Bars & Clubs in London

A:M afterhours @ Protocol is a London after-hours party that starts in the early hours of the morning and runs until mid-morning. Resident DJs play dirty house, Latin pop and reggaeton throughout, plus club kid hosts, dancers and drag queen performances. Guests celebrate on two dance floors in the Lightbox complex in South Lambeth. If you come early and have flyers or guestlist entries, you pay less or nothing.

In Soho on Old Compton Street is the Admiral Duncan, a gay bar whose history dates back to the early 19th century. It combines a British pub atmosphere with an inclusive community. There are live performances almost every night, especially drag shows. An outdoor area overlooking Old Compton Street and a jukebox with hits from different decades complete the offer.

Beneath the eponymous arches in the heart of Clapham is ARCH Clapham, an LGBTQ+ bar and cabaret venue. Handcrafted cocktails are offered, as well as a menu of snacks and main courses. The program ranges from drag shows and karaoke to bingo, DJ sets and live music, with popular nights like GAYMZ Night or Drag Karaoke. On Sundays, the large outdoor terrace invites you to relax.

Austin Friars Balls Brothers resides in a converted bank building in the City of London. High ceilings, exposed brickwork, concrete pillars and leather sofas characterize the interior, plus a small balcony and a hidden courtyard. The menu includes British classics such as fish and chips and roast chicken, a wine selection of over 50 bottles, a gin menu and cocktails. The location over several floors is also suitable for events.

BEEFMINCE is a London LGBTQ+ party series for bears, cubs, chubs, chasers and everyone in between. The events take place in venues such as the Royal Vauxhall Tavern or The Steel Yard, where resident DJs and international guests play house, techno and vocal house, and later harder tech and electro beats. The attitude-free community includes go-go shows and several bars including pop-up bars.

On Saturdays, Beyond Midnight @ FiRE runs for twelve hours at the FiRE Nightclub in Vauxhall. In the main room, house and tech house dominate from midnight, Room 2 focuses on pop classics and remixes, Room 3 on tribal rhythms and Casa Latina Circuit. In addition, there is an outdoor garden with cocktails, arcade games and a 360° video installation. Hosts such as Glendora will moderate, VIP tables can be booked.

In London's East End, BJ's White Swan is one of the city's traditional gay bars and extends over several floors. Upstairs is a bar zone with Art Deco elements in black and white, in the basement a club area with LED lighting and a good sound system. The programme includes weekly cabaret shows, drag, karaoke and amateur strip shows, plus DJs play house, garage, pop, RnB and retro classics.

Bootylicious @ Union is a monthly club night at the Union Club in Vauxhall, hosted as a party for QTBIPOC. A mixture of neo- and old-school R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, disco, garage, Afrobeat, trap and amapiano will be played. The night starts late and lasts until the morning hours. Students with ID pay less, and there are also birthday deals; Flyers are available in surrounding bars.

Central Station in King's Cross is a multi-storey bar and café for the LGBTQ+ community. Cabaret bar, karaoke nights, drag shows, and a rooftop terrace are all part of it, as is British pub fare and a selection of wines, beers, and cocktails. There is live karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays, plus burlesque shows. Pool is available free of charge, and the location is good for the evening start.

Located in the historic Hungerford House on Victoria Embankment, CIRCA Embankment is right next to the tube station of the same name and overlooking the River Thames. On the ground floor there is a restaurant and bar with British cuisine and cocktails, and in the basement there is a dance floor with a DJ booth. Neo-R&B and pop are shown on Fridays, house on Saturdays. The club holds around 750 guests and is located near Club Heaven.

On Frith Street in London's Gay Village is CIRCA Soho, an LGBTQ+ bar-café. Brick walls, leather sofas and a DJ booth with disco ball characterize the room, where disco, funk and current chart hits are played. Cocktails, premium drinks at fair prices and beers such as Kronenbourg and Fosters are offered. Drag shows, live music and theme nights ensure a changing program.

In London's Marylebone, the City of Quebec is located near Marble Arch. Dark wood panels, comfortable seats and an open fireplace characterize the classic pub. Local and international craft beers, British ales and a selection of whisky and gin are on tap. The kitchen offers pub classics such as fish and chips, shepherds pie and pies, and the roast is particularly popular on Sundays. There is occasional live music.

Located on Hoxton Square in East London, Colours Bar and Club combines in several areas. The main area is used for drinking and socializing, the live room with modern acoustics and LED ceiling installation can accommodate up to 300 people. The program includes live music from nu-jazz to electro-pop, as well as club nights with LGBTQ+ collectives. Karaoke room, workshops, terraces, barrier-free access and unisex toilets complete the offer.

On Old Compton Street, which is considered London's gay street, lies the gay bar Comptons of Soho. The Victorian-style eatery is divided into two areas: the ground-floor bar in a characteristic horseshoe shape and a quieter lounge on the upper floor. Known for its open atmosphere, it attracts locals and tourists alike and is considered a major meeting place for London's LGBTQ+ culture.

In London's East End, the Dalston Superstore is a café with coffee and snacks by day, and a bar and club location by night. Spread over two floors, there is a relaxed café atmosphere upstairs with daylight through skylights, and a large dance floor awaits below. It is known for drag, cabaret and parties such as Body Swap or Fèmme Fraîche. The menu offers cocktails, vegan burgers and Brazilian specialties.

In Vauxhall, EAGLE London is both a bar and club, with a masculine, laid-back vibe and a community ranging from leather and fetish fans to all lovers of queer nightlife. There is a beer garden and a pool table. Craft beers, wines and premium spirits are served, plus happy hour deals. On the weekends, club nights such as Horse Meat Disco take place.

The Freedom Bar Soho extends over two floors. The ground floor bar scores with a green living wall, wooden floors and cocktails in a relaxed environment, while the basement club invites you to party with seating, disco balls and dance poles. Known as a meeting place for West End performers, the bar offers cabaret shows, drag performances, and DJ sets in front of a mixed crowd of locals and visitors.

In a basement room behind an inconspicuous alley in Soho, the Friendly Society is hiding. The extravagant décor with Barbie dolls on the ceiling, a large fish bowl and old films on the wall creates a campy atmosphere that attracts especially young and indie-affine guests. Cocktails with fresh ingredients, inexpensive prosecco and lager in the pitcher are offered. The bar is queer-friendly and attracts a diverse crowd.

G-A-Y @ Heaven is located under the arches of Charing Cross Station and attracts an international audience to pop hits. The main area offers powerful beats and a large light show, while intimate live performances take place in the basement area. Above all, the weekend parties with top DJs and occasional international stars characterize the program, supported by powerful sound systems and laser effects.

In London, Gal Pals @ Lafayette is a queer dance party aimed at women, trans and non-binary people. Female DJs spin pop, hip-hop, R&B and queer party anthems, while tartans, fishnet stockings and leather outfits dominate the picture. The bar-café combo makes for a relaxed start before the party picks up speed on the dance floor.