You’ll find something to do any night of the week on London’s gay scene. But with so many choices, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the large number of gay London parties beckoning you.
But fear not!
We’ve decided to compile some of the best parties we’ve come across — essential spots for your time spent in London — whether you’re a Yankee tourist or a local Brit.
Here are 5 gay London parties that should always be on your itinerary:
1. Savage
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a few hundred gay hipsters and drag queens took over a retro strip club, you can now stop wondering and join the queue for Savage.
The Savage Disco turns the Metropolis Strip Club in East London into one of the campest, most hedonistic and fun-filled spaces in the city on Friday and Saturday nights. There are drag queens and performance artists taking to the poles, a “car wash” room (great for selfies), booths separated off with chainmail curtains and even a rooftop “beach” that’ll be open if you’re lucky!
One of the best things about this party is being greeted by the incomparably fabulous Maxi More, one of London’s finest bearded drag queens and the very best guest list guardian. In case you were worried about finding the club, this seven-foot-plus goddess will be visible through any London fog.
2. Horse Meat Disco
This Sunday night London party is now an internationally recognized brand, sporting a reputation for the very best disco and house music alongside extra-fun, chilled vibes. It’s been all over the world, from New York to Tokyo, but Horse Meat Disco’s home is at The Eagle in London’s Vauxhall.
This pub/club venue is the perfect place to dance off Saturday’s hangover, or just to ward it off with some cold beer in the large outside garden.
DJ legends Severino, Jim Stanton, James Hillard and Luke Howard sure know how to make a party happen, and happen it does every Sunday, with one (or a couple of them) on the decks. You’ll probably also find disco legend Kaz in the corner.
3. Orange
It can be hard to pry yourself away from Horse Meat Disco, but when the lights come on, all is not lost. In fact, the party’s just getting started over at Orange, which takes place at the legendary Fire nightclub, also in Vauxhall.
With hostess and “queen of the night” Glendora on hand to persuade you to call in sick on Monday morning, this is one place to make friends fast over a cigarette or vodka Redbull. You’ll bump into DJs, drag queens out of face, celebrities and probably some lad who’s been out since Thursday. If the party is taking place in the spectacular Lightbox, you’re in for an epic treat.
4. Hard On
London’s most famous monthly sex and fetish party, which prides itself on being “your dirty dance club,” turns 14 next month. It’s always been one of the friendliest (and horniest) places to get your rocks off on a Saturday night, and with the next party at its new home of Bloc South — the newest gay club to open in Vauxhall for years — this may well be a match made in erection heaven.
Expect new play spaces, a great bar area and probably a few surprises, too. Promoter Suzie Krueger is a legend of the London scene for good reason.
Note that Hard On has a strict dress code of leather, rubber, sportswear or other fetish gear, unless you want to roll in naked.
5. XXL
This club, which originally formed for big guys to find a fun space to party, has now gone mainstream with a more mixed (as in otters, twinks, etc.) men-only crowd.
There’s still a helluva lotta bears, though, which means a hunky, chunky, hairy crowd every Saturday at one of London’s mega-clubs, Pulse.
Expect “happy house” music and an endless supply of feel-good dance-pop covers and remixes, with furry go-gos, a smaller pop room and one great labyrinth of a dark room.
Added Bonus: Any night at The Glory
East London’s melting pot for gay talent and queer creatives, The Glory, has a fab program of events all week long. There’s bound to be something fun going on, no matter which night you turn up, from lip sync competitions to sweaty raves and drag queen game shows.
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