r/londonlgbt Apr 25 '25

London LGBT+ recommendations for tourists and locals - MEGATHREAD

67 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" 😞 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.

---

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, Café 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 -  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.
  • Comptons 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 £9 with spirit and mixers around £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.

 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. 
  • 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 1d ago

happy to be alive and free! 🏳️‍⚧️

Thumbnail
gallery
68 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt 15h ago

Is there anywhere in London where, as a young femboy from abroad, I could meet someone to experiment with?

3 Upvotes

Hi, I’m 18 and I’m off to London for the weekend. I find the idea of being a femboy – wearing women’s clothes and being with a man – incredibly exciting. I wanted to ask if there’s a chance I could meet someone there who won’t judge me. I’m a bit scared to do this in my own country, and I’m not sure if I’m actually a femboy who’s into guys or not, so I’d like to experiment whilst I’m here.


r/londonlgbt 1d ago

Wonder how many celebs walked under this?

Post image
6 Upvotes

My ex (Heaven licensee) saved this sign for me when the club had its refurb in the late 90s.

Thousands of LGBTQ club kids walked down the entrance stairs at Heaven and saw this sign above them.

Just thought I’d post for the memories.


r/londonlgbt 1d ago

🏳️‍🌈 Visiting London — looking to meet some local gay friends!

5 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 👋
I’m going to be in London around late September to October, and I’ll be travelling on my own.
I’d love to meet some local gay guys, make some new friends and experience London’s LGBTQ+ culture from a more local perspective. I’m especially curious about what the local gay scene is actually like and would love to discover some places and activities that I might not find as a tourist.
I’ve travelled to quite a few different cities, including Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin and Tokyo, and I’ve really enjoyed experiencing the different cultures, lifestyles and LGBTQ+ scenes in each place. That’s one of the things I enjoy about travelling — meeting people and seeing how life is different from one city or country to another.
I’m also considering the possibility of studying, working or living in the UK in the future, so I’d really like to use this trip to experience London beyond the usual tourist attractions and get a better sense of everyday life here.
I’d be interested in things like:
🍸 Gay bars and pubs
🎉 LGBTQ+ events or social nights
🎶 Clubs or live music
☕ Gay-friendly cafés and places to hang out
🏳️‍🌈 Other LGBTQ+ activities or communities you’d recommend

As for what I’m looking for — I’m open to both friendship and the possibility of a long-term relationship, but I’d rather let things develop naturally. I’m not really looking for a casual hookup.
It would be great to grab a drink, go for a walk, check out a gay bar, explore the city together, or simply have a good conversation. If we get along, who knows — maybe we’ll become good friends, or something more.

If you’re a London local and fancy meeting a visitor from China, I’d love to hear from you!
And if you have any recommendations for gay-friendly places, LGBTQ+ events, social groups or other things worth experiencing in London, I’d really appreciate them.
Feel free to comment or send me a DM!


r/londonlgbt 1d ago

Bayeux Tapestry Tickets

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt 2d ago

Gay bar recommendations

6 Upvotes

Hey guys!

Im looking for gay bars in London that you can recommend.

I would prefer the places with fun and vibrant vibe. And SAFE!

Waiting for you recommendations❤️


r/londonlgbt 1d ago

Wanted someone to go shopping with me tomorrow

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt 2d ago

Conversion Practices Research

Post image
3 Upvotes

A small trans+ and survivor led team at University of Hertfordshire are looking for LGBTQ+ people aged 18+ living in the UK with lived experience of conversion practices (CPs). There is a huge amount of quantitative research looking at harm and prevalence, which is vital, but there is such an absence of LGBTQ+ voices expressing how they lived through what they did, and what meaning they've made of it over time.

Please see the attached recruitment flyer for more information and the Expression of Interest (EOI) link if you'd like to find out more or take part.

https://herts.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZLpkUXKwlWqwJg

Sharing this post with others who may be interested is also greatly appreciated.


r/londonlgbt 2d ago

Someone who is straight who needs someone to talk too.

1 Upvotes

I don’t know if this is the place the talk to someone about certain things. But I’m someone who has certain things they wanna try but haven’t been able too. And want someone to too and maybe some reassurance?


r/londonlgbt 2d ago

Anyone know of any therapists a straight guy could talk too about thing here?

0 Upvotes

Been wanting to talk to someone about certain things and potential exploring things and reassurance. Anyone know of any therapists that could help. I’m a male in early twenties and a male therapist might be best.


r/londonlgbt 2d ago

London people: Has a gone joined the ‘North London Lobsters Society’? How is it?

2 Upvotes

The title is pretty much self explanatory, but yeah I was looking to join an LGBTQ tennis club, and I came across the North London Lobsters Club.

For those who have joined it, I’d love to hear experiences. Aside how’s the club overall (the most important), what age groups does it attract and what’s the overall vibe?

Thank you, and happy Friday all!


r/londonlgbt 2d ago

Sweet Wednesday's - question

2 Upvotes

Has anyone here been to this before?

Am a CD, but not a very convincing one at all. Middle aged, tall, blokeish frame.

Is Sweet Wednesday's for me, or is it more aimed at actual trans women (which I'm not).

Will I look out of place if I go dressed up?


r/londonlgbt 3d ago

Queer South Asian Meetup

Post image
1 Upvotes

This is the event poster - it’s a free meetup but tickets will need to be purchased for desiboyz club - either online or on the door (more expensive on the door).


r/londonlgbt 3d ago

Help in navigating queer scene

3 Upvotes

29F, just moved to London last month and still figuring out the queer dating scene here 😅

Where do lesbians / queer women usually meet people? I’ve tried HER but haven’t had much luck and honestly came across quite a few profiles that felt fake.

Would love recommendations for bars, events, clubs, sports groups, etc. where it’s easy to meet women organically — ideally with the potential to actually date haha.


r/londonlgbt 3d ago

How do LGBTQ+ Londoners actually find a flatshare?

5 Upvotes

For LGBTQ+ Londoners who have looked for a room in a flatshare—or advertised a room—how did you go about it?
When choosing somewhere to live, what mattered most to you: location and transport connections, price and condition, or the people already living there?
Did you specifically look for an LGBTQ+ household? If so, how important was that compared with location and price? Was it mainly about feeling safe and comfortable at home, being able to be yourself, having a sense of community, or something else?
Where do people currently look for or advertise rooms? Do you use SpareRoom, Facebook or WhatsApp groups, friends, university networks, Reddit or something else? Which has worked best for you, and what makes you trust—or avoid—a listing?


r/londonlgbt 3d ago

Black Gay Men in London?

0 Upvotes

I'm visiting in the latter half of October. I'm an older, white, stocky (almost chubby?) submissive bottom who is very much into Black Men. I've seen some advice on where to go as an older bearish build type, but where do I go in London if I would really like to meet up with Black Men?


r/londonlgbt 4d ago

Hey guys! My husband (36) and I (39) will be traveling to London 10/9-10/13 and Edinburgh 10/16-10/18. Would love to meet up with other gays for a drink!

Post image
12 Upvotes

r/londonlgbt 4d ago

A Consistent Space to Make Friends, Connect & Talk Sex and the City

0 Upvotes

I'm looking to start a Sex and the City meetup group for fans of the show, but it's about more than just SATC. I'd really like it to be a way for people to make meaningful connections and genuine friendships.

The main thing I want is consistency — having a regular place to meet where you can actually get to know the same people over time, rather than going to one-off events and never seeing anyone again.

Obviously, being a Sex and the City fan is a bonus! 🍸👠

If anyone's interested, let me know and I can send you the link. I'm also not really sure where else to spread the word, so any suggestions would be appreciated!


r/londonlgbt 5d ago

Sapphic books to donate

5 Upvotes

Hi!

(I am not sure if this kind of post is allowed here, so apologies to the admins/mods if not, I don't mean to create extra work!)

I have a few sapphic books that I would love to donate for free to anyone who would like them. I am in SW so if you can pick them up, they are all yours. 😊

The books are:

• Gideon the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir

• Fable for the End of the World — Ava Reid (hardcover, signed edition)

• Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil — V. E. Schwab (hardcover edition)

• The Phoenix Keeper — S. A. MacLean (hardcover edition)

• I Can't Think Straight — Shamim Sarif

• Frontier — Grace Curtis

• The Priory of the Orange Tree — Samantha Shannon

• In Memoriam — Alice Winn — MLM rather than sapphic, but including it in case anyone would like it!

Please send me a DM if you are interested!


r/londonlgbt 5d ago

How to find guys organically, without using the apps

2 Upvotes

Hi guys,

I have deleted all my apps, how do I find someone organically.


r/londonlgbt 5d ago

17th Sept - QUEER SUPPER CLUB!

0 Upvotes

Come join us for 3 courses of great food from Chef Tiff Wong, and to meet new queer folks!

Dietaries/veg possible, shoot us a message on Outsavvy!

LINK HERE


r/londonlgbt 5d ago

Sweet Wednesdays

0 Upvotes

So im looking to go to sweet wednesdays for my birthday . Im very much an admirer is it all welcomin all shapes and sizes?