Gay Travel Information | Gay Travel Blog, Gay Travel Reviews, Gay Travel Blogger

(By Peter DeWitt, founder of Gay Wellness)

London is the queen of gay cities. San Francisco may be a gay Mecca, but it has lost its edge. “Gay Paree” is too elegant to be flaming. New York has good credentials, for example, the Stonewall riots, but it’s too butch. London, by contrast, is screaming. 

It boasts a long tradition of gender-bending from Shakespeare’s ambiguous plays at The Globe to bewigged judges, from Panto Dames to pop stars David Bowie and Boy George.

It has men in uniform and naked list. Royalty is inherently camp: the pump and ceremony, the costumes, the courtiers. London’s literature is also tinged with pink, from Oscar Wilde to the Bloomsbury group. The capital has always been a magnet for eccentrics and style icons. And underground gay culture enters the main stream here in a way it doesn’t across the pond in America parentheses (think the comics like Graham Norton, or Lily Savage).

So queerness is in London‘s DNA. But does the reality live up to the gay fantasy? Yes and no.

London’s huge population has spawned a diverse club scene. Name your niche – indie kid, club kid, pop, tart, muscle, boy, lipstick, lesbian – and your neighborhood, and there’s a bar to fit your bill.

But too much choice can be tricky. It’s hard to settle down when there’s always a new venue, or lover, around the corner; opportunities for sex are plentiful, but love is elusive.

To fill the void, you can shop, eat, sightsee, or soak up some culture; and we’ve packaged the highlights for your queer eye. The scene will keep learning you back. We hope you find all the right things you’re looking for, or at least have fun trying.

· Gay Sports and Fitness

· Gay Gyms & Yoga Scene

· Gay Spas and Saunas

· Gay Swimming Pool Scene

· Gay Nightlife

· LGBTQ+ activities

· and more…

Gay Sports and Fitness

Back in the dark days of the closet, one of the predominant case stereotypes was not of the ramp, limp, wristed, weakling, who, as a child, was always pick class for the team. There may be some truth and stereotypes – many gays would still rather listen to Judy Garland then pump iron – but times are changing, and have been changing for sometime actually. 

These days, many gay men have chisel tosses that make straight guys look like Pee-wee Herman. And judging from the world of gay sports teams in London, from Footy, to cricket to rugby, it seems that choirs have finally discovered their inner athletic prowess. For general information about the sporting scene, visit the website of the European gay and lesbian sports foundation or out for sport.

While the queers have the London Cruisers as their basketball team, we have the London Knights – the UK’s only gay men’s competitive basketball team for men. For lots of gay activities, check out Gay Social (formerly London Lads)  

For football, there is rec soccer team Club Left Footers; the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN), whose mission is “Playing, supporting and campaigning for the LGBTQ+ community in football.; and the more serious Stonewall Football Club, who play in various elite tournaments, including the Gay Games. 

For golfers, you can join the Irons Golf Society; for hockey, the London Royals; for swimming there is Out to Swim; for cycling there is CycleOut; for cricket, there is Graces Cricket Club; for Rugby there is the Kings Cross Steelers RFC.

You can hop into a queer-friendly dance class at the Cecil Sharp House, Dance Works, or Pineapple Dance Studios.

Gay Gyms & Yoga Scene

London’s gay-friendly gyms are hot workout spots, where fitness and fabulousness collide. Gay fitness is a thing!

Tucked away near the bustling Oxford Circus Tube, Sweatbox Soho reigns as the undisputed champion of gay gyms in London. With pride in its heart, this place proudly claims the coveted title of “London’s Busiest Sauna.” But Sweatbox is not just about steamy encounters; it’s a complete package. This fully functional gym that caters to your every muscle-pumping need. And if that’s not enough, their weekly events are a wild ride, ranging from foam parties that make you feel like you’re dancing on clouds to free STI screenings that ensure you’re always in tip-top shape.

Muscle Bull Gym, though not exclusively gay, radiates inclusivity from every pore. Its owner and staff proudly embrace their gay identity, infusing the gym’s atmosphere with warmth and acceptance. Nestled in Bermondsey, this welcoming fitness haven stands out as one of the few gyms in London to flaunt a fully equipped outdoor gym. It’s a place where anyone can flex their muscles and be part of a diverse and supportive community.

Prepare to have your heart stolen at GymBox, a fitness paradise that exudes unapologetic gay vibes. This trendy hotspot is the epitome of cool, serving up pole dancing, Gaga dance classes, and a neon spectacle that could make your eyes pop. It’s the gym brand dreams are made of, attracting an upmarket gay clientele that ensures you won’t run out of eye candy while you sweat it out.

PureGyms scatter across the country like dazzling stars, each with its own unique flavor. In London, two locations reign supreme in terms of gay appeal: Clapham Common and Oval. But don’t sleep on Soho and Covent Garden; they certainly know how to embrace their gay side too. Regardless of the location, PureGyms welcome all with open arms, providing a diverse and dynamic fitness experience.

Venture into Vauxhall, South London, and prepare to unleash your inner badass at Sleven CrossFit. This gritty CrossFit space revels in its edgy attitude, offering a plethora of cool equipment to break free from your training rut.

Located at the heart of the West End, Oasis Sports Centre is a gay-friendly haven that caters to all your fitness desires. Dive into their heated outdoor swimming pool, bask in the sun on their inviting terrace, or take a dip in the indoor pool. The possibilities are endless. Inside, you’ll discover a 120 station gym with a dedicated functional fitness training zone and two exercise studios. It’s a fitness paradise that keeps you active and energized.

For those seeking a boutique fitness experience, look no further than Hybrid Fitness, conveniently situated near Tower Hill or Canary Wharf. This chic establishment boasts a fully-equipped gym and two studios. Their ‘Strength & Conditioning’ studio is the go-to spot for intense workouts and performance training, while their Yoga Studio offers both hot and cold yoga classes. And for a touch of extra glam, join Mark Hughes for his weekly Muscle Marys workouts, where gay fitness fanatics come together in a safe and supportive environment.

Last but certainly not least, we have the Central YMCA club, a buzzing facility that packs a punch. Just a stone’s throw away from Soho, this immaculate multi-level gym effortlessly draws a crowd of local workers and Soho boys. It’s an oasis where no-nonsense meets subtle sexiness, leaving you with an unforgettable workout experience.

London’s gay-friendly gyms are not just places to break a sweat; they’re havens of acceptance, community, and fabulousness. So grab your gym bag, unleash your inner diva, and embark on a fitness journey unlike any other.

Gay Swimming Pool Scene

Chilly, grey London isn’t exactly synonymous with swimming pools. But getting wet in the capital doesn’t always mean reaching for your umbrella. In fact, all the London‘s weather is far from tropical. There are a couple of Riviera-style pools where, believe it, or not, swimming in January is common place. 

The Oasis Sports Centre is ground zero for gay swimmers. This rooftop pool, located in the heart of the capital, is open all year – rain, or shine. For those who can’t deal with the winter chill, there is an indoor pool. But the outside pool is the star of the show; potted palm trees, lend an exotic air, and, in the winter months, steam rises off the warm blue waters. Inside, the men’s showers get steamy to come up with all the ogling and posing that goes on.

For swimming in style, south London has a pair of deliciously retro pool areas. On a sunny day, Brockwell Lido, and Tooting Bec Common evoke Miami Beach circa 1950, with colorful, art deco touches, and some beds, palm trees, and gaudy blue waters. Both pools attract a considerable gay constituency, though be warned: screaming kiddies are also out in full force. 

Likewise, in North London, Parliament Hill Lido and Finchley Lido, offer similar poolside pleasures, as does the glorious, restored London Fields Lido, which stays open all year. For a taste of gentile homoeroticism, the Portchester Centre has an indoor swimming pool, and a nicely refined air, so the gay vibes are more of an undercurrent than something overt. 

But London, most atmospheric swimming spots are not actually pools. The Hampstead Heath Ponds are a dreamy, bucolic oasis. Surrounded by lush woodland, this included lakes are magical, enclaves, and the stuff of Midsummer Nights Dreams. The men’s bathing pond is not exclusively gay, but it is very homoerotic: after all, this is Hampstead Heath, the city’s number one cruising ground; a sheltered concrete sundeck allows nude sunbathing; and the changing rooms are full of smoldering glances.

Gay Spas and Saunas

Speaking of those smoldering glances, let’s turn our attention to the gay spas and saunas. 

There’s popular Sailors Sauna in East London; clean and well-equipped Covent Garden Health Spa near Soho; there’s the famous Pleasuredrome in Waterloo; there’s small and no-frills Saunabar Portsea near Hyde Park; there’s the hardcore Locker Room in Kennington; and there’s the relaxed-vibe E15 out in Stratford.

The larges, state-of-the-art facility is Sweatbox Soho. This sauna occupies the lower two floors and features two giant steam rooms, two Turkish hot rooms, a 14-man jacuzzi, a chill out room with TV and Wi-Fi, two video lounges, and tons of innovative and striking cabins.

If you don’t indulge, recline by the pool and watch the bathing beauties. During quiet times, the atmosphere can be sterile, so go late on the weekends as the clubs spill out to make the most of the pumped-up muscle crowd.

London’s Gay Nightlife

Critics in London say that it its gay scene going through a bit of a down phase. Could this be true? And if so, why? Is it because of the pandemic? The Economy? Brexit? Or is it the fact that there aren’t enough Muscle Mary’s to fill more than one circuit style dance party in a railway arch in Vauxhall? Or is it that by simply being British, they have to find something to grumble about? 

The fact is, London’s reputation as the gay capital of Europe, if not, the world, is still richly deserved. London’s gay scene is bigger and more diverse than any you’ll find anywhere. It also runs later – much later. The 2 AM closing of many US cities is not for the capital of U.K. No, in London, the clubs never close (at least not at the weekend) and, what’s more, they cater to just about everybody.

If funky house and circuit style dance parties, aren’t your bag, there are plenty of other options to choose from. There are clubs for bears, clubs for indie kids, clubs for dragqueens (and kings), end, even clubs for people who choose not to define themselves quite so narrowly, but who also happen to be gay. And that’s before we get onto venues that describe themselves as “polysexual,“ and if it all becomes just too overwhelming end, or you’ve got straight friends in your posse, and there’s no shortage of hip heterosexual bars in the capital. 

The main developments over the past few years have been the rapid rise and slow decline of the Vauxhall gay village, and the return of alternative drug and the “80s club kid” phenomenon in the smaller venues around Shoreditch. In fact, you could characterize the London club scene as one of two tribes: the Muscle Mary’s dancing with their shirts off in Vauxhall, and the kids dressed to the nines in the East End. And while the muscle boys favor a study diet of funky house, the club kids are into everything from disco to electro. That said, these two tribes do sometimes cross paths at places like Vauxhall‘s Horse Meat Disco, or the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.  

And then, of course, there’s Soho, where gays of all persuasions meet and mingle. The old war horse Heaven (also home to super club G-A-Y) in Charing Cross is still going strong, and has been a major influence on London’s LGBT scene for over 40 years. It’s known for Paul Oakenfold’s acid house events in the 1980s, the underground nightclub festival Megatripolis, and for being the birthplace of ambient house. It keeps locals and tourists alike happy:

“Great club and definitely the biggest queer one in London. The queue on Fridays and Saturdays can get ridiculously long so I’d recommend getting there early. It’s cheap and drinks are okay for London prices. I’ve always had a good night tbh, and the music and vibe inside is great.”

Dalston Superstore

Since 2009, Dalston Superstore has been the ultimate destination for East London’s LGBTQ+ scene. Get ready for a fashionable and diverse crowd! This two-floor venue serves up delicious food all week long, including drag brunch on the weekends. From John Waters-inspired parties to audio-visual queer spectacles, they’ve got it all. They have epic music nights titled by things like “Homodrop” and “Discosodoma.”

Friendly Society

For over 20 years, Friendly Society has been Soho’s best-kept secret. Tucked away on an inconspicuous alleyway off Old Compton Street, this place is a house of fun. Think disco ball dreams, bubblegum booths, and funky-chic vibes. It’s the ultimate spot for an after-work drink or a weekend cocktail.

The Glory

The Glory (along Kingsland Road) is a classic British pub on the outside but a cozy and warm queer haven on the inside. This East London gem, owned by drag legends Jonny Woo and John Sizzle, is a pioneer for the gay community. Picture yourself surrounded by a fabulous interior centered around a makeshift tree in the middle of the bar. As the night unfolds, the atmosphere ramps up, and you’ll be treated to unforgettable shows. 

Two Brewers

If you’re in the mood for some cheap thrills and fabulous entertainment, head over to Two Brewers in South London. This iconic queer venue has been serving the community for over 30 years. Get ready for seven-days-a-week cabaret, karaoke, and drag acts full of queer fun and late-night extravaganzas on the weekends.

The importance of self-care and wellness has become increasingly evident in today’s fast-paced world. Taking care of our physical well-being is necessary for leading a balanced and fulfilling life. Gay Londoners understand this almost intuitively, as world trends effortlessly flow through the culture.

Gay Massage London

Male masseurs in London offer a unique opportunity for connection and community gay men often look for connections, whether they be of a healing nature or otherwise, to feel understood and supported, and certainly accepted for who they are. Male massage services are part of a a broader network of gay and queer healers, yoga teachers, therapists, and body-mind lovers of all types. 

This allows many of us, particularly as we’re coming out and find out who we are, to find a sense of belonging and foster supportive relationships with those who are offering healing services. Besides, it’s just a “gay” thing to want to be around other gays. 

But we have so much more to talk about when it comes to self-care culture of London:  hair & skincare places for men, gay coaches, gay psychotherapists, therapy centers, sexual health clinics for men, LGBT centers and mental health resources, Recovery centers for addiction – the list is so long. 

At Gay Wellness, we’re here and we’re queer. And we’re here for the long haul.

Check out the London city page to find the provider for you.