London’s LGBT scene has been full of vibrant venues offering safe spaces to be yourself for decades.
The heartland of LGBT nightlife is located in Soho but you’l find brilliant gay bars and clubs dedicated to serving the community south of the river and in the east end too.
From super cool and edgy club nights to events showcasing the city’s best drag queens and cabaret performers, there’s plenty of diversity in the capital.
Heaven
Embankment’s Heaven first opened its doors in 1979 and was revolutionary. London’s first gay superclub, it was a magnet for gay celebrities and famous drag queens while also being the birthplace of Hi-NRG and acid house music.
Thursday now hosts G-A-Y Porn idol, a strip show where eager volunteers get up on stage, perform for 2 minutes and then get scored by the guest celebrity drag queens of the night.
Fridays G-A-Y Camp Attack and Saturdays are reserved for the G-A-Y club night proper.
Eagle London
On Sunday nights, the dance floor at Vauxhall’s Eagle welcomes a younger and more fashion-concsious crowd for Horse Meat Disco, one of London’s very best club nights.
Debbie, a monthly Saturday night party which only plays songs by female artists, is also worth attending.
The overall ambience of the club now feels slick and sexy rather than slightly sleazy due to the revoked license permitting sexual activity on the premises.
KU Bar and Club
On the outskirts of Chinatown, this large LGBT venue is regularly voted London’s best. KU attracts a young, wild crowd who are eager to party till dawn.
The ground floor offers a bright and modern bar space with video screens playing chart hits and downstairs is a clubbier room where fresh-faced types of all genders sway to pop and dance remixes.
Megan Kelly
Maurizio Kayonjo