Ready to party it up in the best LGBTQ+ bars in London?
The capital is bursting with friendly LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, and pubs – from cosy joints that are perfect for low-key evenings tucked away in Vauxhall, to the ultimate lovable cheesefest that is Heaven.
Don your party gear and get ready to shake up London town the only way we know how… filled with booze and glammed up to the nines.
PS: The article is split into bars, clubs and pubs – so you can find an option whatever kind of night you’re after.
LGBTQ+ Bars
The Bridge
Gay bars in Clapham are not hard to come by, but hidden under a railway arch, The Bridge is one of the most popular among the areas LGBTQ+ crowd.
With events like drag bingo, themed pub quizzes (you’ll find us at the next Britney one), and fabulous Drag shows, The Bridge is friendly and fun AF. The bar also streams the latest episodes of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, so sashay your way on over for the ultimate glam night out.
Drinks are cheap too – head to The Bridge between 5-7pm every day for the happiest of happy hours.
Ku Bar
Ku Bar has been a gay bar staple in the capital for over 20 years and is still a hub for a fun night out.
Spread over 3 floors, this is really an all-in-one venue: the upstairs champagne bar is a more classy affair, though we all know that once those champers have hit you’ll be making your way down to the basement club, right?
Nightly DJ’s hype up the crowd, and the Sunday Drag shows always prove popular with locals and tourists alike.
Friendly Society
Soho
Describing themselves as Soho’s worst-kept secret, Friendly Society are unapologetically camp.
Adorned with pastel pink decor, flowers hanging from the ceiling (also: barbies suspended in mid-air), and friendly staff – what more could you ask for? Once you’re over the gorgeous interior, grab yourself a cocktail – we love the Bitter Slag. Ooh-err.
Village
Soho
Village is another Soho fail-safe worth popping into for a drink or two.
One of the main draws to the Village is the weekly Karaoke Wednesdays – join the hosts Luna Cortez and Martin Petersson from 9pm until the early hours and prepare to whack out your best Whitney impression… … Or sit back and watch the chaos unleash throughout the night. Up to you.
Other regular events include live DJ sets, drag shows, and go-go dancers, everything you could want from a night out.
Happy hour is every day between 4pm and 9pm during which you’ll be able to snag yourself 50% off selected drinks. Don’t mind if we do!
The Yard
Soho
If chaotic boozy evenings are less your scene, but the idea of chilling out with a margarita sounds divine (we agree), head to The Yard, an intimate Italian-esque retreat tucked away just off Rupert Street.
Known for attracting a slightly more mature crowd, the drinks menu boasts a healthy amount of cocktails to choose from, as well as some shooters and shots if you’re looking to take things up a notch.
There are tables and VIP areas you can reserve, but we love this queer-friendly space for the heated courtyard garden and stunning comfort of the balconied loft bar which are perfect during the summer or winter.
Dalston Superstore
We love that Dalston Superstore is not shy: along the high street’s row of plain-Jane shops it sits decorated with rainbows, enticing you inside. Best-known as one of the more alternative gay bars in London, it’s always filled with a cool (but welcoming) crowd.
Head there during the day for a delicious Vegan burger by Essential Vegan, or visit during the evening for couple of innovative cocktails (the Wh*re’s Handbag goes down oh-so-smoothly). The bar also hosts plenty of exhibitions and events throughout the year.
DS’ Drag Brunch offering is a popular event that we think everyone should attend at least once. Raucous fun and hilarity awaits.
The Glory
The Glory is one of London’s leading queer venues, run by the queer community for the queer community. Indeed, they market themselves as a performance mecca for the LGBTQ+ crowd.
A dog-friendly pub, events and performances hit the stage after dark with theatre performances, regular cabaret, and banging club nights throughout the weekend. One of the best nights are the screenings of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, some of the best socialising in London.
If you’re looking for a friendly, welcoming spot that combines killer cocktails, sparkling champers, and top quality entertainment, look no further than The Glory.
LGBTQ+ Clubs
Heaven
Charing Cross
It feels like an understatement to say that Heaven was the blueprint for the Gay scene in London when it opened back in 1979. Famed for acid-house events run by Paul Oakenfold throughout the 80s, it was the capital’s first superclub.
All these years later, it’s still the top spot for tourists and locals in the LGBTQ+ community when looking to party it up in London.
Expect a wild night out here – Thursdays are home to the G-A-Y P*rn Idol strip contest, whilst Fridays are an all-out camp bonanza.
She Bar
Soho
Soho’s She Bar is a spot for ‘queer women, non-binary folk and their guests’ and has long been a poppin’ spot for those within the LBTQ+ community.
By day, it’s an events space dedicated to supporting those within the community, and by night… a bar-turned-club where you can let loose and party.
Boasting an extensive calendar of events including fabulous drag performances, cocktails and cabaret shows, as well as themed music evenings, this is a welcoming bar that promises a good time.
Two Brewers
Clapham
Partying on a school night? Oh, go on then…
Another venue at the heart of Clapham’s gay scene is Two Brewers, and you’ll be glad to hear that it’s open seven days a week.
Forget watered-down vodka cokes and disappointing Jagerbombs, expect everything from boozy cocktails to shots and shooters, all for reasonable prices..
Weekdays are filled with glittering cabaret shows, whilst weekends are crazy club nights filled with karaoke, drag shows, and fun quizzes to really amp up the crowd.
Freedom
Soho
Forget sticky floors and grungy bars, a night out at Freedom is a sophisticated affair surrounded by over 200 disco balls and chandeliers.
Set over two floors, the downstairs is saved for cabaret, drag shows, and a poppin’ basement club whilst the top floor is home to a swanky cocktail bar with a menu named after famous Hollywood stars.
The Grace Kelly (vodka, hibiscus, lime, and orange) and the strong Rock Hudson (scotch, chestnut, and orange on the rocks).
Events include Monday’s Kinky Kabaret, Wednesday’s Drag and Divas, before the weekend starts on Thursday with CHIC’s disco bangers. Not only that, Happy Hour sees all cocktails at just £6.909 Monday to Friday until 8pm, and until 6pm at the weekend.
Circa
Soho
A relative newbie amongst London gay clubs, Circa’s weekly lineup is ridiculously good.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sees some of the best DJs in the capital electrify the crowd, with Friday’s RnB offering popular amongst regular partygoers. This is the classic clubbing experience, complete with cramped dance floor and guilty-pleasure tunes.
There’s something for everyone all week long, but things really ramp up on the weekend, beginning with Showcase Thursday and ending with Love #Hangover on Sunday nights.
The WayOut Club
Limehouse
As the leading Transgender club in London, The WayOut hosts a weekly bonanza that champions diversity and welcomes those who are transgender, enjoy cross-dressing and pure drag, as well as friendly allies.
Vicky Lee has been the club’s host since it opened in 1993 and you’ll likely find her partying it up in the club and welcoming partygoers. The bar first started as a wine bar but soon transformed into one of the best clubs for transgender folk in London.
They allow you to change at the venue if you wish, using the basement dancefloor, while all bags are securely looked after in the cloakroom. Events are held on the third Saturday of every month, making this a must-visit London hotspot.
FIRE
Who knew that tucked under a Vauxhall railway arch hides an industrial nightclub perfect for booze-filled raves amongst a friendly crowd?
Electronic music blares all the way through the LED-lit rooms until 6am – seasonal events and weekly themed evenings shake things up. The regular latin parties and dubstep evenings prove popular amongst ravers.
Expect loud music and cheap drinks at FIRE.
Electrowerkz
Electrowerkz is home to one of the best cult club nights in London, and is one of the city’s oldest alternative venues. This dingy warehouse space with a relaxing inner courtyard is spread over three floors with different rooms catering for all tastes.
Regular queer nights are held at this cool venue, including Roast, a ‘men-only’ night full of bears and those that love them, while House of Trash is a huge LGBTQ+ free-for-all. Looking for a queer art techno rave night? Riposte will goes until 6am ripping out the smartest EDM tunes.
This welcoming spot is where you can rock up wearing whatever you like, with goth, cyber, and fetishwear very much encouraged.
Zodiac
Euston
Zodiac is located on Hampstead Road, just around the corner from Euston, making it the ideal spot for anyone reluctant to head into Soho, but wanting a banging night out embedded in the queer community.
Zodiac is so much more than just a gay bar, it’s a home for all things LGBTQ+, for the community and allies to hang out, socialise, and unite. Whether you want to dance the night away, hang out and make new friends, or just chill quietly with good folk, Zodiac is the perfect spot.
Regular events include club nights in Z Club dowstairs, live comedy, karaoke and, of course, awesome drag shows. Weekdays see happy hour from 5pm on weekdays in Zodiac Bar until 8pm before the energy ramps up with bingo and the odd retro game’s night to add to the fun.
LGBTQ+ Pubs
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Vauxhall
The RVT is a Victorian music hall turned LGBTQ+ pub in London that has a BIG reputation.
During the 70s, the RVT consisted of two bars which doubled as a stage for drag artists to dance across. This resulted in the pub spawning some pretty famous acts, including Carla who was famed for her Barbara Streisand impression.
The pub was actually given Grade II heritage in 2015 after a campaign backed by Boris Johnson and Ian McKellen recognised how important it was within the LGBTQ+ community. Even if partying is not your scene, grabbing a pint in this iconic venue is a must do.
The Queen Adelaide
This Victorian-era pub has become one of London’s iconic LGBTQ+ hotspots, outside the hustle and bustle of Soho, Vauxhall and other heavily-queer areas.
The Queen Adelaide has retained the east-end charm of its origins as a pub, yet has brilliantly negotiated itself a solid niche in the East London LGBTQ+ scene. With regular exhibitions, theatrical performances, queer cabaret and good old club nights, there’s something to suit all tastes at this stunning pub.
People are welcome all week round from 5pm until the small hours to drink, dance, chat, make out, and be their most authentic selves while revelling in the non-stop cool of this old-school boozer.
Admiral Duncan
Soho
Deep in Soho, along Old Compton Street, the Admiral Duncan is one of the most recognisable names in the London LGBTQ+ pub scene.
As well as being one of the city’s most welcoming queer spaces, the Admiral Duncan is famous for its drag shows between 9pm and 11:30pm every day of the week. Mondays see a range of cool drinks promotions available designed to get your week off to a belting start as well.
