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Hotels here are often smaller and busier, but the convenience is unbeatable.

gay london

Wetherspoons it certainly ain’t.

The Queen Adelaide

After beloved east London queer pub The George and Dragon was forced to close down in 2015, The Queen Adelaide rose from its ashes a couple of weeks later. East London adds another layer, with alternative nights, quirky pubs and creative spaces.

Saunas, cruise bars and fetish venues provide a more adventurous side for those who seek it.

Just off the main Columbia Road drag, the Sunday roasts are pretty special - as is the impressive, and every so slightly NSFW wall-art of various hand-drawn, cartoon genitals. It's pretty gay every night of the week, but Thursdays are marked out for Queereoke, with an extra camp playlist to let loose to.

The Nelson’s

One of London’s cosiest LGBT+ boozers.

Address: 117 New Cross Rd, London SE14 5DJ

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Vagina Museum

When the Vagina Museum’s founder Florence Schechter first realised that there were no existing museums dedicated to the female reproduction system, she knew she had to change that.

After some dubious refurbs, it now has a disappointing modern-yet-dated interior, but some great cabaret shows and cheap drink offers help to make amends. It also plays host to some very fun club diva-centric nights including Girls Night Out + Pop Curious?, a heady celebration of both mainstream and cult pop girls.

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The best gay bars in south London

Royal Vauxhall Tavern

To paraphrase a famous saying: after a nuclear holocaust, all that will be left are cockroaches, Cher and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

A genuinely mixed space where the vibe is less ‘anything goes’, more ‘everything encouraged’.

The Karaoke Hole

The little sister of nearby Dalston Superstore, The Karaoke Hole is the UK's first drag queen karaoke bar, and a place where you can let your inner diva out.

If sightseeing is your focus, areas near Covent Garden or the South Bank give easy access to attractions. Think again, my friend.

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Located in the increasingly gay enclave of Clapham, The Two Brewers has a more provincial feel than some of London’s LGBTQ+venues. But honestly, that’s a big part of its charm. 

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12 Of The Best LGBTQIA+ Spaces In London

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Gay's The Word

The closest thing to an encyclopaedia of everything you could ever want to know relating to the history of queer people, Gay Is The Word is place you've been searching for.

The upstairs loft bar has smart leather sofas and a balcony that’s popular with smokers. it takes its name from the Spanish term for ‘female truck driver’ – a euphemism for butch lesbians – and is inspired by the Iberian bars that the couple frequent when visiting Clara’s family near Madrid. The vibe is definitely more in keeping with your typical east London small plates spot than your average gay bar: think white-washed walls, and tasteful, hand-painted tiles decorating a bar stocked with neatly-arranged bottles of Campari and biodynamic wine. 

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The Divine

Rising from the ashes of the dearly departed The Glory, The Divine offers the same anarchic LGBTQ+ energy.

This LGBTQ+ space is just a handbag's throw from Euston and Warren Street stations, and offers a lively mix of karaoke nights, drag shows, and club nights with gogo dancers.

Address: La Camionera, 243 Well Street, London E9 6RG

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LGBTQ+ London

London is one of the most diverse cities in Europe, and its LGBTQ+ scene is both historic and vibrant.

Below the soothing interiors, guests can explore a basement art gallery where you can view exhibitions created by local artists as well as have the opportunity to buy their art. But on the other, it’s a platform for forward-thinking queer entertainment. It's far from cutting edge but it's got a down-to-earth, welcoming feel that makes it a fun spot for a night out. 

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Friendly Society

Friendly Society benefits from the power of surprise: after entering through a bland back-alley doorway, you’re greeted at the bottom of the stairs by Soho’s most idiosyncratic drinking den.

Open every night expect excluding Monday, the SHE offers a variety of nightly themes and music genres. Unless you identify as such – or arrive with plenty of queer female and non-binary mates – you’re probably not going to get in. Panettone brioche buns, lemon and raspberry meringue pies and soy glazed pork belly sandwiches are just some of the tasty picks off the menu that make the visit to this North London eatery worth it.

Address: 70 Mountgrove Rd, Finsbury Park, London N5 2LT

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Goldie Saloon

Promising to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture, stunning queer energy plus DDA-approved accessibility, this East-London based haven will open its doors in July, just in time for summer.

People care about this place because it mixes a rich history – Princess Diana once popped in disguised in male drag, and British drag icon Lily Savage performed here in the ’80s – with excellent regular nights like Bar Wotever and Push the Button.

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The best gay bars in east London

Dalston Superstore

This Kingsland High Street hangout is an east London institution loved by everyone from Owen Jones to Princess Julia.

Address: Arch 25, Old union yard arches, 229 Union St, London SE1 0LR

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Fink's Salt & Sweet

Filled with rustic charm, this homely cafe-deli will no doubt satisfy your every craving from morning to night.