Best london gay bars

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best london gay bars

Remember that some events might require booking London club ticketsin advance. Transportation and late-night food should also be factored in. Barbie dolls hang from the ceiling, there’s a big fishbowl in the middle and old movies are projected onto a back wall. Wednesdays host High on Heels, a drag and diva night, followed by Chic!

Make sure to check specific venue websites for event listings and ticket information. Club entry fees in Vauxhall can be £10-£25, depending on the event and night. It's a long-standing institution, popular with a more mature crowd and known for its friendly staff and lively banter.

  • Freedom Bar: This upscale bar and club is known for its glamorous interior and diverse entertainment.

    The crowd here is LGBTQ+ in the broadest sense - anyone with a sense of fun will feel at home, whatever their gender and sexuality. It’s always packed on a Saturday, when DJs in the main bar drop pop bangers and the cavernous back room morphs into a proper club. It's often a starting point for a night out, with G-A-Y Late offering a club experience for those wanting to dance until the early hours.

  • Rupert Street Bar: Located just off Wardour Street, this stylish bar offers a more sophisticated vibe.

    Downstairs, the club brings together plush seating, disco balls, and the iconic dance poles that define its nightlife reputation. The upstairs bar is great for a midweek catch-up, while the basement is a fishbowl-like cabaret space where drag queens take to the stage seven nights a week. If you are looking for other unique bar experiences, you might also be interested in London's speakeasy bars, which offer a different kind of atmospheric fun.

    Utilize licensed taxis or reputable ride-sharing services.

  • Food & Drink: Many venues offer food, especially pubs. Sundays wrap up with Heavenly Bodies, a drag show staged on alternate weeks.

    • Features:

    Bar

    Dancing

    Live music

    Music

    London Gay Bars Guide 2025: Top LGBTQ+ Venues & Nightlife

    London boasts one of the most vibrant and welcoming LGBTQ+ scenes globally, making it a fantastic destination for queer travelers.

    But don’t let the throng of punters spilling onto the street put you off. 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.

    The downstairs alfresco area boasts sedate lighting, wooden banquettes and a fair bit of flora, giving things an almost bucolic feel. The lovely upstairs lounge is a great place for a date or conversation – and attracts more of a mixed crowd – and the ground floor is a lively bar space where you’ll probably hear a Kim Wilde banger.

    This pub-cum-legendary queer performance venue has been threatened for years by greedy property developers, but the RVT Future Committee refuses to let it die.