Best Gay Bars in London

Freedom Bar Soho is a stylish gay bar and club on Wardour Street in London. The ground floor cocktail bar has a contemporary design with wooden floors, living walls, and illuminated artwork. Downstairs, the club brings together plush seating, disco balls, and the iconic dance poles that define its nightlife reputation. Friendly staff, theatrical décor, and a mix of West End performers and locals make it one of Soho’s busiest LGBTQ venues.

The weekly schedule keeps things varied. Mondays are dedicated to Kinky Kabaret with West End performers, while Tuesdays bring Anthems with live singers covering classic hits. Wednesdays host High on Heels, a drag and diva night, followed by Chic! on Thursdays with club classics from resident DJs. The weekend builds with Freedom’s House Party on Fridays and Fabulous on Saturdays, both drawing big dance crowds. Sundays wrap up with Heavenly Bodies, a drag show staged on alternate weeks.

Set back from Rupert Street with its own private courtyard with outdoor heaters, The Yard is particularly popular with those who still like to smoke.

It's a welcoming retreat from the hustle and bustle of London. Apart from its heated garden courtyard bar, the place also features a comfortable balconied loft bar, perfect for spending long summer or cosy winter nights with friends and loved ones.

The Yard is one of the most stylish gay venues in Soho, making it a perfect place for special celebrations, too. Tables and VIP areas can be reserved free of charge. They can also host private parties in their upstairs bar. The cocktail menu is one of the most comprehensive ones in town, served by eye-candy barmen too.

The entrance is directly opposite the Rupert Street bar.

Located in what used to be a Victorian hotel, Comptons of Soho had become a pub called 'The Swiss Tavern' in the 1950s and acquired a reputation as being a meeting place for gay men which was illegal at the time.

In 1986, the name was changed to "Comptons of Soho" and it came out in the open as being a gay bar. Over 25 years later, Comptons is still regarded as one of the most popular gay pubs in London.

The place attracts a more mature, beer-drinking crowd than found in some of the other gay bars in Soho.

Another very popular gay bar located right in the middle of Soho.

Rupert Street serves food (burgers, etc.) and drinks during the day but is packed with the party crowd in the evening, spilling over onto the street during the summer.

Plenty of eye candy both in front and behind the bar. Rupert Street brings in some pretty good DJs to play live on weekends.

Located just off Wardour Street, in the alley between Ann Summers and The Village in London's Soho gay district. Friendly Society is a fun and unique basement gay bar with a laid-back vibe.

Great to stop by for a drink and a quick ogle of the gorgeous barmen. Barbie dolls hanging from the ceiling, eclectic lights and black & white movies make the bar a favorite hangout for gay men, lesbians and their straight friends.

The sister branch to the main KU Bar on Lisle Street. Little KU offers a slightly more relaxed and laid-back vibe, with regular drink offers served up by sexy KU barmen.

Located on Frith Street in Soho.

Admiral Duncan is a traditional English gay pub in the heart of Soho, named after Admiral Adam Duncan who defeated the Dutch fleet in 1797.

All gay tourists to London should pay at least one visit to this historic gay bar. It's a friendly pub with a 'local' atmosphere and a vibrant bar staff to match the eclectic range of customers.

Host to a range of event nights, the Admiral Duncan caters to everyone and anyone.

One of the most popular gay bars in the neighbourhood, Village Soho is busy every night of the week, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. Still, it offers a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ patrons, whether you're up for unwinding or partying.

Luna Cortez and Martin Petersson host karaoke on Wednesdays. VILLAGE's sexy go-go dancers strut their stuff on the bar top and podium, from Thursday through Saturday. Squeeze in and watch!

John The Unicorn is a Restaurant/Bar based at the heart of Peckham Rye. Offering eye-catching decor and a feature rotating kitchen with pop-up street food, John The Unicorn is certainly a memorable social and dining experience. The establishment prides itself on offering a wide and colourful range of food and drink; including craft beers, cocktails and street food.

A flexible venue, John The Unicorn is open for a large portion of the day and evening; making it a great place for lunch, dinner or for evening drinks.

Circa Soho is one of the leading gay bars in the neighbourhood. Stylish and will chill atmosphere, Circa Soho promises to "bring a little sparkle" to London's gay district. This is a great place for a drink and chat before heading off to a club. Sister venue of Circa Embankment.

Themed entertainment most nights of the week, including Friday nights with their mix of Chart music and R&B. The cute bar staff are pretty good, too!

Ku Bar & Klub is an independently owned gay bar & dance club located just a few steps from Leicester Square.

The large main ground floor bar attracts all types, from twinks and muscle Marys to locals and tourists. The walls of flat screen TVs play nonstop chart-topping music videos, whilst behind the bar, the KU boys are a visual treat in their own rights.

KU Klub is located in the basement of the bar. Free entry, apart from Fridays & Saturdays after 11pm (£5). Both the bar and club continue to be two of the most popular gay venues in London.

It boasts of great service and reasonably priced drinks - a winning combination that has been reflected in the many awards this bar has won in recent years.

For over 20 years, The Duke of Wellington has served as a classic British local gay pub in the middle of Soho.

A genuinely friendly bar that serves as a 'local' for many who live or work in the heart of London, it's a place where you can catch up with friends, dance to the songs the DJs are spinning or get competitive over drag bingo and quiz.

The team is lively and friendly, eager to welcome guests every night.

The Light Lounge is a stylish gay-popular cocktail lounge bar from the KU group. With its twinkly chandeliers, elegant grey banquettes and perfumed lilies scenting the air, it’s an upscale escape from the chaotic streets outside.

The Light Lounge serves a great selection of beers, wines and cocktails served by mixology experts.

Mixed/LGBT crowd. Located directly above KU Bar.

A gay bar since 1982, and going strong 40+ years later, Kings Arms is known as one of the most LGBTQIA-friendly places in Soho. It's the bar of choice for London's bear community.

On Fridays and Saturdays, guest and resident DJs spin the decks and the legendary Beareoke, which has been going on for over 25 years, happens every Sunday

The bar serves a large cask ale selection as well as ciders and spirits.

Halfway to Heaven is one of London's most famous gay cabaret show bars with a different crowd-pulling theme every night. It's a great bar for finding cheap drinks deals in the heart of central London.

Weekly themed nights at Halfway to Heaven include karaoke and sing-along - check their website for the latest program.

Historic gay bar that welcomes everyone. Downstairs, the atmosphere is slightly with a different DJ each night playing their own mix of classic and contemporary tunes.

City of Quebec hosts regular entertainment, karaoke and special events. And late license means that customers can enjoy an affordable late-night out. Mixed crowd. Free WiFi available.

Gay-popular, late-night mixed bar in the heart of Soho, London, that welcomes everyone.

BAR Soho serves a wide selection of wines and cocktails. Resident DJs play 7 nights a week. The bar also hosts occasional LGBTQIA+ events.

One of the longest-running independently owned bar and terrace. The Central Station offers a wide spectrum of entertainment - from jazz evening, pool evening, karaoke as well as regular drag acts.

A great place for a drink before retiring to the basement Underground Club. Free WiFi available.

G-A-Y Bar has closed for good. Its doors opened for the last time on October 4-5, 2025. 

Part of the fabric of gay London and a must-visit for anyone wanting to hit the tourist trail in London. G-A-Y Bar is a place for fun-loving young crowd most nights of the week, located in the heart of Soho.

The venue has 3 floors. Upstairs can be far more popular than the ground floor during the week as it has a small outdoor terrace (usually full of smokers). The basement is slightly more chic.

Packed at the weekend. Everyone is frisked on the way in.

The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is one of London’s most Iconic award-winning cabaret, performance and club night venues which is once again the venue of choice for many leading artists, promoters and the LGBT community. This may well be the best gay bar in London for live performances.

No visit to gay London could be complete without at least one drink at the famous Royal Vauxhall Tavern. A vibrant and successful independent company who is recognised as providing a unique and welcoming environment to an eclectic crowd.

The RVT team are committed to ensuring your visit is both enjoyable and fun, providing you with unsurpassed levels of hospitality and a diverse variety of entertainment, seven days a week and aims to provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment. Royal Vauxhall Tavern continues to enjoy stability and growth and supports the LGBT community in which it operates.

According to legend, Freddie Mercury once brought Princess Diana (dressed as a boy) to the RVT. It probably didn't happen but it's a great piece of gay London lore.

One of the most iconic gay venues in London, Eagle LONDON is a long-running gay bar and club in Vauxhall. It features a dance floor and garden for smokers and those wanting to chat away from the music.

Eagle offers a fantastic range of craft beers and wines and has regular drinks promotions. Sunday night is reserved for the infamous Horse Meat Disco, A night dedicated to human happiness - the party is for everyone; from club kids, bears, fashionistas and naturalist to drag queens.

From the tube station, continue on past the Royal Vauxhall Tavern down Kennington Lane for about 200 metres. Easy to spot the completely black-painted building. Read more: How The Eagle became the ultimate gay fetish bar

One of South London's most popular gay venues on bustling Clapham High Street.

Two Brewers has been in business for over 30 years, with a winning combination of good-value drinks, regular cabaret and drag shows and a great selection of handbag and commercial tunes.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the larger club space plays house and club tunes all night.

Ye Olde Rose & Crown is a gay-friendly pub located in the Greenwich area.

They have a screening of Ru Paul's Drag Race every Thursday, and other events including quiz nights.

They also serve classic pub grub and have a great selection of cocktails.

This wine and cocktail bar is billed as "Clapham's Campest Cocktail Bar". It's located in railway arches, just a few steps away from Clapham North Station. It's the place to be seen in South London and is a good starting point before heading to The Two Brewers.

The Bridge offers a relaxing atmosphere and a combination of excellent cocktails, and wine list. DJ's liven up the atmosphere at the weekend.

Tonight Josephine is a gay-popular cocktail bar located in Clapham.

They host various events like bottomless brunch, daily happy hour, and more!

ARCH Clapham is London's premier LGBTQ+ cocktail bar and social venue.

Open every night except on Mondays, ARCH hosts themed nights for live entertainment, including karaoke, drag bingo and quiz night. 

If you want to catch up with your queer squad over delicious cocktails, ARCH is the place to be.

The Rising is a gay pub in Elephant & Castle. It's one of the newest gay bars in town and it's gay-owned. Well-priced drinks and regular drag shows in the evenings.

West London's most popular late-night dance bar with regular live cabaret performances and karaoke nights. West 5 has been in business for 15 years, so they must be doing something right!

Fridays and Saturday nights are the busiest nights, with DJ's and cabaret. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Tucked along a quaint alley in the West End, Retro Bar is a well-known LGBTQ+ spot. Operating as a pub since the 17th century, the bar has been a favourite for the LGBTQIA+ crowd since the 90s. Its walls are covered with rock 'n' roll memorabilia, and the jukebox ranges from disco to punk.

Retro Bar is all about diverse events, with DJs, quiz nights, and comedy shows, offering a lively and entertaining atmosphere for its guests.

Not a store but a bar + café  + club that offers a unique combination (at least in this part of London) of food, drink, music, art, culture and parties!

Dalston is a great place for brunch, burgers, salads and cakes. Later in the evening, the basement becomes a party zone with the crowd being entertained by some of the best up-and-coming DJ's and live acts.

The Karaoke Hole - also known as K-Hole - is a lively gay bar and, you guessed it, karaoke joint. It brings together some of the best queens from East London.

There are no booths so you'll be singing to the whole crowd. East London drag is edgy and subversive. Throw in a bit of karaoke and you can imagine: the atmosphere it pretty wild.

The K-Hole (lol) is a creation of the same team that brought you Dalston Superstore.

Long-established gay bar & nightclub, East End's very own White Swan has been going as a gay bar for over 30 years. Now, there's a new basement area with LED lighting, great sound system and weekly cabaret shows.

DJ's play a great mix of commercial house, garage to pop. Closed on Mondays. Photo ID required at weekends.

Colours opened its doors in September 2019. Located in uber-trendy Hoxton Square, it's a great place to bar hop and experience London's edgier gay nightlife. Colours is a bar, club and multi-arts venue. It opens from midday until late every day. You can pop in for lunch, use it as a rehearsal space and overall creative hub.

Although not a gay-specific venue, it hosts a lot of gay events - including Queer Experimental Cinema and Neon Naked Life Drawing.

The Divine is a LGBTQ+ bar and performance venue in Dalston, East London, and the spiritual successor to the much-loved queer institution The Glory. It is known for its bold, creative programming and proudly alternative energy, drawing a diverse crowd of drag artists, club kids, performers, and East London creatives. The space blends classic queer nightlife with cutting-edge performance art, hosting everything from high-camp drag shows and cabaret to DJ-led club nights, live music, comedy, and experimental theatre.

Unlike the more commercial gay scene in Soho, The Divine has a more underground and inclusive feel, celebrating all corners of LGBTQ+ culture. It is especially popular with a younger, artsy crowd and those looking for something edgier.

Local East End bar with regular cabaret shows at the weekend. The Old Ship serves cheap drinks and has a great atmosphere.

Saturday show starts at 9:30pm, Sunday at 9pm. DJ every cabaret night 8pm until midnight.

After the closure of the George and Dragon, a new gay bar has opened up in a Shoreditch on the same street.

Very camp and colourful, The Queen Adelaide attracts a fun loving crowd.

This inclusive LGBTQ+ venue opened in August 2020 and has quickly become one of London's most popular gay nightlife hotspots. Zodiac Bar & Club is open seven days a week, hosting regular special events and drag performances by drag royalty and popular queens from RuPaul's Drag Race UK. If you want to meet the UK's next drag superstar, this is the place!

Upcoming events include Karaoke and Cabaret, check Zodiac's website for details and tickets.