Queer Tours of London

Queer Tours of London

A Mince Through Time

‘ QUEER TOURS OF LONDON – A Mince Through Time’ was founded in 2016 to commemorate, celebrate and agitate for the 2017 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality. We exist to bring forth the visibility of our incredible community at large and the journey to how we became who we are today.

We shine a light on London’s rich LGBTQ+ history through creative and life-affirming interactive tours. We tell the stories of London’s queer history, shedding light on the lives, spaces, identities, repression, and resistance that form the backdrop of LGBTQ+ lives today.

Against the backdrop of the mass closure of LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) cultural spaces and support services, ‘QUEER TOURS OF LONDON’ are being developed to support London’s current queer activism, culture, and performance in all its glory.

Latest Updates

You are invited to ‘this is my culture’ – 5th birthday on 27th june 🙂, andrew lumsden – friendship circles 20 – 29 may 2021, for immediate release 16.11.20 – 50th anniversary celebrations of the first lgbt+ demo in britain., upcoming events for ‘queer freedom everywhere – none of us are free until we all are’, ‘molly’s masquerade’ is coming to bethnal green.

walking tours london

Free Queer & LGBTQ+ History Tour*

Schedule - See Calendar

Meeting Point - The Clermont  Hotel

Duration - 2 Hours

Language - English

Start Time - 11a m

Price - Free

Join us on the Free LGBTQ+ History Tour as we explore the vast and complex history of LGBTQ+ life in London, with stories of iconic people and places who have shaped the city and community through the centuries.

Today the LGBTQ+ community’s presence can be found in every corner of the capital, but when we think about the centre of gay or queer life in London, most people automatically think about the naughty streets of Soho. During this tour we’re going to explore Soho in detail, and try to understand how this small area of London gained this reputation and why it has become such an important place for LGBTQ+ people.

The tour begins at Charing Cross, a stone's throw from the legendary nightclub Heaven. In Trafalgar Square, your guide will explore the history of Pride in London, how it came about and why it's still so important today. In Piccadilly Circus, you will be transported back to Victorian London where the area became home to secret illicit soirees and a hub of queer life. From there, we head into the heart of Soho, one of the most famous queer districts in Europe.

Our Free LGBTQ+ tour covers the stories of individuals who made their mark, like Oscar Wilde and pioneering drag queens from the 18th Century, but also visits the venues, bars and theatres where LGBTQ+ life and queer communities have thrived. During the tour, we see several of the most iconic of these locations including GAY, The Yard, old Molly Houses and more. In Soho, we also explore the darker parts of LGBTQ+ history: section 28, the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub, and the government's response to the Aids Crisis. The Free LGBTQ+ History Tour culminates in a visit to Soho Square, not just a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of Central London, but a centre of celebration and revelry during Pride each year. Though true equality hasn’t yet been achieved, during this Free Tour we celebrate a community which has suffered centuries of repression, yet continues to fight for inclusivity for all. Join us on our LGBTQ+ History tour to learn, celebrate and remember.

Tour Highlights include: ​

Roman Queer Influence

Heaven Nightclub

The Admiral Duncan

The Aids Crisis

Molly Houses

& much more!

lgbtq+ tour

         Meeting Point - The Clerm ont Hotel , Charing Cross 

We begin outside the Clermont Hotel , next to Charing Cross Station, just near the underground station. The station is on the Bakerloo and Northern line, and around a 5 minute walk from Leicester Square and Embankment Station.

We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before the tour starts, it gives you plenty of time to meet the guide and grab a coffee or ice cream!

  • How do I find the Guide? Head to Tower Hill Underground Station, next to the Tram Coffee stop, and look for the guide holding up a bright red umbrella.
  • Where does the tour start and end? The tour starts outside M&M World in Leicester Square and the guide should be nearby holding a red umbrella. The tour will finish near Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, in Westminster. The exact location will vary depending on the guide and the day, but the guide will always let you know at the beginning of the tour.
  • How long is the tour? The tour is roughly 6 long, but will vary on the guide. There's a lunch break in the middle, lasting approximately an hour.
  • Do I need to make a booking? Or cancel if my plans change? Yes please. The number of bookings we receive dictates how many guides we send to run the tour. If we have 100 extra people turn up, it's not going to be a good experience for anyone. Please be aware, we do not accept groups of 8 people or more. Even if you book separately, if you attend the tour as a big group, you will be turned away. If you are a group of 8 or more please contact us to enquire about booking a private tour. We'd be very grateful if you could cancel if you can no longer attend, as it could allow us to give your spot to someone else.
  • What if its raining? If its raining, we will get wet! We always recommend you carry an umbrella in London, the weather really is that temperamental, but if we didn't run tours in bad weather, we wouldn't get to do many. Rain or shine we will be there waiting. Of course, if you don’t fancy standing in the rain with us we understand.
  • What should I wear? Our tours are all walking, so we always recommend comfy shoes. Check the weather on the day of the tour, but we recommend bring a raincoat and some SPF just incase.
  • How is it free?* We run all our tours on a pay what you think it’s worth basis. There is no booking fee for our free tours, and no payment is required before the tour begins. This means they are accessible to every budget. However our guides are all freelancers and don't get paid to do the tour, if you have fun then you can decide if you would like to tip your guide. The value is up to you, whatever fits in with your budget and your level of enjoyment. This also incentivises our guides to never stop trying to improve, as the system rewards the guides who provide the best quality tours. Tipping is always voluntary and our guides will never pressure you into it, but this is their job so if you have had fun, we ask that you take a moment to consider what it was worth to you.

Prefer to join us on a Private Tour?

If you are booking for a group of 8 or more, or just want a more personal experience away from the crowds, then you can book this as a private tour. You can dictate the content, the route and the time or sit back and let your guide lead you.

For more information on Private tours  click here .

Please note, ALL schools and educational groups should book a Private tour.

View all Tours

queer tours of london

Gaily Tours & Excursions in UK: London

queer tours of london

  • Gaily Tour in LONDON with your LGBT Friendly Guide
  • LGBT Half & Full Day Gaily Excursion from LONDON
  • Individual and Small Groups

Included Features

ABOUT THE CITY... London is undoubtedly one of the most accepting and tolerant cities for LGBT community today. The city is a culturally diverse city with more than 300 spoken languages. The city is home to several World Heritage Sites, museums, theatres, galleries, events and huge sporting venues, attracting millions of visitors each year. London has a very open, vibrant and diverse gay scene with something for everyone. There are a huge number of lively gay bars, extraordinary nightclubs, steamy saunas, well-stocked gay shops and proud gay organisations. London has two main ‘gay villages’ located in Soho and Vauxhall. The Soho gay area is located in the center of the city, close to the Piccadilly Circus. THE BEST LGBT FRIENDLY HOTELS IN LONDON (Click on the Link to See the rates and book them)

  • St Martin's Lane *****  (area: Covent Garden)
  • Crown Plaza London – The City ****  (area: The City)
  • Apex City of London Hotel ****  (area: The City)
  • Park Plaza London Riverbank ****  (area: South Waterloo)
  • The Mandeville Hotel ****  (area: near Oxford Circus)
  • My Bloomsbury ****  (area: next to British Museum)
  • The Z Hotel Soho ***  (area: Soho)
  • Brit Hotels London Court ***  (area: Kensington)
  • The Z Hotel Victoria ***  (area: Victoria)
  • Stylish Apartments in Victoria & Westminster   (area: Victoria & Westminster)

queer tours of london

GAILY TOURS in LONDON

Get ready for special tours in this amazing city ! Meet our Gay/Lesbian Tour Guide for a private walking tour of London Gay and experience one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

London • Classic Tour

Admire the spectacular city of London with our Gay or Lesbian Tour guide. Start your tour by the shores of the Thames, where you will learn the history of the city that has become one of the most important financial districts of the world: City of London. You will then go deep into a semiprivate area with a hidden medieval Templar church. Step by step you will arrive to the feet of the imposing dome of St Paul’s Cathedral that dominates the City, and we will walk through hundreds of businessmen and women until we reach the Bank of England surrounded by skyscrapers. Continue to monument to the history of the Great Fire, London Bridge, and finally reach the London Tower and Tower Bridge (entrance fee to the Tower included), a perfect ending that will make you see with a different look this special part of the great London. Included: * Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tour Guide for City Tour (3 hours) * Entrance Fee – Tower Bridge

London • Gay Tour & Westminster Abbey's Secrets

Be ready for our special London LGBT guided tour, offering a unique and unusual view to the hidden parts of London that few people know about. Start your experience of Gay London in Soho district. This is also known for its LGBT vibe and it's where you’ll find many of London’s sex shops, burlesque shows and gay and lesbian bars. London is a city with 2000 years of history where some of the most influential people in the world have walked these streets and many have left a distinct footprint. On the Secret London LGBT Tour we will show you a side of London away from the usual tourist trail – we’ll take you along gas lit alleyways, past old pubs and bookshops, remnants of sprawling mansions, unusual art and secret societies. Explore also the spectacular, where many gay and bisexual notables were interred include King William III and his boyfriend William Bentinck. Inside the Abbey you will also discover a small stained glass memorial, unveiled in Poets' Corner, dedicated to Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wilde, playwright and aesthete. The window, above the monument to Geoffrey Chaucer, was designed by Graham Jones and contains small lozenges within it which have been filled, or will be filled in the future, with names of poets and writers. Included: * Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tour Guide for City Tour (3 hours) * Entrance Fee – Westminster Abbey

London by Night • Gay Tour

Enjoy an enlightened London and an amazing walking tour through London's gay & lesbian bars and clubs to live on your skin the magic atmosphere and LGBT scene of the city. Enjoy your included drink (also alcohol free drink available) and own the night ! Included: * Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tour Guide for Night Tour (2 hours) * Drink in Gay Bar (1 Drink)

GAILY EXCURSIONS from LONDON

Get ready for a special full day Gaily Excursion from London Gay with us !

Bath and Stonehenge (from London) Oxford, Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle (from London) Paris (from London) Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury  (from London) Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle (from London) Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter  (from London) Cambridge and Oxford (from London)

  • Gay or Lesbian Friendly Tour Guide and/or Driver
  • Every Entrance Fee or Tasting described in the program

Not Included

  • Tips, City Taxes and everything not listed under “Included features”

LGBT Hotel Collection

London • Classic Tour London • Gay Tour London by Night • Gay Tour

* Price per Person Rates are Commissionable  

SHARED EXCURSION since you don't need a private one? No Problem ! You can take part to our amazing shared scheduled excursion in English with LGBT Friendly Tour Guide and share this fantastic experience with other travellers. Contact us at [email protected] for more Info & Prices * The tours are on request and rates are subject to the availability of the providers at the time of booking. Prices are subject to change if travel occur during trade shows, bank holidays or special events and supplements may be applied.

** Please check before booking the closing dates for the selected museums. If included museums are closed, Ignas Tour will refund the amount of that museum or choose an alternative one to visit.

Largo Cesare Battisti, 28 39044 Egna (BZ) - ITALY VAT N° - IT01652670215

Personal Details

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London Bridge Revealed

QUEER TOURS OF LONDON ‘A Mince Through Time’

queer tours of london

October 13, 2022 - October 13, 2022

Queer tours of london (‘a mince through time’) exist to shine a light on london’s queer past and present whilst also looking to the future., the tours celebrate and remember the queer pioneers that paved a way for the liberations that we enjoy today, and acknowledge the work that still needs to happen..

This brand new walking tour, commissioned by Team London Bridge, explores and celebrates untold and forgotten stories, voices, people and places from London Bridge’s rich queer heritage and identity.

Delivered by Queer activists, performers and historians Dani Singer and Dan de la Motte, on behalf of the Queer Tours of London collective.

BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE

queer tours of london

Privacy Overview

This cabaret-singer tour guide walks you through 2000 years of London’s queer history

Tamsin Wressell

May 25, 2023 • 6 min read

Queer history walking tour

Cabaret singer Mark T Cox walks visitors through 2000 years of London’s queer history © Rachel Cole-Wilken

Lonely Planet’s People You Meet series profiles people we think you should meet on your journey – those who make lasting impressions and help you connect more deeply with the destination. 

“Pick any building in London from any time, and it’ll have queer people in its history,” says Mark T Cox, as we huddle in a small group by The Clermont Hotel in Charing Cross, the meeting point for the Queer History Walking Tour . “Drop a pin anywhere in London and you could do this tour: Vauxhall, Earl’s Court, Dalston.”

The area Mark has chosen to walk us through 2000 years of queer history is in the heart of London: the West End , weaving us from Charing Cross through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus to Chinatown and Soho. It’s a pay-what-you-can system, making the tours and this intriguing history accessible for everyone.

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Mark is well versed in the city’s queer scene. A former organ player at his small local church in County Clare, Mark moved his talents to Dublin  at age 17 to carve out a cabaret career at The George , Ireland’s oldest queer venue.

Some 10 years ago, he moved to London and has since become a staple name at many of London’s queer spots. Performing as a pianist, entertainer, storyteller and comedian (often in a very beautiful big dickie bow), he has regular stints at venues such as The Glory , Dalston Superstore , the CellarDoor and the London Irish Centre  – where he exudes a warm, cheerful and nourishing presence to the crowd. Nights with Mark are filled with piano sing-alongs, queer anthems and incredibly produced original tales. 

Integrating his passion and queer knowledge into the city during the day was something he has wanted to do for a while. “My background is in architecture and I’ve wanted to run these tours since before the pandemic, but I’ve now been doing them for two or three years,” he tells me. “I love doing them – I do other tours like Big Ben , but this feels more meaningful.” 

Queer history in London

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Since its very founding, with the Romans’ arrival some 2000 years ago, queer relationships have formed part of the record of London. Back then, two men in partnership wouldn’t be unusual or notable, Mark explains. And since that era, the history of the LGBTIQ community has taken shape at the buildings and places we stop at today.

The infamous Buggery Act came into law in 1533, condemning queer relationships by the force of law – a concept that originated in London before being widely exported all over the world through colonization. Figures who have passed through the buildings on our tour – including Oscar Wilde – were subsequently sent to prison based on rumors or suspicions surrounding their sexuality. Every topic and fact that we cover comes with an all-encompassing air of compassion and kindness from Mark, scattered with quips and fast, gentle humor that bespeak his lived experience.

We walk through Trafalgar Square. Today, it’s filled with other celebrations – but every June, we see Pride set up its main stage here. “Here is where people will come and listen to someone from X Factor ,” Mark jokes. Yet Pride has historically been a balance of party and protest. “This year, we’ll see the protest element coming back with everything going on – we’re not in a great place at the moment with trans issues and rights. But there’s a lot of talk of, Why is there still Pride? There’s only been 50 years of this – in comparison to some 2000 of death penalties and criminalization.”

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We pass the grand buildings of Piccadilly Circus. This used to be a queer center, a run-down neighborhood that would be transformed in the 1850s. “The great thing about this city is you take a turn and are in a totally different area,” says Mark. And with this, we cross over into Chinatown, which used to be another queer spot, home to large underground parties. It was here where teahouses that stayed open 24 hours would create unofficial queer spaces where patrons wouldn’t be hassled.

“It was a way to access the ‘pink pound.’ In the 1800s, men had a lot of disposable income. Working for the nearby government and palaces, they could afford these things. Staff would usher away straight people and create little safe spots for queers. But London has a vast history for queer men, while missing out women a lot,” Mark says.

While men typically had more income, women weren’t allowed into a lot of spaces. “Historically, the majority of things were queer men catering to themselves. We still have some inequality there today.”

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Finding spaces for community 

It was in these spaces where we saw minority groups coming together. The Shim Sham Club on Wardour St was a popular place in the 1930s, where the queer and black communities would come to listen to jazz. “They’d start to support each other. Police would come and flirt with people – and then arrest them.”

We head into Soho, today one of the biggest queer districts in the city, with flags and sex shops lining the streets. “In 1990, Village opened – and it changed everything. It was on the ground floor and had windows. Clear glass windows. For the first time, you could walk by and see queer people like you would in a coffee shop or restaurant.” This led to Soho becoming a more openly queer space. We go through Dean St, discussing the progress and stagnant points surrounding sexual health and stigma, before landing in Soho Square. Mark’s expression becomes more solemn as we gather around to say goodbye to each other as the tour comes to an end. 

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“I’d love to be able to end this tour on a happier note. We have this big history. I should be saying we’re just purely making progress. It’s the opposite,” says Mark. “We’re in a downward pattern and it’s very worrying. In the last six months, things have taken a turn on trans issues. There’s horrific hatred and attacks, including right here in Soho, fueled by the media.”

In July, for the first time Trans+ Pride will take center stage at Trafalgar Square. “A lot of energy and focus used to be on gay rights. The same needs to be done for trans rights. Pride this year is important. We need to keep fighting for equal rights for all queer people. It shouldn’t just be up to the queer community to do that.”

How to book

Public tours with Mark T Cox are organized via London with a Local , which offers a selection of guides who rotate from week to week. You can see Mark’s upcoming tour dates and book a spot via his website . 

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A Queer-Life Guide to London, United Kingdom

queer tours of london

Amber Fryer is a freelance creative and the former head of design for Amazon Pride UK and EU. Fryer was born and raised in London and currently resides in Hackney Wick, East London. “Growing up in a city with so many diverse cultures and characters offered a variety of outlets to safely explore and have fun discovering the colourful complexity of London’s LGBTQ+ community,” she says. Here, Fryer shares her favorite aspects of queer life in her hometown, from the best experimental hair salons to drag shows you shouldn’t miss.

queer tours of london

Queer-Friendly Neighborhoods

As a metropolis of art, business, and design, London is a city steeped in queer history. Famous patrons like David Bowie pushed sexual boundaries, embracing queer people into society, marching and protesting for what makes London one of the most exciting and inclusive destinations for LGBTQ+ people in the world.

Central or “West End”- Soho – Old Compton Street.

No trip to London would ever be complete without visiting the hub of London’s queer life that is Soho. Since the dawn of queer culture,as early as the 17th century—from pubs to clubs, restaurants to theatre productions—Soho has been firmly the beating heart of London’s LGBTQ+ community. Everyday, Old Compton street and the surrounding area buzzes with tourists and queer folk alike, with neon lights glowing morning to night. Happy hour is every hour in Soho, so you’ll never miss a beat!

East London

East London plays host to some of London’s most eclectic LGBTQ+ venues. Where grit and glamour collide to create London’s alternative queer scene, the East End streets bare the souls of the underground creative folk, whose boundless talent and style bring together a diverse mix of music, fashion, and disco dancing debauchery.

South London

The area has a queer history as far back as Soho, with the area famous for its cabaret and drag acts, dating back before the 1950s! South London is a vibrant scene of old and new, where relics meet regeneration, with Vauxhall, Clapham, Kennington, and Peckham amongst the most popular areas of this gaybourhood. From warehouse clubs to male and female only gyms, the South London lifestyle boasts an iridescent spectrum of people and places to discover.

queer tours of london

Best Hotels

Located amongst the glitz and glamour of London’s West End, and only a sashay away from Soho, The W Hotel is a sleek and chic destination. With the recent launch of its funky bar and lounge, The Perception, like the rest of the hotel, captures the the kitschy/campy soul of London with experiences like “What’s the Tea?” a delectable drag afternoon tea, or “Queer Me Out,” a gender fluid fashion extravaganza. Whether you’re checked in or stopping by, The W London is definitely one to check out.

The Curtain

Curtain Road, East London is a camera-ready hotel and members club located a short walk from Old Street station. Whether it be an overnight visit or a weekend away, the rooftop pool and restaurant are features worth feasting over—the brunch is especially fabulous. Below the decadence of the chicly designed rooms is housed a sleek screening and disco room, notably premiering exclusive queer friendly events and films, such as Ru Paul’s drag race viewing parties and secret live performances from queer artists. It’s a VIQP (Very Important Queer Person) venue worth visiting.

Ace Hotel, Shoreditch

Of the creative and eclectic, globally-known chain of Ace Hotels, the Shoreditch location does everything to encompass the brand’s notable hipness with a dash of East London realness. Day or night this hotel lobby buzzes with creative activity. With an impressive rooftop and equally fabulous restaurant, it’s no wonder this soulful site plays homage to its neighbourhood by hosting an array of engaging queer events. The hotel proudly advocates as a trusted LGBTQ+ destination, welcoming queers and allies alike to enjoy live performances from drag artists and musicians, to dancing the night away at one of their many queer nights held in their nightclub, Miranda.

queer tours of london

Queer-Owned Businesses

Queer Salons

Exploring your identity can often mean experimenting with personal style, like expressing your inner self with a hairdo to match. Open Barbers (Hoxton), Tuttii Fruittii (Deptford) and Blade (Soho) are all hair salons that pride themselves on an open and unique experience for people of all genders and sexualities. What I love about each salon is the care and attention in welcoming everybody into their space, with affordable prices that reflect their love of community. I only wish places like this existed when I was growing up and experimenting with my identity. Whether it’s a cocktail and cut at Blade’s, or a technicolour transformation at TuttiiFruittii’s, these queer owned salons make treating yourself a buzz-worthy experience.

Dalston Superstore

For a Sunday brunch with all the bells and bar-dancing divas, queer gem Dalston Superstore offers an extra side of sass with your Sunday service. Not only known for their iconic LGBTQ+ nightlife (a definite ‘to-do’ too), the fun doesn’t stop when the morning rises in the East. Located along Kingsland Road, ‘Basic Brunch’, served by one of my drag favourites A Man To Pet, will have your eggs poached perfectly with a dash of debauchery, leaving you full of deliciously put-together food and fun. Celebrating its 10th birthday this year, it’s one of few queer places left that guided me and many others through queer adolescence, supporting the whole LGBTQ+ community, providing a safe space to dance, find love, and meet like-minded people over a bevvy.

queer tours of london

Gay’s the Word

For over 40 years, Gay’s the Word bookstore has been a treasured resource and safe space for every manifestation of the community of all ages and generations. Situated in the charming streets of Bloomsbury, crossing the doorway you are instantly met by wonderfully attentive general managers, Ulilenart and Jim. Beyond the bookshelves, you’re captivated by the conversations people are sharing, elevated by the in-depth personal recommendations penned by the wonderfully attentive staff.

I’d popped into grab a coffee at Pitfield London in Hoxton when I first stumbled across Sh! It was like discovering a naughty Narnia, hidden through a secret doorway. Nestled within a wholesome East London café, Sh! has pioneered one of the only female-first erotic boutiques in the country since 1992. The inspiring ladies who work here are as wonderfully passionate about their woman-powered ethos as the stimulating array of product adorning the shelves. Sharing their secrets at carefully curated (and often sold out!) talks and workshops leave you feeling more empowered by your body and sexuality than ever before, celebrating that sexuality and gender is not one-size-fits-all.

A proudly independent cafe and music store, located in Exmouth Market, Brill offers more than just a great cup of coffee. The walls at this aptly-named cafe display a well-curated collection of vinyl, alongside a well stocked shelf of queer magazines to browse. Each morning, someone from the staff cycles to Brick Lane to collect a fresh batch of infamous bagels, and if the vegan rocky roads aren’t inviting enough, Brill prides itself on being a queer-friendly destination, hosting events such as queer music and poetry nights, even fixing up some after-hours Pride Punch for the occasion.

queer tours of london

Arts & Culture

The Victoria & Albert Museum and Tate Britain

These two museums are home to hundreds of iconic queer artwork waiting to be discovered. From Francis Bacon to David Hockney, both galleries hold an extensive collection of queer British art, annually curating exhibitions and festivals around Pride month. Notably my favourite being Queer and Now, held at Tate Britain, Westminster, where the gallery hosted a powerful public display of queer art, with family tours, music, film, and workshops all rooted from the UK’s queer community. One of my favourite parts of the day was the vogue lessons that took place in one of the grand fine art rooms, the sight of over one hundred people voguing abreast decadent portraits will stay in my mind forever.

The British Film Institute

BFI is also home to Flare: London’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Flare happens every year, located at the BFI Southbank Centre, curating a whole roster of contemporary queer cinema. The festival offers a vibrant space for audiences, enthusiasts, and makers to come together to share their love for great film and celebrating the work of LGBTQ+ movie pioneers through events, screenings, and workshops. The BFI premiers many other queer friendly events throughout the year, so for any traveling film buffs out there, I would highly recommend.

Hampstead Ponds

Located in the quaint town of Hampstead Heath is this vastly popular open green space. Relatively accessible via public transport, it’s one of London’s best features open daily to the public. It also holds claim to being a top queer hotspot. The large freshwater swimming ponds are divided up by gender—Mixed, Women’s and Men’s only. With incredibly social atmospheres, whether you’re taking a weekend dip or soaking up the city sun, it’s a perfect place to people watch and spend summer days at one with nature.

queer tours of london

Queer Nightlife

Friendly Society

For over 20 years, Friendly Society has been SoHo’s (and my own!) best kept secret. Hidden down an inconspicuous alleyway off Old Compton Street, you’re teleported through a doorway via disco ball dream and into a house of fun. From barbie doll ceilings to bubblegum booths, funky-chic plasters every inch of this bar/lounge—Nile Rogers included. Peter, the fabulous owner of Friendly Society, says, “Everybody is welcome to join the party. It’s from our name that we commit to a friendly environment that invites anyone, from queers coming in for an after-work drink to a weekend cocktail with their mums!” As one of my favorite Soho secrets, this place has never changed its quirky charm, an essential pit stop and guaranteed boogie wonderland.

Perched along the riverside of Kingsland Road, you’re met with a classic British pub exterior, but once inside, you’re welcomed by a cozy and warm interior centered around a twinkling makeshift tree in the middle of the bar. As the night ticks on, so does the atmosphere, ramping up from a pleasantly poured pint to a shaken up “Schlong Island Iced Tea” as you await one of their fabulous shows to begin. Owned by East London drag legends Jonny Woo and John Sizzle, the brand is a pioneer for the LGBTQ+ community, creating a safe space for up-and-coming queer creatives and partnering with London-based queer charities so that everyone can enjoy a piece of the Glory. Some of the best drag I have ever seen has graced their little tinselled stage.

Two Brewers

One of the longest running South London queer venues still around, located just down the road from legendary queer institution Royal Vauxhall Tavern , you’re welcomed into an all-inclusive cheap thrills extravaganza. Famous for their seven-days-a-week cabaret and karaoke, quiz nights and Drag acts, this venue has served the queer community for over 30 years. Two Brewers is great value for your money, scoring big points in the local gay scene. It promises camp, queer fun, and a late night club opening out the back on weekends.

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January 24, 2023

Queer Britain: the UK’s First LGBTQ+ Museum

In May 2021, Queer Britain, the UK’s first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer) history and culture, opened in the King’s Cross area of London. Located at 2 Granary Square, it joins destinations including Berlin, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale in having a permanent queer museum space.

And it’s not before time: same-sex marriages were celebrated here from 2014, gay computer scientist Alan Turing features on our £50 note, and many museums and attractions in London have LGBTQ+ themed events, trails, and exhibits. Indeed, research shows that London is the leading city in Europe for LGBTQ+ tourism, while the census of 2021 showed that some boroughs of the city (Lambeth, Southwark, City) have an LGB+ residential population higher than 8%, compared to an average of 3% across England and Wales.

NOTE:  The word ‘queer,’ once a homophobic term, has a rich recent history of being used positively, particularly for younger generations, as an umbrella term to refer to non-straight and non-gender-conforming identities.

Entrance to the Queer Britain museum in London. Photo Credit: © Ric Morris.

Exhibition: We Are Queer Britain

Located in a renovated Victorian industrial building, the King’s Cross space is dedicated to temporary exhibitions on LGBTQ+ themes. I visited during the inaugural exhibition We Are Queer Britain (until April 2023), marking the 50th anniversary of London’s first Pride march, which reflects on a century of activism, art, culture, and social history.

Sexual relations between men were illegal in England and Wales until 1967 (until 2000 in the armed forces), and probably the most famous person to be imprisoned for their sexuality was Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest. His cell door from Reading Gaol is on display here alongside a copy of his heartfelt testimony, which he wrote behind that door, De Profundis.

Exhibition room in Queer Britain museum in London. Photo Credit: © Ric Morris.

While lesbian relationships have never been illegal in this country, they have often been ignored or forgotten, and this is why queer history is so important – it reclaims stories previously left out. Often we get a glimpse into people’s lives through their diaries, such as the writer Virginia Woolf, whose bust is on display here, and 19th century Yorkshire landowner Anne Lister, whose coded diary has been called ‘the Rosetta Stone of lesbian history.’

An exciting discovery of recent years is the diary of Mr. Lucas (1926-2014) – civil servant by day and chronicler of London’s gay underworld by night. You can see a page from his diary here, and we eagerly await their full publication. Another moving document is from Switchboard, an LGBTQ+ telephone helpline founded in London in 1974 – a vital lifeline when information and support was hard to come by – and each phone call was documented in their log books, which today provide a rich insight into the issues faced by queer people from the 1970s to the 1990s, and subject of an award-winning podcast The Log Books .

Rainbow cape worn by singer Olly Alexander. Photo Credit: © Ric Morris.

Also on display is a cabinet from the Museum of Transology, the UK’s most significant collection of objects representing trans, non-binary and intersex people’s lives, who have often been sidelined even within queer history. There are fashion items too – Pride outfits worn by members of LGBTQ+ Muslim organisation Imaan, a dress worn by the ‘Godzilla of drag queens’ Divine during their UK tour, and the rainbow cape worn by singer Olly Alexander for his Glastonbury Festival set.

As the exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of London’s first Gay Pride march (as it was called then) in 1972, there are photos and memories of early prides. For many people attending, their first pride was the first time they were ‘out’ in public and their first encounter of the size and strength of the community. The first pride commemorated the 1969 riots outside the Stonewall Inn in New York when LGBTQ+ people resisted a police raid. For this reason, the name Stonewall was chosen for the UK’s most influential LGBTQ+ charity, formed in 1989 by leading activists, including actor Ian McKellen (Gandalf in Lord of the Rings). Stonewall successfully campaigned to remove anti-LGBTQ+ laws, equalise the age of consent and introduce legal same-sex partnerships. On display is the founding document of Stonewall, signed in Ian McKellen’s kitchen.

Queer Britain packs a lot into a compact space. You can read books in the small library, curated by Gay’s The Word, Britain’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop based in nearby Bloomsbury. You can buy many of these books in the museum shop, along with greeting cards, mugs, and items created by selected community artists. And if you can’t make it to the museum, they have the beginnings of a digital archive on their website – you can rotate and zoom a 3-D scan of Oscar Wilde’s prison cell door.

The shop at Queer Britain museum in London. Photo Credit: © Ric Morris.

Filling in the gaps

So, why do we need a queer museum? Quite simply, it fills in the gaps. In the past (and in much of the world, in the present), people whose sexuality or gender identity differed from the norm were ignored, misunderstood, or punished. Many people protected themselves by keeping themselves off the record. On top of that, archivists and historians have overlooked, explained away (‘they were… friends’), and destroyed evidence of non-conforming lives. For instance, when bisexual poet Lord Byron died, his friends immediately rushed to his publishers in Mayfair and burned his memoirs. Who knows how many queer memories went the same way?

But far more than enriching the historical record, a queer museum helps people today understand and explore their place in the world. Many LGBTQ+ people remember a time when they were not represented in ‘respectable’ culture when there were no positive models of who they could be, when they had to figure out life on their own. Sue Sanders, the founder of LGBT+ History Month, says, ‘the difference it would have made to me as young person to know that Virginia Woolf was bisexual, to know about Oscar Wilde, would have made a phenomenal difference to my life.’ The role of community museums, we are reminded, is more than to archive dusty old relics: they have the power to crystallise shared human experiences.

People relaxing next to the Regent’s Canal, outside Queer Britain. Photo Credit: © Ric Morris.

King’s Cross: London’s new public space

Another reason to visit Queer Britain is to explore the recently-redeveloped King’s Cross area – a five-minute walk north of the famous station (and its neighbour St Pancras International). In the 19th century, this was a railway, canal, and road interchange where goods from northern England were unloaded to power and feed the capital. In the 21st century, these once-derelict railway lands have been repurposed to create a vibrant area for shopping, eating, drinking, studying, and working. Queer Britain neighbours include the world-famous art college Central St Martins and the landmark new Google building (with a 300 metre-long roof garden) designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the multi-talented creator of the 2012 Olympic cauldron and the latest model of the red London bus.

IFO (Identified Flying Object) by Jaques Rival at King's Cross Station in London. Photo Credit: © Ursula Petula Barzey.

Explore further

If you want to find out more about the heritage and regeneration of the King’s Cross area around the Queer Britain museum, you can go on a London Architecture Tour – Modern and Contemporary .

If you want to explore London’s rich and varied LGBTQ+ life, the first stop would be Soho, with its bars, restaurants, and heaps of cultural heritage. For history, the nearby district of Bloomsbury was the home of many leading writers and intellectuals who we would now call LGBTQ+. Why not get the most out of your visit with an expert Blue Badge Tourist Guide?

I’ll finish with a quote from London’s first openly-gay celebrity, Quentin Crisp:

‘Time is on the side of the outcast. Those who once inhabited the suburbs of human contempt find that without changing their address they eventually live in the metropolis.’

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I’m Ric and I offer friendly, thoughtful and professional guiding services in London and South East England.

I have three Blue Badges in tourist guiding: Southern England (2001), South East England (2015) and London (2021). I have a background in English language teaching and voice coaching, and I have a degree…

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Queer Tours of London: A Mince Through Time

A young man in a black coat and cap stands smiling next to railings and a sign reading Soho Square

Join Dan de la Motte from Queer Tours of London as we shine a light on London’s rich LGBTQ+ history through a creative and life-affirming interactive tour around Bloomsbury.

Starting at the UCL Octagon Gallery exhibition ' Blueprints of Hope: Celebrating LGBTQ+ London ', Dan presents a snapshot of London’s vital queer cityscape, past and present.

Hear stories of London’s queer history, shedding light on the lives, spaces, identities, repression, and resistance that form the backdrop of LGBTQ+ lives today.

Image © Kai Lutterodt

queer tours of london

Seven of the most interesting queer history hotspots across the UK

Pride March

Pride in London takes place this weekend and 2022 is a significant one, with the festival hitting its 50th birthday. This year, the focus is on reflecting on the milestones in the history of the queer community. The first ever museum to do this in the UK opened its doors in spring, and while the community continues to see queer spaces closing down (over 60% of London’s spaces have closed down in the last decade or so), learning from the past feels incredibly significant to keep moving forward. Here, we look at where we can continue to educate ourselves on LGBTQ+ history.

1. Queer Britain, London

The UK’s first national museum centering LGBTQ+ history and culture opened its doors to the public on 5 May 2022 in London’s King’s Cross. The charity behind the museum has been campaigning and fundraising since 2018 to create the only permanent space in Britain to celebrate and reflect on the lives of LGBTQ+ people, their stories and places. Inside, there are temporary exhibitions, immersive experiences, historical and queer artifacts spread across four galleries, as well as spaces for the community, a workshop, education space and a gift shop. It’s free to visit, open Wednesday to Sunday, from midday until 6pm.

2. Queer the Pier, Brighton

Launched in 2020, this exhibition is a community-curated endeavour that shines a light on the town’s LGBTQ+ past. The memorabilia here is inspired by writers, artists, performers, activists and locals in Brighton who are part of the community. Film, photography, oral histories and artifacts are found throughout, like the typewriter used by Peter Burton to document years of queer history for Gay Times . There’s a Queer Looks exhibition, too, which looks at LGBTQ+ identities through clothing, from the 1960s until today. It’s housed in the old stables in the Brighton Museum’s Pavilion and is running until March 2023. The exhibition is free with general admission to the museum or free to residents and members. Once the exhibition is over, there’s the Piers & Queers walking tour to join.

3. Edinburgh’s Queer History

Blue Badge Tourist Guide Hannah Mackay Tait runs a couple of walking tours of the Scottish city (the other focuses on Women’s History). For the Queer History tour, there’s over 90 minutes of walking in Edinburgh’s Old Town to rediscover the stories that history tried to erase and those that have shaped Scotland today. The walk takes in areas that unveil poignant moments in Scottish history from trans pioneers from the 19th century and activist queer booksellers to spots where the LGBTQ+ community fought against persecution of homosexuality. Hannah keeps accessibility in mind on the tours and while there are no steps or stairs, there are some slopes and cobbled streets on the route. More detailed descriptions of the places on the route are available for anyone with a visual impairment.

4. Bishopsgate Institute, London

The Bishopsgate Institute was established as a centre for learning and culture in 1895 and holds a large section of LGBTQ+ archives. It covers from the late 19th century onwards, including archives from Switchboard, Stonewall and the Terrence Higgins Trust and more. There’s also a section from the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive, which has some 300,000 press cuttings covering non-violent campaigns for action for the human rights of queer people, as well as from the UK Leather and Fetish Archives, which focuses on the history of kink, fetish and BDSM in the UK’s LGBTQ+ communities. Tours of the archives are available, but there are also talks, courses and walking tours.

5. Exploring LGBTQ+ history at National Trust spots, Kent and East Sussex

The National Trust explored its queer heritage with a series in 2017 called Prejudice and Pride, looking at its spaces that have been shaped by LGBTQ+ people who challenged conventions. Events and exhibitions were held, and while there hasn’t been any news of more emerging, the places steeped in queer history around East Sussex and Kent are still around to visit and to learn from. You can head to Monk’s House in East Sussex, a 16 th -century country retreat for Virginia Woolf, which includes some of her personal items. Elsewhere, there’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent, which was founded by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, whose open marriage carved out space for queer relationships in their lives.

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6. Manchester Heritage Trail

Also called the Out in the Past Trail , this urban path through the northern city is marked by rainbow flag paving stones. There are more than a dozen important locations across the city that mark a point of queer history for Manchester. This one is a self-guided trail, so takes a little research in advance. For one that’s a little easier to follow, there’s the LGBTQ+ Walking Tour , which zones in on the history of Canal Street. The city became a forefront for change in the 1980s after nominating the first openly queer mayor candidate, Margaret Ross. Since then, Canal Street has been known as the Gay Village, with monuments, memorials and murals galore.

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Delivering a camp medley of storytelling, piano covers and original pop songs, Mark T Cox is a regular performer in London’s cabaret shows. As well as writing and starring in musicals, he runs a walking tour that covers a snippet of the complex LGBTQ+ history in London, including iconic people and places who have been central to the community. The tour focuses on the West End, predominantly Soho, which looks into the development of what has become one of the most known queer neighbourhoods in the world. The tours run for two hours every Sunday, with a Pay What you Can option.

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    ' QUEER TOURS OF LONDON - A Mince Through Time' was founded in 2016 to commemorate, celebrate and agitate for the 2017 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality. We exist to bring forth the visibility of our incredible community at large and the journey to how we became who we are today.

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