Vault 139

Just north of Soho, hidden away on a quiet back street – aren’t all sex bars? – Vault 139 is London’s most central knocking shop. As sex clubs go, Vault 139 is classier than most. The bar area is dark, slick and mellow, with plush sofas, television screens and a DJ booth, and the bartenders seem professional; in short, it doesn’t feel seedy and there are few obvious signs of hanky panky. But start wandering the corridors, with their private rooms and furtive men huddled in little groups, and you’ll soon realise why this new subterranean venue has quickly amassed such a devoted following. Staff ask you to check your belongings behind the bar when you arrive – as well as your clothes, on certain nights. There are naked sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and underwear- only dress codes on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons.