Gay Bars in London

Heaven

The young, the restless and the G-A-Y

The enduringly popular G-A-Y remains one of London's defining gay institutions, especially among the...

1st place in Best of GayCities 2023 - Clubbing King

Central London · 9 The Arches, Villiers St, London

• trans-friendly
• 20+
• 30+
• dancing
• drag
• cruising
• after hours
• 18+
• mixed LGBTQ+
• $$
• live entertainment
• travelers
• LGBTQ+ owned
• nightclub
• techno
• locals
• daddies
• lively
• twinks

Poppy pre-club video bar

Three floors of lively and camp-sympathetic atmosphere, with a decidedly up-and-coming (read young) crowd meeting up...

Soho · 30 Old Compton St, London

• dancing
• video
• 18+
• mixed LGBTQ+

Basement bollocks and cocks

Two tube stops north of Soho in an area known more for its literary past (Fitzrovia) than as a destination for...

Central London · 139—143 Whitfield St, Fitzrovia, London

• Backroom
• video
• cruising
• themed

Male-dominant Soho institution

Cruisy and casual two-floor pub attracting mostly non-perfumed guys, including leathermen in day wear (or in...

Soho · 53 Old Compton St, London

• leather
• outdoor seating
• bears
• cruising
• pub

Royal Vauxhall Tavern

Gay mecca in Vauxhall

Indestructible Victorian pub with a singular gay history — including drag performances since the middle of the...

Nominated for Best of GayCities 2023 - Legendary Bar

Vauxhall · 372 Kennington Ln, London

• 30+
• 40+
• 50+
• dancing
• drag
• outdoor seating
• bears
• mixed LGBTQ+
• pub
• $$
• live entertainment
• cabaret
• themed
• lively

Men drink here

Nothing out of the ordinary to say about this perfectly fine Soho corner pub. At its most extreme it's...

Soho · 77 Wardour St, London

• outdoor seating
• bears
• cruising
• pub

Cruisy old-fashioned pub atmosphere

Popular, nearly-all-male Vauxhall spot with an unusually pleasing and spacious outdoor patio/smoking area. The bar...

Vauxhall · 349 Kennington Lane, London

• leather
• outdoor seating
• pool table
• bears
• cruising
• pub
• themed

Soho's premier den for bears

Casual, carpeted and cosy pub with an undeniable cruisy thing going on, the King's Arms is a magnet for older...

Soho · 23 Poland St, London

• bears
• cruising
• karaoke

Ku ku ka choo

Very popular and casual hot spot luring an image-aware, youngish and camp-friendly clientele, set on three floors...

Central London · 30 Lisle St, London

• 20+
• 30+
• 40+
• dancing
• outdoor seating
• comedy club
• cabaret

Friendly and relaxed bar in the thick of Soho

Opened in late 1991, this was the bar that added a touch of gloss to Soho's then rather low-key gay profile, spawning...

Soho · 81 Wardour St, London

• 20+
• 30+
• drag
• go-go boys
• 18+
• karaoke
• cabaret