The LGBTQ+ guide to London's best queer-friendly venues

Paladar is a queer-led Latin American restaurant and wine bar that's become a favourite for a relaxed drink south of the river. It's bright, sociable, and totally inclusive, with Latin art on the walls and a leafy garden that's perfect for warm evenings. The cocktails are the real draw here, served with friendly energy and a low-key vibe that makes it a great start to a night out.

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been a cornerstone of queer London since the 1980s and is now protected with Grade II status for both its architecture and cultural significance. Today it remains South London's oldest surviving gay venue, offering everything from cabaret and comedy to club nights that run into the early hours thanks to its 24-hour licence. Its red interiors, disco-lit stage, and outdoor area make it a vibrant spot for drinks, performance, and community.

A self-described “dirty Tel Aviv fantasy” set in the heart of Soho, Kapara provides an after-dark playground with an outdoor terrace, a sultry underground private dining room, and a hedonistic soundtrack. Serving inventive Israeli food and drinks, the queer-owned restaurant highlights its head chef's formidable culinary flair in a bold, indulgent setting.

Shaped by its community spirit, this queer-friendly venue hosts everything from gallery shows and live gigs to club nights and drag brunches. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and activism, it frequently raises funds for LGBTQ+ causes. By day, the rotating kitchen crew turns out a laid-back menu for eat-in or takeaway, keeping the space buzzing long before the DJs take over.

Comptons has been part of Soho for so many decades that it's earned the title “The Grande Dame” of Old Compton Street. As one of London's longest-standing LGBTQ+ bars, it's long been a go-to for a lively drink. The venue encompasses a wood-panelled ground-floor pub, a relaxed upstairs lounge, and a bit of outdoor space too. Come the weekend, DJs roll in with pop favourites.

Soho's LGBTQ+ scene is legendary, and the Admiral Duncan is one of its fixtures. Its bright blue front and rainbow flags set the tone for the warm, welcoming atmosphere inside, where drag cabaret and karaoke nights are on regularly. The gay-friendly pub serves everything from cocktails and fizz to wine, pints, and spirits, and they'll even treat you to a free drink on your birthday.

Colours Hoxton is a lively, LGBTQ-friendly club and arts venue in Hoxton Square, known for its inclusive atmosphere and striking LED ceiling installation. Its 300-capacity live room hosts an eclectic mix of rising local talent and established artists across genres like hip-hop, electro-pop, and soul. The queer community hub features a great sound system, buzzing club nights, cocktails, pizza, bottomless brunches, and even a karaoke room.

Heaven has been a defining force in London nightlife for over 40 years, an extraordinary feat for a venue founded as a trailblazing gay club that weathered decades of cultural shifts and moral scrutiny. Its influence stretches far beyond the dancefloor, with resident DJs like Paul Oakenfold shaping the UK's rave era, pioneering ambient house, and hosting legendary gigs from the likes of New Order, The Birthday Party, and Throbbing Gristle. Today it remains a powerhouse of queer London nightlife and the live music scene.

The Glove That Fits is an LGBTQ-friendly Hackney hangout with a compact basement built for late-night dancing. Showcasing forward-thinking electronic and experimental sounds, this tiny 80-capacity space has quickly earned a loyal following. Its intimate scale and inclusive ethos make it one of the most exciting small club spots in London right now.

Ku Bar ranks among London's biggest and best-known LGBTQ+ hotspots, spread across three lively floors just off Leicester Square. With a dedicated champagne bar and a soundtrack packed with pop hits and dance-floor favourites, it's built for nights that run long. Downstairs, its late-night basement venue, Klub, keeps the party going into the early hours.

Fire in Vauxhall is one of London's standout gay nightclubs, known for all-night house, techno, and bass-heavy events. Set within its signature railway arches, the venue spans multiple rooms equipped with LED lighting, powerful sound systems, bars, and an outdoor terrace. With space for around 2,000 people, it's built for marathon parties and high-energy clubbing.

She Soho is a modern sanctuary for queer women, non-binary people, and their guests, right in the heart of Old Compton Street. Serving as a community focal point, it throws late-night parties in its vaulted basement, complete with top-notch lighting and a powerful sound system. The venue also hosts events like drag king cabaret, burlesque performances, and a range of social gatherings.

Queer Britain is the UK's first dedicated national LGBTQ+ museum. Located in King's Cross, it offers free entry to its galleries, gift shop, and event spaces, showcasing exhibitions that trace the history of queer rights and related themes. Visitors can delve into inspiring stories, artefacts, and artworks that highlight the queer community's cultural influence and its continuing fight for equality.

The world's first permanent museum devoted to gynaecological anatomy, the Vagina Museum aims to demystify gynaecological health, challenge body-related stigma, and champion intersectional, feminist, and trans-inclusive principles. It delivers this mission through a programme of engaging exhibitions, talks, and community events.

The LGBTQ Working Group at the famed V&A museum researches and highlights queer histories within the museum's collections, using talks, events, and public engagement to deepen understanding of gender, sexuality, and identity. It identifies LGBTQ-related objects, develops resources such as queer-themed tours, and offers year-round programming, including activities for LGBTQ History Month.

Queercircle is an LGBTQ-led charity driving systemic change by working where art, health, and social action meet. Its permanent home in North Greenwich serves as a hub for exhibitions, talks, workshops, and community events. Here, programmes span everything from familiar formats like book clubs to more experimental, forward-thinking gatherings.

Discover one of the UK's most subversive archives at Bishopsgate Library, housed within a Grade II–listed building at the Bishopsgate Institute. Its traditional setting of towering wooden shelves belies a collection centred on humanism, free thought, activism, and protest, including special archives on LGBTQIA+ history, politics, and culture in the UK.

The Queer Comedy Club offers an inclusive, welcoming space dedicated entirely to LGBTQ+ humour. As London's first permanent queer comedy venue, it features both well-known performers and rising talent, with some shows exclusively for LGBTQ+ comedians and others welcoming allies. The atmosphere is warm and supportive, with a mix of regular nights and special one-off gigs.

Described by its gay creator Dennis Severs as a “still-life drama,” Dennis Severs' House blurs the line between theatre and exhibition, conjuring a “historical imagination” of a Huguenot weaving family. Meticulously arranged by Severs himself, each room serves as a vivid time capsule tracing this fictional household from 1725 to 1919.

Boys! Boys! Boys! in Euston combines a gallery and a café, creating a welcoming space dedicated to celebrating gay and queer photography. As London's first fine art gallery focused entirely on this genre, it showcases a curated programme of exhibitions, with artworks available to buy. The adjoining café offers a cosy corner for coffee or a snack while you linger over the visuals.

Founded in 1979, Gay's the Word is not only the UK's oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop but also a longstanding community gathering point. Once opened to fill a gap in queer literature, it now offers a wide range of fiction, graphic novels, and educational titles organised by sexuality and gender. The shop also runs discussion groups and meet-ups, as well as provides useful resources for anyone exploring LGBTQ+ topics.

Barberette is a gender-neutral hair salon that has offered a safe, inclusive space for haircuts for over a decade, with pricing based on the style of cut rather than the client's gender. While the team is known for its expertise in short hairstyles, they're equally comfortable working with long and layered looks. The salon also provides a gender-neutral shaving service, and appointments can be easily booked online.

The queer-owned Toad Bakery has quickly become one of the most popular bakeries in London and further afield thanks to its playful, boundary-pushing approach. Alongside classic sourdough and familiar pastries, you'll find inventive twists that keep regulars coming back for surprises, including imaginative creations like elderflower–strawberry croissants or chipotle-beef-filled bear claws.

Housmans is a not-for-profit independent bookshop that has championed radical and progressive ideas since the aftermath of World War II. Its shelves are filled with books on feminism, pacifism, environmental justice, and queer topics, alongside the UK's largest collection of radical pamphlets and magazines. Visitors can also browse an extensive range of DIY zines or join one of the many events the shop regularly hosts.

Led by a seasoned guide, Queer London Tours provides welcoming and insightful walks that delve into the city's LGBTQ+ past and present. Guests can choose between group outings or tailored private tours, each weaving together famous locations with hidden corners of the capital. The result is an engaging journey through the stories and spaces that have shaped queer London.