A Brief Guide to Gay London

London has more than many countries and some continents have to offer for gay visitors. The scene is diverse, vibrant and spread throughout the city. Based primarily in bars and clubs there are a variety of venues on offer, from cafes and restaurants, shops and the inevitable saunas. Whether it is high culture and fine wine, or an unrestrained night of hedonism there is something for you waiting in London. Just one warning needs to be imparted, however. While most people in London are open minded and accepting about alternative lifestyles, this does not apply to everyone. Homophobic incidents, including attacks, are rare but do happen. Caution and discretion are to be advised, especially if walking alone late at night, just as in any other city and whether you are gay or straight.

While Soho is still one of the main gay areas its preoccupation with high camp and bubblegum pop has led to a growth of other areas, most notably Vauxhall which has a distinctly grungier, grittier feel. Lastly, there is the multitude of gay nightspots in the outer areas of London. Unlike Soho and Vauxhall, these tend to be either single venues rather than gay areas, or open spaces whose only obvious asset is various concealing bushes and shadows.

Central (Soho)

Soho became the original gay area of London after the law changed in 1967 and legitimate venues sprang up to replace the cruising grounds of Piccadilly. Old Compton Street remains the heart of the gay village, running from Charing Cross Road and leading into the heart of Soho. A string of bars, cafes and restaurants line the street catering to most sections of the gay community. The Admiral Duncan pub and Compton’s, opposite each other, are for the older, bear type reveller that has not decamped to Vauxhall, while G-A-Y and Village attract twinkier types with tight t-shirts and fake ID’s. The nearest tube stations are Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road.

One of the longest lasting and most successful gay clubs is Heaven, located underneath Charing Cross station. A short walk from Soho, Heaven opens just before midnight at the weekend and continues well into the morning. Playing pulsating dance music and containing a broad cross section of the gay community Heaven is definitely worth a visit on a Saturday night. Two slight drawbacks are its very high prices and the reliance of some of its clientele on chemical stimulants. But these are slight drawbacks to what should be a night to remember.

The second great stalwart of the London scene is the G-A-Y brand. Originating with the club in the Astoria this was a classic that has only recently closed to make way for the Crossrail development. The bar on Old Compton Street and G-A-Y Late continue the tradition of camp pop played very loudly to camp boys and selling cheap drinks. It’s a combination that has worked well over the years but that can be terrifying to the uninitiated. If you are finding London very expensive and would like a night out on the cheap G-A-Y is for you, this perhaps also explains its long standing favour with students. Ku Bar, which is between Old Compton Street and Leicester Square tube station, is another Soho stalwart, despite not being in Soho. Its drinks are pricier than some other places but it has a cheerful atmosphere and friendly staff. Avoid the club downstairs; it is dingy, cramped and unbearably hot.

Vauxhall

For those who find Soho and its denizens too lightweight and annoying there is Vauxhall. Be warned, however, this is not for the faint at heart. Vauxhall is where clubbing gets serious, clubs are open from Friday night to Tuesday morning and wide eyed people with boundless energy continue through the weekend. There are also saunas and fetish clubs here so it’s a wonder that some people ever leave. The most popular club is Fire, which runs dance music throughout the weekend and on some week nights. The fact that Fire was closed down by the police last year tells you all you need to know, after making some superficial changes to the way it was run it reopened and goes from strength to strength.

The Hoist is, as the name suggests, a fetish club. Boasting changing rooms, leather and rubber nights and various pieces of S&M equipment inside this is not for those who are easily offended or of a timid disposition. Similarly, XXL is the top bear night in London. Attracting a diverse crowd of bears, cubs and admirers this has a reputation for being a friendly welcoming club night that can seem like a refreshing change after the cat-like infighting common in Soho. The gay village is moments walk from Vauxhall tube station which is on the Victoria line.

Outer Regions

Most outer regions of London have a gay venue, usually a pub that caters to the local area and tends to be as much social centre as entertainment nightspot. These will be of little interest to most visitors to the city except as reminders of what the scene was like in the years between legalisation and widespread acceptance. These places tend to have unexplained obsessions with drag acts, bad karaoke (is there any other kind?) and are populated overwhelmingly by older men.

This introduction tells you the basics of the London scene; the best way to get to grips with the intricacies is to visit one of the bars in and around Soho and pick up a selection of free magazines and fliers. A whole series of gay magazines contain comprehensive listing for London and the surrounding area, including Brighton. This will give you a good overview of what is on offer on any particular night and let you make your plans accordingly.

Photo of The Edge dancefloor, London originally posted by Paul-in-London

Topic:  Tips and Ideas | 1 Comment
Tags:  gay travel, London, nightlife

About the author

Will Joce is a recent graduate from the London School of Economics who has a morbid fear of working in an office. As well as travelling and writing he has worked in the UK Parliament and as a press monitor. Refusing to follow advice and get a real job he will soon be beginning a Masters degree at St Petersburg State University