From burlesque shows to fantasy escapism and the old-school rave experience, the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London make it clear why the city is a Mecca for the global queer community. Whether you’re new to the scene or fancy a change from the usual, there’s plenty to choose from…
Listen to 100 great Pride anthems here, and check out London’s best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs, below
10: Little Ku
Run by the owners of Ku Bar, Little Ku’s townhouse exterior is matched indoors by an understated aesthetic that prioritises homely relaxation over the flash of some of the other pre-drink spots among the best gay and LGBTQ+ bars in London. Catch up on all the gossip over G&Ts and vodka lemonades before taking things up a notch at Little Ku’s bigger sister.
Where:
25 Frith Street
London
W1D 5LB
How to get there:
London Underground to Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road or Piccadilly Circus
Website:
facebook.com/littlekulondon/
9: She Bar
Also run by the owners of Ku Bar, and just around the corner from Little Ku, She Bar is one of the best female-only gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London. The sleek white décor of this cosy, tunnel-shaped venue is complemented by the R&B floor-fillers pumping from the speakers, making you feel as though you’re in an early-2000s pop video, just waiting for Britney or Christina to wander on set.
Where:
23a Old Compton Street
London
W1D 5JL
How to get there:
London Underground to Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road or Piccadilly Circus
Website:
facebook.com/shesohobar
8: FIRE
Famed for its Beyond Midnight events, which have been known to go on to midday, FIRE offers the full-on rave experience among the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London. XXX shows, underwear parties and a dark room place it at the more extreme end of the nightclub scene, all soundtracked by a steady stream of house and techno blasting through the PA. If you’ve already been out all night but want to keep the party going, FIRE is where the candle gets burned at both ends.
Where:
39 Parry Street
South Lambeth Road
London
SW8 1RT
How to get there:
London Underground to Vauxhall
Website:
firelondon.net
7: Ku Bar
Spread over three floors in a building on the edge of London’s Chinatown district, Ku Bar has something for everyone, all tied together with a jazz-café-meets-camp aesthetic. Enter on the middle floor, where the music edges towards techno, and head upstairs for live burlesque and drag cabaret. Opening around 10pm, the basement club boasts a platform stage and classic LGBTQ+ hits (ABBA, Madonna) perfect for the go-go vibe encouraged by shirtless bar staff for whom a ripped physique seems to be a prerequisite for employment.
Where:
38 Lisle Street
London
WC2H 7BA
How to get there:
London Underground to Leicester Square
Website:
facebook.com/kubarlondon
6: G-A-Y Bar
A smaller version of the G-A-Y brand’s flagship venue, Heaven, G-A-Y Bar is the place to fuel up before heading out for the main event. Shots and frozen cocktails fly across the bar during happy hour, while cheesy pop videos – Sugababes, Girls Aloud – are in heavy rotation on the wall-mounted screens. With two floors, plus a terrace for smokers, it’s a pit stop rather than a full night out among the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London, but worth it for the wristband that gets you cheaper entry into Heaven.
Where:
30 Old Compton Street
London
W1D 4UR
How to get there:
London Underground to Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road or Piccadilly Circus
Website:
g-a-yandheaven.co.uk
5: Freedom Bar
With plush velvet seating and candles creating an intimate, low-lit atmosphere, Freedom Bar is on the classier end of the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London. DJs spin deep-house cuts upstairs, where the upmarket vibe attracts such celebrity clientele as Gok Wan, Nicole Scherzinger and Sam Smith, and the bar staff wear bow ties as they mix your cocktails. Head downstairs for camp throwback hits and a dancefloor complete with poles, where nightly drag cabaret performances can sometimes end in dance-offs with members of the audience.
Where:
60-66 Wardour Street
London
W14k 0TA
How to get there:
London Underground to Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus
Website:
freedombarsoho.com
4: Electrowerkz
Describing itself as London’s oldest alternative venue, and with the gritty aesthetic to live up to that claim (think abandoned chemicals factory), Electrowerkz moved into the queer space post-pandemic and hasn’t looked back. It tilts – OK, slants with gravity-defying glee – towards kinky, but with themed nights including Roast (men-only), Swagchella (post-punk ballerinas) and House Of Trash (NYC Club Kids via London’s East End), it also offers some of the widest range among the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London. No other contender has made its mark so confidently in recent years.
Where:
7 Torrens Street
London
EC1V 1NQ
How to get there:
London Underground to Angel
Website:
electrowerkz.co.uk
3: Circa Embankment
Taking up residency in Hungerford House, a Grade II listed building constructed in the early 1900s, Circa Embankment channels the building’s former purpose as a power station, with electrifying theme nights (bear, ballroom, drag) that make it one of the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London to cater to the fetish end of the market. Up-and-coming queer artists and Eurovision stars often perform showcases here, while the DJ spins euphoric house music from a giant mirrorball, looking every inch the overlord of the go-go dancers shaking it for all they’re worth.
Where:
Hungerford House
Victoria Embankment
London
WC2N 6PA
How to get there:
London Underground to Charing Cross or Embankment
Website:
www.babybullgroup.com/circa-embankment
2: The Clapham Grand
A refurbished Victorian music hall, The Clapham Grand offers a truly unique experience among the best gay and LBGTQ+ clubs in London. Its purpose-built stage is perfect for live performances of all types, from drag shows to comedy nights, while on themed evenings (Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, High School Musical) the punters themselves become the stars. One where the live draws override the DJ sets, The Clapham Grand nods to its theatre roots with a menu of old-school snacks including nachos, hot dogs, popcorn and candy floss, and even offers VIP boxes on a pre-booked basis for those seeking the perfect view – and perhaps a bit of privacy.
Where:
21-25 St John’s Hill
London
SW11 1TT
How to get there:
London Underground to Clapham Junction
Website:
claphamgrand.com
1: Heaven
One of the biggest LGBTQ+ clubs in Europe, Heaven is a must-visit for anyone travelling to London. Tucked away under the arches of Charing Cross train station, where its front doors nestle among coffee shops and even a small theatre, this legendary venue, run by G-A-Y, may seem unassuming on approach but, once inside, its true scope quickly becomes apparent. Exposed brick and oversized LED screens give it that classic warehouse-club vibe, while its three rooms offer the biggest of big nights out. Head to the main room for remixes of all the pioneering LGBTQ+ musicians – Madonna, Kylie, Cher – or check out the R&B and 80s-throwback rooms for themed spins. Weekend revellers may catch live acts from former contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race; and the “Princess Of Pop” herself, Kylie Minogue, has even performed a showcase here, both confirming her place as an LGBTQ+ icon and cementing Heaven’s No.1 status among the best gay and LGBTQ+ clubs in London.
Where:
Charing Cross Arches
Villiers Street
London
WC2N 6NG
How to get there:
London Underground to Charing Cross or Embankment
Website:
g-a-yandheaven.co.uk
