Soho has long been the beating heart of LGBTQIA+ culture in London. Begin on Old Compton Street at G-A-Y Bar, a magnet for younger crowds with its high-energy atmosphere and pop hits. If you’re in the mood for something more laid-back, think conversations over cocktails, The Yard Bar and Little Ku both offer intimate settings and ample seating. The Yard’s open courtyard is especially popular on warm city evenings, get there early to grab a good spot. The Admiral Duncan and The Duke of Wellington provide a more traditional British pub experience, delivering charm and character in spades.  

East London plays by its own rules and has a more experimental scene, and often nights last longer than its West End counterparts. If you’re starting your evening with food, The Spread Eagle in Homerton is a must. London’s first fully vegan pub, it serves up comfort food from aubergine schnitzel to mini “squashage” rolls and plays host to popular cabaret and drag bingo nights. If you’ve got your dancing shoes on, La Camionera brings Latinx flair to Hackney with tapas and thimbles of orange wine, while over in Dalston, Village 512 offers an anything-goes kind of night. Dalston Superstore, the area’s undisputed queer hub, starts the evening as a café-bar before transforming into a packed club as the night unfolds.

Step beyond the usual circuit and you’ll find some of London’s most beloved queer spots tucked away in quieter corners of the city. Near Charing Cross, Halfway to Heaven is a two-storey bar known for its regular drag shows and welcoming crowd. Around the corner, Retro Bar is a hidden gem steeped in history (dating back to the 17th century) and beloved for its rock’n’roll jukebox and offbeat charm. Further south in Vauxhall stands the Royal Vauxhall Tavern – or RVT as it’s known by regulars. One of the oldest surviving LGBTQ+ venues in the country, RVT is an institution of raucous cabaret, iconic drag and a crowd that spans generations. The Cock Tavern is a Saturday night staple. Loud, unfiltered, and always fun, it recently teamed up with Yard Sale Pizza—because who doesn’t want a slice from London’s coolest pizza spot while hanging out in an equally hip institution.

Position yourself close to East London while remaining in total luxury at the iconic Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel set in the heart of the King’s Cross area or if you’d rather bar crawl through Soho, book a glamorous room at the historic Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street between Soho and Mayfair. Book these hotels and more by browsing ASMALLWORLD Collection.