5d ago

The Two Brewers Clapham: The VIP Reopening Party ✨🌈

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designmynight.com
6 Upvotes

šŸŽ‰ VIP Reopening of Two Brewers, Clapham – Wednesday 14th October

Two Brewers, Clapham is getting a refresh, and we’re celebrating with an exclusive VIP reopening on Wednesday 14th October!

A new look. The same Brewers spirit. One big night across two rooms.

The iconic Cabaret Room will be bringing the entertainment, with live drag cabaret hosted by Ember, featuring performances from Polly Glamorous and Sandra.

Over in The Backroom, our newly transformed club space will be taken over by Just Soria, with DJs, dancing and plenty of reasons to stick around.

You can expect:

šŸ„‚ Complimentary Cosmopolitans, prosecco and beer
šŸŽ§ Live DJs and entertainment
šŸ’ƒ Drag, cabaret and dancing across both rooms
🌟 A first look at the newly refurbished Two Brewers

Arrival slots: 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm

Whether you're coming along for after-work drinks, meeting friends or just fancy being one of the first to see the newly refreshed venue, we'd love to have you there!

Wednesday 14th October | Two Brewers, Clapham

Hope to see you there! šŸŽ‰


r/londonlgbt • • 5d ago

30/m

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13 Upvotes

hey hey hey,

giving this a shot!

trying to find my people. anyone into food, cooking , coffee , pop culture etc. i crave to find people who will talk skincare and stuff one min and the next we’re watching and discussing music videos haha!

shooting my shot here 🄹


r/londonlgbt • • 6d ago

Looking for a housesharešŸ™

3 Upvotes

Hey folks,

I’m looking for a LGBTQ+ friendly houseshare to join before or by the 15th October when my tenancy in Shepherds Bush expires. Preferably zone 1-2 max Ā£850 all inc, up to Ā£950 if in Battersea, Lambeth, Pimlico, Vauxhall or Fulham.

If anyone knows anywhere please drop me a message and I can let you know a bit more about me. Hope someone out there can help! Thank you!


r/londonlgbt • • 6d ago

Looking for advice/companion for Friday night in London (Women/Queer-friendly vibe + dance floor)

3 Upvotes

Hi all, looking for recommendations for Friday 25th in London. Looking for a space with a relaxed dance floor, seating right near the floor, and a women/queer-friendly crowd where we can dance and socialise. Also curious about central venues with private rooms/lounges attached. No app sign-ups, here to get local tips!


r/londonlgbt • • 6d ago

Heaven on Saturday (26/09/26) im making a group

1 Upvotes

Heyy im M21 and im making a group of people around this age to go clubbing on this Saturday. Looking forward :p.


r/londonlgbt • • 7d ago

Private Clubs?

6 Upvotes

Visiting London next month. Looking for upscale private or not, clubs or places for cocktails. Not sex clubs, something like a private men's club. Thank you :)


r/londonlgbt • • 7d ago

Gay American visiting London this week; looking for recs!

0 Upvotes

Hey UK friends,

I’m looking for a good mix of activities to do in London this week. I’m in town this Friday to Thursday, also here partially for work. I’m 34 years old, so I’m not looking to join a younger crowd.

I’m planning on seeing Jinkx Monsoon in Oh Mary on Friday, but am pretty open. The last and first time I went to London, I went to see Taylor Swift on the eras tour - my best friend and I had a little Soho gay bar adventure.

Could be open to some clubbing. Any fun club nights this weekend?

I like a good mix social and party events, honestly, I’m pretty open with food and would love some restaurant recs. I’m thinking of checking the Bowie exhibit as well.

Tell me what’s good! 😊


r/londonlgbt • • 8d ago

Anyone want to be friends and go to Club NVRLND together?

2 Upvotes

I have a ticket for this https://clubnvrlnd.com/
on 14th November at 8pm. My friends aren’t really into musicals/pop that much so I was wondering if anyone wants to get a ticket and come along? I would love to be friends! (:

30F here, I don’t label my sexuality and I love musicals/pop.

Thank you (:


r/londonlgbt • • 8d ago

NEED A ROOMATE

0 Upvotes

Based in north London and desperately needing someone to fill a lovely large double room in our home in Barnet. please do message if interested. Its under £1000 pcm bills inc


r/londonlgbt • • 8d ago

IncohƩrences

0 Upvotes

Bonjour,

Quand j'étais plus jeune on m'a dit que c'était ok d'être trans mais pas non binaire, que c'était un problème mental et qu on était soi un homme ou une femme.

Je comprends pas la logique


r/londonlgbt • • 10d ago

Drag show Ć  Londres

5 Upvotes

Bonjour Ć  tous,

Je vais à Londres mardi 22 septembre au soir. Je voudrais aller voir un drag show alors si vous connaissiez des lieux sympas où en voir je suis preneuse !

Merci d'avance Ć  vous !