Claire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.
Claire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.
Hi, I'm Claire!Claire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.
Hi, I'm Claire!Claire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.
Ric Morris has dedicated his career to exploring London’s culture and history. He’s worked as a tour guide since 2001, and his itineraries take visitors to many of the city’s best-known attractions. But if there’s one topic he’s particularly invested in, it’s LGBTQ+ history—and his private LGBTQ+ history tour, launched in 2022, explores the LGBTQ+ events and people that have long shaped the city.
“London has so many stories to tell, particularly in the area of LGBTQ+ history, which has only started to flourish in the last 20 years with the uncovering of previously hidden histories,” Ric says. “The tour is centered on the district of Bloomsbury which, in my opinion, is one of the richest and most diverse areas for LGBTQ+ history.”
On his tour, visitors step back into the 18th century to discover a lively LGBTQ+ meeting place, visit Britain’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop, admire a trans flag road crossing, and even learn some Polari—the secret language formerly used by London’s gay men. The moral of the story? London has always been a LGBTQ+ city. “We have a long, long history of finding space for people considered ‘outsiders,’” Ric says. “Whether people come here for living, business, or tourism, London today truly is a world-facing city that integrates and celebrates difference.” Here’s his guide to London’s present-day LGBTQ+ appeal.
London’s LGBTQ+ neighborhoods
“Soho has the widest choices for LGBTQ+ venues in the city, centered around Old Compton Street,” Ric says. He recommends bars such as The Yard and Comptons, though Soho has such a wealth of venues that visitors seeking LGBTQ+ nightlife options will be spoiled for choice. “The other area of London that’s particularly popular with gay men is Vauxhall, south of the river—the Royal Vauxhall Tavern is one of London’s oldest entertaining venues.”
And if you don’t mind a day trip, Brighton—located on England’s South Coast, and just 1 hour from London by train—is considered the country’s de facto LGBTQ+ capital. Ric also runs an LGBTQ+ history tour in the city, if you’re after another vantage point on Britain’s LGBTQ+ culture and history.
Where to learn about London’s LGBTQ+ history
“I love books, so my first port of call would be Gay’s the Word, Britain’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop,” Ric says—the bookshop has been around since 1979, and is one of the stops on his tour. And for serious research, Ric recommends heading to the Bishopsgate Institute, which “holds the largest LGBTQ+ archives in the UK, covering politics, culture, literature, and kink, and welcomes visitors and often hosts events.”
And as of 2022, there’s a new destination for those looking to learn about LGBTQ+ history in London—Queer Britain, a museum located in the regenerated area just north of King’s Cross Station.
The best places to get a drink and meet others
As Ric notes, London is so large and diverse that you can easily find your own niche when it comes to LGBTQ+ events. “Just this week, you have the choice of a queer and Black book club, a queer clothing swap, a non-binary social group, an LGBTQ+ boxing class, a queer craft social, and several LGBTQ+ dance classes,” he says—not to mention nightlife options including numerous drag cabarets, LGBTQ+ comedy nights, quiz nights, film nights, and a choice of over 50 pubs and clubs.
For first-time visitors to the city, Ric recommends swinging by The London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, which is near the Tate Modern and has exhibitions, events, and coffee. He also shouts out Queercircle, the latest exhibition and collaborative space in London’s funky new Design District in North Greenwich.
Must-visit LGBTQ+-owned institutions
“Off the beaten track, I’d recommend Zodiac Bar, a trans- and queer-owned venue near Euston Station that focuses on a warm welcome for everybody in the LGBTQ+ rainbow,” Ric says. He also recommends a tucked-away bar that resonates with his tour’s own cultural and literary focus: New Bloomsbury Set, a speakeasy-style basement bar specializing in cocktails and good-quality cabaret (and which is just a few steps away from Gay’s the Word). “I hope Virginia Woolf would have approved!” he says.
A brief history of London Pride
The first Pride in London was held on July 1, 1972; the date was chosen to commemorate the 2-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City, and several hundred people attended. In the ensuing years, the event evolved and transformed, and its scope grew. Today, Pride is a moment of joyful celebration, but always carries that core of protest and activism at its heart.
How London celebrates Pride
“The London Pride Parade is fantastic, with 30,000 participants and 450 community groups represented,” Ric says. The annual event is still held in early July, and London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan regularly attends.
“After the parade there are a variety of events across the city to choose from, notably four performance stages at different central locations. Something to look forward to is Pride’s Got Talent, open to up-and-coming LGBTQ+ singers and performers, with heats during the spring—the winner will perform in Trafalgar Square on Pride Day,” Ric says. He also recommends taking a look at the official Pride in London website, which has up-to-date event listings.
The importance of Pride
“Pride is the showcase for London’s LGBTQ+ communities and is the one time we all come together in all our color and variety,” says Ric. “We have not forgotten the early prides which were radical political protests, and Pride actively platforms activism and community groups.” Today, London’s is the biggest and most diverse Pride event in the country, and its influence and scope only extend further every year.
