How to Locate Gay Events in London

London is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, known for its tolerance and for its vibrant gay scene. The calendar is packed with gay-themed events.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get to Soho. With its bars, nightclubs, cafes and shops, Soho is the unquestioned centre of the London gay scene. The best way to hear about upcoming gay events in London, of course, is to mix with those who have similar interests. Compton’s is the best-known gay bar in the area and Heaven is the most famous nightclub.
2. View the posters around the “gay village” in Soho on walls and in bookshops. They’re very informative about gay events that are coming soon.
3. Check out the local magazines for a dynamic guide to gay events in London. QX and Boyz are two weekly mags which explore the gay scene. They can be picked up for free at gay shops and bars. Gay-themed monthly magazines include GT, Attitude, and, for girls who like girls, Diva. Time Out is the premier events magazine in London, and although it focuses on mainstream events, it does have good coverage of the gay scene too.
4. Look out for London’s Gay Pride parade in which hundreds of thousands turn out to celebrate their sexuality. It usually takes place around mid year but is preceded by weeks of gay-themed arts and carnival festivities. Soho also has a yearly Pride event of its own which has almost come to rival the main London Pride event in size.
5. Look forward to the London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Taking place over about two weeks in spring, it’s become a fixture in the London gay events calendar. With a mixture of classics and bold experimental film screenings, and a roster of celebrity guests and speakers, the festival aims to explore the best in gay cinema.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need advice on anything gay-related in London you can call the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard on 0207 837 7324.
• Although London, by and large, is a very tolerant city, unfortunately the description doesn’t apply to everyone. If you need confidential advice on gay-related hate-crime you can contact the GALOP (Gay London Police Monitoring Group) organization on 0207 704 2040 or visit their website (see Resources for link).