Pride month’s upon us, and there’s always time to whet your whistle at some of London’s best LGBTQ+ bars and pubs. And in London, there’s a huge list to pick from, with every type of vibe, taste, and clientele to choose from. Scour our guide and take your pick!
From some of the best drag shows in the city to incredible DJs, affordable drinks, and beyond, here are some of our favourites for Pride Month, and beyond:
1. The Divine, Dalston
One of the newest LGBTQ+ spaces has quickly become a favourite for many locals. From fantastic evenings jam-packed with dazzling drag talent to dancing the night away to the catchiest tunes, The Divine was recently opened by owners Jonny Woo and John Sizzle, following the closure of Haggerston’s The Glory, highlighting the need to support queer spaces and the community that calls them a second home.
📍You’ll find it at 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB.
🚇 Nearest station is Dalston Kingsland.
2. The Friendly Society, Soho
I love this one. A basement bar, accessed through a doorway in an alley, it’s as mysterious and bonkers as you’d hope. Pop down for pretty cocktails, retro vibes, disco music and kooky decorations. A one-of-a-kind bar, you’ll find glitter balls, barbie dolls glued to the ceiling, fish tanks dotted around the room, plus the perfectly balanced atmosphere for both first dates and firm friends.
📍You’ll find it at 79 Wardour Street, W1D 6QB.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
3. Dalston Superstore, Dalston
Chilled out brunches by day, rowdy fun by night: Dalston Superstore is your go-to destination for great food and queer parties on Kingsland High Street in *shock* Dalston. Head to the bar and restaurant first, and end the night on the basement dancefloor amongst a lively, alt-queer crowd.
📍You’ll find it at 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB.
🚇 Nearest station is Dalston Kingsland.
4. Admiral Duncan, Soho
Nestled in the heart of Soho, The Admiral Duncan is a vibrant cornerstone of London’s LGBTQ+ scene. I’ve informally dubbed it London’s drunkest pub, guaranteed, any time of the day or night. This iconic boozer, with its old-time warm and long corridor, always makes a night out there packed, busy, and bustling, especially in the evenings and on the weekends. Renowned for its lively drag performances and friendly crowd, the Admiral Duncan continues to be a symbol of resistance and community spirit for decades.
📍You’ll find it at 117 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB.
🚇 Nearest station is Dalston Kingsland.
5. Comptons of Soho, Soho
Comprising of a downstairs bar plus an upstairs lounge area (with another bar), Soho’s Comptons pub has been a staple in the city’s gay scene since 1986. It’s a classic pub, with dark wood panelling, a discreet seating area at the back (the less chattier regulars park themselves there), and lively DJ nights and drinks deals across the week, this gaff is a proper “locals” pub that’s popular with both regulars and fleeting passers-by in Soho and beyond.
📍You’ll find it at 51-53 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HN.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
6. She Soho, Soho
As the name suggests, She Soho is London’s queer women’s venue, basement bar, and after-hours club. Though the space is very women-centric, male guests are also allowed to enjoy a fun night out here. Come here for DJ nights, drag king cabaret, burlesque, and social events.
📍You’ll find it at 23a Old Compton Street, W1D 5JL.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
7. Ku Bar & Little Ku, Soho
These sister venues run by the Ku Group are amongst London’s most celebrated LGBTQ+ nightlife spots. Ku Bar and Little Ku in Soho are both pre-club bars serving cocktails and champagne, as well as nightly DJ entertainment, and early-night parties in low-lit basements.
Ku Bar is spread across three floors (top-down: lounge, bar, basement club), and welcomes mixed-aged punters, while Little Ku is the quieter sibling. Found on the corner off the main gay throughfare, Little Ku is great for a packed night in a tiny bar, or a roomy place for a quiet drink (you can never tell how it’ll go). The basement of Little Ku has become part of the [above] She Soho.
📍You’ll find Ku Bar at 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA, and Little Ku at 25 Frith Street, W1D 5LB.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
8. La Camionera, Hackney
While we’re on the topic of lesbian bars, London’s newest addition to the scene has been making waves since its pop-up foundations. Thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and commitment to inclusivity, this trendy space for lesbian, bi, and queer women is the perfect backdrop for a cosy first date, or catching up with some friends over a couple of drinks. La Camionera is presently RSVP only in the evenings (although walk-ins are available in the day) at their all-new Hackney location, so be sure to book in advance.
📍You’ll find it at 243 Well Street, London E9 6RG
🚇 Nearest stations are Homerton and Hackney Central.
9. Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Vauxhall
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern has a long, proud history as a party destination for celebrities, drag queens, and the great and good of the LGBTQ+ community, with the site’s first drag shows dating back to after WW2. More recently, in 2015, it became the first building in the UK to gain Grade II-listed status based on its importance to the LGBTQ+ community, and throws some of the city’s best drag events to this day.
📍You’ll find it at 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY.
🚇 Nearest station is Vauxhall.
10. G-A-Y Bar, Soho
Perhaps one of London’s most well-known LGBTQ+ bars (partly due to its name), is Soho’s G-A-Y Bar. Start your early evening at this three-floor party bar with music and a drink or two, and end up at Heaven nightclub which is located under the arches at Charing Cross.
📍You’ll find it at 30 Old Compton Street, W1D 4UR.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
11. Duke of Wellington, Soho
Another Soho stalwart, the Duke of Wellington has been serving the LGBTQ+ community for over twenty years now, and they take pride in being a welcoming and lively local boozer in the heart of Soho. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Welly’, it’s got friendly staff, cheapish beer and regular drag bingo nights, as well as DJs spinning tunes at the weekends. What more could you ask for when you visit one of the city’s LGBTQ+ bars?
📍You’ll find it at 77 Wardour Street, W1D 6QA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
12. Rupert Street Bar, Soho
Rupert Street Bar is a lively spot for a cocktail evening before hitting the clubs of Soho later at night. With large windows, the bar is a fantastic place to people-watch, and the best part is, their happy hour starts at noon on Saturdays and Sundays!
📍You’ll find it at 50 Rupert St, W1D 6DR.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
13. Freedom Bar, Soho
Freedom is a funky bar and club with a ‘theatrical atmosphere’, cabaret club events, and luxurious decor in the heart of Soho. In addition to a dedicated basement club area with dance poles and DJs, there’s also a more quiet cocktail bar on the ground floor.
📍You’ll find it at 60-66 Wardour Street, W1F 0TA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
14. The Yard Bar, Soho
Thoroughly deserving its place on this roundup of London’s best LGBTQ+ bars, The Yard is a clear winner for summer nights, boasting a large heated garden courtyard and balconied loft bar with plenty of space. The inside space is just as attractive, and you can expect an extensive cocktail menu served by barmen who, according to their website, are ‘pretty tasty’, too…
📍You’ll find it at 57 Rupert St, W1D 7PL.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
15. Circa Soho
At Circa Soho, you can enjoy a relaxed mid-week drink or a crazed party weekend accompanied by an impressive roster of DJs. They also have a generous outdoor seating area on Frith Street, and are open daily from 1pm. For a later night out, you can head to Circa’s Embankment nightclub, which is open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.
📍You’ll find Circa Soho at 62 Frith Street, W1D 3JN and Circa Embankment at Hungerford House, Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6PA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Tottenham Court Road and Embankment.
16. Halfway To Heaven, Trafalgar Square
Located between Charing Cross Station and Trafalgar Square, Halfway To Heaven is a traditional gay pub and cabaret show bar with a laid-back ground floor and club-like basement area. The pub is located not far from Heaven, a Charing Cross night club that’s popular with London’s LGBTQ+ scene, which gave Halfway To Heaven its name.
📍You’ll find it at 7 Duncannon Street, WC2N 4JF.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
17. Retro Bar, Trafalgar Square
This small indie bar celebrates iconic rock and pop figures, from Bolan to Bowie, while playing the best of 70s, 80s, New Romantic, goth and alternative music. In line with the Retro Bar theme, there’s also a jukebox, and many other fun nods to old school culture.
📍You’ll find it at 2 George Court, WC2N 6HH.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
18. Two Brewers, Clapham
Two Brewers is a cabaret bar and weekend-only dance club in Clapham, where you can catch comedy shows, drag bingo nights, theatre plays, and plenty of other fun events.
📍You’ll find it at 114 Clapham High St, SW4 7UJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Clapham Common.
19. The Bridge Bar, Clapham
Another popular LGBTQ+ spot in Clapham is The Bridge Bar, a charming wine bar nestled under a railway arch. With both indoor and outdoor space available, guests can enjoy a variety of wines and cocktails, and participate in quizzes, games, drag shows and music nights.
📍You’ll find it at 8 Voltaire Road, SW4 6DQ.
🚇 Nearest station is Clapham North.
20. Central Station Public House, King’s Cross
Situated in the bustling King’s Cross area, Central Station Public House is a great spot for casual meals, cocktail happy hours, a game of pool, karaoke and cabaret nights, as well as late-nightclub and DJ events. In addition to being a popular nightlife spot, Central Station is also a boutique bed and breakfast.
📍You’ll find it at 37 Wharfdale Road, N1 9SD.
🚇 Nearest station is King’s Cross St Pancras.
21. The Queen Adelaide, Cambridge Heath
The Queen Adelaide comes from the team behind Hackney’s infamous George & Dragon pub, a well-known east London LGBTQ+ venue which was forced to shut down in 2015. The new pub in Cambridge Heath is a vibrant space with a basement bar pouring draught beer, cider, and a selection of wines and spirits, and is open until 3am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
📍You’ll find it at 483 Hackney Road, E2 9ED.
🚇 Nearest station is Cambridge Heath.
22. The Cock Tavern, Kennington
The 200-year-old Cock Tavern (cock as in bird, obviously) calls itself a ‘free spirited Free House’, perfect for after work drinks to midnight tipples. The Georgian Tiki-style bar serves classic cocktails and a selection of beers and wines in dim lighting, with eclectic decor adding to the tiki vibes. Make sure to try their ‘Cock Punch’!
📍You’ll find it at 340 Kennington Road, SE11 4LD.
🚇 Nearest station is Kennington.
23. Colours, Hoxton
Colours is a multi-arts bar and club on Hoxton Square, serving as a lunchtime hangout and creative hub during the daytime, and a spot for wild and wonderful events at night. They host disco bottomless brunches, cabarets, drag shows and battles, music nights, and more fun events.
📍You’ll find it at 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU.
🚇 Nearest station is Old Street.
24. The Old Ship, Limehouse
This independently run East End pub has everything you could wish for, including a beer garden, pool table, a function room for weekend DJ events and live cabaret shows, as well as a big selection of real ale, wine, and beer. The Old Ship also hosts regular charity events for St Josephs Hospice and The Albert Kennedy Trust, which is pretty cool. No wonder then that we had to feature it on this list of the best LGBTQ+ bars in London.
📍You’ll find it at 17 Barnes Street, E14 7NW.
🚇 Nearest station is Limehouse.
25. Kings Arms, Soho
Located on Soho’s Poland Street and open since the 1700’s, the friendly Kings Arms was one of the first spots in Soho to serve the gay community, billing itself as a ‘gentlemen’s bar’ in the 1970’s. Officially a gay bar since 1981, it’s now a firm favourite with the LGBTQ+ community – bears in particular. Their upstairs section is a welcome, quieter respite from the nearby hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and Soho. Everyone is welcome here and they also have a legendary karaoke night on Sundays.
📍You’ll find it at 23 Poland Street, W1F 8QJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
26. The Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead
This charming watering hole in Nunhead is one of the fabulous queer-owned pubs dotted around the city. From drag bingo to other unmissable events, fantastic drink deals and top-notch pub grub, it’s your quintissential British pub with a beautifully camp twist. The artsy interiors and overall good-vibes make it beloved by many, so be sure to check it out the next time you’re in the area.
📍You’ll find it at 15 Nunhead Green, London, SE15 3QQ
🚇 Nearest station is Nunhead
So there you have it – a roundup of the best LGBTQ+ bars and pubs for you to party and celebrate throughout the year. From established legends of the gay scene to ones that play drag, cabaret, and everything in between, there’s something for everyone here. So, see where takes your pick and vamanos!
