Gay quarter london
For hundreds of years, Soho has been a haven for gay Londoners, packed of packed pubs and late night drinking dens even before the decriminalisation of homosexuality. In these enlightened times, LGBTQ+ city dwellers have got a plethora of options all across the city. But queer old Soho still holds a special place in London's LGBTQ scene and remains most visitors' first port of call, whether for drag nights or mingling. It's centred around Old Compton Street, where you can spend a raucous night at the enduringly popular G-A-Y bar or down unpretentious drinks at pubs like The Admiral Duncan. Here's our pick of the best gay bars and clubs in Soho.
RECOMMENDED: Project further afield with London's best gay bars and gay clubs.
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The best gay bars and clubs in Soho
Occupying a prominent spot on Soho’s Chinatown
What’s the best gay neighborhood in London?
For the Gay community, London is a great place to notify home. The capital of England celebrates diversity and lets everyone be who they are. The town is dotted with neighborhoods that have become sheltered havens for the Gay community. But which same-sex attracted neighborhood in London is right for you? This article will help you discover some of the best options, especially if you’re staying for a year or longer in London. We’ll highlight some of the destinations, group, and nightlife in each.
Soho
Soho has long been one of the best same-sex attracted neighborhoods in London. It’s the epicenter of Homosexual culture in the town. The vibrant streets here, especially around Old Compton Street, are lined with iconic gay bars and clubs, making it the perfect spot for a night out. However, staying in a Soho flat also means enjoying the area’s rich history and diverse culture. Walking through its streets, you can feel the energy that has made it a hub for creativity and expression.
Highlights of Soho
- Old Compton Street: Known for its vibrant nightlife and numerous LGBTQ+ bars, Old Compton Street is the lifeblood of Soho. This bustling street is l
The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide to London
- LGBTQ+ language in London
- The leading gay bars in Soho
- The best gay bars in Vauxhall
- The best gay bars in the East End
- LGBTQ+ events and festivals
- LGBTQ+ museums and culture
- Where to reside in London
- LGBTQ+ day trips
LGBTQ+ language in London You’ve probably heard of slang words like butch, camp, and queen. But, minuscule known to most, these terms come from the queer underground world of pre-1970s London.
Back when the UK was a far less tolerant place, Homosexual people used a private language called Polari to communicate with one another. The language was a mixture of words from London cockney rhyming slang, Romani, and Italian.
Since lesbian acts were illegal, Polari enabled folx to communicate safely in mixed corporation and identify as lgbtq+. The language was campy and playful: Bona to vada your dolly mature eek, a common Polari greeting, meant “Nice to see your pretty face.” Dish meant “ass,” and bona dish meant “nice ass.”
Polari was widely spoken in the LGTBQ+ society until 1967 when homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK. Today elements of the language are prevalent in drag cultur
London Gay Travel Guide 2025
Upcoming Events in London
About London and its gay life
With a population of 8 million, London is the second largest metropolis in Europe. London extends over 44 kilometers along the Thames river and has a moderate climate with its summers not too hot and the winters not too frosty.
Throughout its history London has always been a center of attraction for different cultures and religions whether it be Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs or Buddhists. At the beginning of the 20th century, mainly Irish, Poles, Italians and Eastern European Jews came to London, while starting around 1950 the majority of immigrants comes from former British colonies such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Today, the cultural, ethnic, religious and economic background of London's population is one of the most diverse worldwide.
London has a flourishing artistic, theater and harmony scene. Just think of the West End with its numerous musical theaters or the many world-famous London-based bands and musicians, such as the Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen with Freddie Mercury, The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Culture Club with Lad George, the Pet Shop Boys,
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