Ten LGBTQ+ spots to visit in London

More than just a bookshop, Gay’s The Word has been the epicentre of queer life in London for more than four decades. Once a hub of political activity, the shop now provides a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people of all ages and an incomparable stock of queer literature.

In 1999, a nail bomb attack at the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho killed three people – Andrea Dykes, Nik Moore and John Light – and injured dozens more. In St Anne’s Gardens, there is the Admiral Duncan Memorial Bench and three trees planted in their memory. 

Originally above a pub called The Stag in Victoria and now housed under the arches in Vauxhall, Above the Stag is the only dedicated LGBTQ+ theatre in the UK. Complete with two performance spaces and a bar, it hosts everything from musicals to comedy. 

Founded by London drag royalty Jonny Woo and John Sizzle, this East End boozer is home to some of the best drag and cabaret acts in the city. Like the gay bars of yesteryear, it also exudes a community spirit so often missing in today’s queer venues. 

With one shop in Soho and another in Earl’s Court, CloneZone has been serving the LGBTQ+ community since 1982, specialising in everything from underwear to adult toys. The west London branch also has basement specifically for fetish gear. 

The UK’s longest-running, and now last, leather bar, Backstreet (and its door policy) hasn’t changed in more than 35 years: if you’re not wearing leather, rubber or fetish gear, you’re not getting in. Visitors can borrow leathers, however, if they’re eager to come inside. 

Royal by name, royal by nature, this London institution has welcomed gay men since the 1950s. It’s now the city’s most inclusive spot for alternative theatre, cabaret and drag, as well as iconic club nights like Duckie.

This basement space located underneath Little Ku in Soho is London’s only permanent lesbian bar. While it might be on the small side, it’s definitely mighty, offering a safe space for queer women and hosting London’s best drag kings.

Opened in 1979, this mammoth club has evolved throughout the decades, although it’s always been a space for LGBTQ+ people. It’s now home to G-A-Y, which regularly hosts PA performances for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Little Mix. 

The oldest trans night in London, this weekly event launched in 1993 and has built a real community around it. Open until 3am and playing mostly pop hits all night, there’s usually also a performance from a drag act or trans singer.