Gay travelers need not take any more extra precautions in London than they would in any other Western European capital, especially in the gay areas of London, but should be aware of a rise in reported LGBT+ hate crime in the London. This is a serious ‘wake-up call’ and an important reminder that even with modern, accepting attitudes and the well-established LGBT presence in London, homophobic and transphobic attacks can still occur.
Enough said? We hope so – and by no means want to put you off a trip to Gay London – but this is something we should all be aware. Not that this problem is by any means limited to just London or the United Kingdom….
Even excluding the nightlife, the world-class museums, haute couture shopping, iconic architecture, fine dining, and utterly intoxicating atmosphere will give tourists more than enough reason to visit Gay London – whether it’s for a night, a week or to live full-time. Welcome to fabulous London!
ttractions in Gay London
Obviously being gay does not define which attraction most of us will want to see in each city and most queer tourists will simply want to check out the top things to see in London during the day! London is a very safe city but still, all travelers should take caution with valuables. Gay people in London do not need to take any extra precautions in terms of public displays of affection in this very progressive city and should have no issues exploring this magical cities beauty!
Here are just a few of our favorite gay things to do in London – seriously, this is by no means comprehensive but might help to see something other than the inside of a club. Don’t laugh, you wouldn’t be the first person to come all this way and not see a single sight and certainly wouldn’t be the last….The gay scene here is just that good.
Gay Places In London
- Balans (SoHo) – An extremely gay-popular restaurant in the heart of the London gay scene. This Old Compton Street venue is energetic, always busy and also manages to serve wonderful food. To be honest, however, almost any restaurant in SoHo is going to be full with gays so if the menu doesn’t appeal just take a wander and see what – or who – catches your eye.
- Gay’s The Word – The only specifically lesbian and gay bookstore in the United Kingdom founded in 1979 is also used as used as a community and information resource for lesbians and gay men. With friendly, helpful staff, the shop has a genuine community atmosphere and hosts regular book events and discussion groups and well as offering a wide choice of LGBT+ books and film that goes well beyond the mainstream. Try to pick up one of our favorite gay romance novels, or find your own!
Gay-friendly and Gay Hotels in London England
Being one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, almost every hotel and hostel in London can be considered open and welcome to LGBT travelers.
After all being gay-friendly is about simply providing a non-judgmental and respectful environment in which all people are treated equally. Elegant design, helpful staff, and excellent value for money never hurt anyone though! Some hotels in London have gone above and beyond in recognizing and marketing to the LGBT community and given their popularity with gay travelers we would say it has paid off!
There are quite a few popular hotels in London that are go-to hot spots for gay travelers…and really, doesn’t everyone like to be surrounded by people with common interests! These are the hotels we have checked out and included here. While there are no exclusively gay hotels in London, any hotel in the stylish SoHo gay district of London is sure to have more than a few gay guests staying and nearby you can find Hyde Park, the Tower Of London and the London Eye – plus being a stumble home from all the gay bars in pretty desirable.
There are hundreds of other good hotel option in London if you don’t find what you are looking for but we are confident you’ll find something here for you – we have tried to cover it all. Whether you want a fun and social hostel, a cheap place to crash after a night of partying or a luxury designer option to sip cocktails and surround yourself with fabulous people – Gay London as something for everyone!
