London Gay Activities Master List

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Hotels

1 The Milestone Hotel | 1-2 Kensington Court | 020 7917 1000 | http://www.milestonehotel.com/

The Milestone, a five-star boutique hotel that plays up its 19th-century bones, is the place to splurge on when you want a luxurious version of a bedsit. Their rooms have sitting areas, their suites are exquisite, and they even have apartments for extended stays.

2 The Chesterfield Mayfair | 35 Charles Street | 020 7491 2622 | http://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/

The rooms are small, but the ones with kingsize beds allow for plenty of movement between the sheets. Britishly discreet and in the gorgeous Mayfair neighborhood, their offers include a 6pm checkout perfect for the extra-long layover, if you catch our drift.

3 The Marylebone Hotel | 47 Welbeck Street | 020 7486 6600 | http://www.doylecollection.com/locations/london_city_hotels/the_marylebone_hotel.aspx

A thoroughly modern hotel with sophisticated retro touches, the Marylebone is the perfect reflection of the sleek makeover that all of London seems to have had. They have a massive number of restaurants, bars and snack-type places on the property, so if you need a bite and don't want to venture out, you're set.

4 Charing Cross Hotel | The Strand (postal code WC2N 5HX) | 020 7839 7282 | http://www.guoman.com/hotels/united_kingdom/london/charing_cross/index.html

Victorian history, modern amentities (like Egyptian linens and Bose docking stations) and services (24/7 room service and free wifi). The Executive Twin is the best deal here, as it gives you a larger room without the price tag of a suite.

5 The Z Hotel Soho | 17 Moor Street | 020 3551 3700 | http://www.thezhotels.com/soho

Small rooms, with a few modern touches here and there, but clean and comfortable enough to get you through the trip. Note that the bathrooms, while one per room, are pretty open and like we said, the rooms are small. But they might have the most comfortable beds in London, every one of them handmade.

6 London Marriott Hotel County Hall | London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd | 020 7928 5200 | http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lonch-london-marriott-hotel-county-hall/

This Marriott property in the converted County Hall closed by Thatcher is smack in the middle of London sightseeing spots, so if you're visiting for the first time and want to see the city outside the saunas, then this is a great pick. It has all the services and amenities you'd expect from a Marriott.

7 Haymarket Hotel | 1 Suffolk Place | 020 7470 4000 | http://www.firmdalehotels.com/london/haymarket-hotel

The rooms look like they are straight out of an issue of Elle Decor, the gym is practically futuristic, and the indoor pool could be mistaken for a high-end nightclub (it includes a full bar!). It's in a great location, and their on-site restaurant is a delight. Sorted, as the English say!

8 The Halkin | Halkin St, Belgravia | 020 7333 1000 | http://www.comohotels.com/thehalkin

You'd never expect its slick, vaguely Asian-inspired interior from its Georgian exterior, but the bright, creamy rooms with black accents in their 41 rooms are comfortable and the perfect place to decompress after a day and night in the big bad city.

9 The Trafalgar | 2 Spring Gardens | 020 7870 2900 | http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/the-trafalgar-london-LONTSHI/index.html

This is a Hilton property in walking distance of Soho and all of its fabulousness. The rooms are upscale anonymous in the style of international chains, but you can't beat the location. And rates include taxes, so you won't get a surprise when you get the bill.

10 Best Western Victoria Palace | 60-64 Warwick Way | 0207 8217113 | http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/victoria-palace-london-83873/hotel-info/default.aspx

As we often say on this site, you can never go wrong with a Best Western which, despite this property's grand name, is refreshingly basic in that BW way. It's also relatively small, with 86 rooms, so you can get a bit more personalized service, and there's free wifi.

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Bars

1 Comptons of Soho | 53 Old Compton Street | 020 3 2380163 | http://www.faucetinn.com/comptons/

While it is decorated in the traditional pub style if a bit over the top with its Britishness make no mistake; this is a super cruise-y pub that is filled with those who disdain the queeny/bitchy scene. In other words, grab a pint and talk to MEN.

2 The King's Arms | 23 Poland St | 020 7734 5907 | http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/kings-arms-london-2

The King's Arms is a bear bar, or should we say pub because in London, more likely than not even the gay scene revolves around the pub culture. But the bears here are hot, friendly, and love to throw back pints and get good and sloppy. A fun night for bears and cubs alike.

3 The 2 Brewers | 114 Clapham High Street | 020-78199539 | http://www.the2brewers.com/

Ok, now we move very much out of pub life and into a campy drag bar that packs in the gays as they cheer on their favorite acts and get silly as hell. Mondays have amazing drinks specials, and there's a club downstairs, which means that when the bar closes ridiculously early as London bars do, you can head downstairs and keep the party going.

4 Friendly Society | 79 Wardour Street | 020 7434 3805 | http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/friendly-society-london

This bar is as campy, fun and scene-y as you'd expect given its location in the basement of a sex shop. It doesn't take itself seriously, and neither do the patrons, and neither should you! But note that this is not for those who get panicky in tight spaces the entry makes you feel like you may never come back out again.

5 G-A-Y Bar | 30 Old Compton St | 020 7494 2756 | http://www.g-a-y.co.uk/

Part of the G-A-Y empire, this is the bar to its sister clubs. And speaking of sisters, the basement is where the lezzies are, so stay upstairs on any one of the three floors of fun to stick with the boys. And speaking of boys, it skews young, so get ready for some adorable eye candy.

6 Ku Bar | 30 Lisle St | 020 7437 4303 | http://www.ku-bar.co.uk/

This lounge bar can sometimes verge on a club atmosphere (there's a club in the basement), so if you're looking for a drink and a chat, you might want to hit a pub instead. It skews young and pretty, with some mocha goodness for a bit of a change in the scenery.

7 Green Carnation | 5 Greek Street | 0208 616 8087 | http://www.greencarnationlondon.com/

The Green Carnation tries earnestly to stick to its Oscar Wilde theme, and earlier in the evening they succeed but in the end, it's a gay bar (with some hetero friends) with a dance floor downstairs and a DJ-driven vibe. But the crowd is hip as fuck, and resfreshingly open and friendly.

8 Eagle London | 349 Kennington Lane | 020 7793 0903 | http://www.eaglelondon.com/

Eagle welcomes bears, leather daddies, and, well, anyone else who loves your garden-variety hardcore gay bar. There's also underwear nights, cruising parties, music-themed nights, and lots of other naughty fun to be had here. Check the website to make sure you're showing up here on a night that interests you.

9 Shadow Lounge | 5 Brewer Street | 020 7317 9270 | http://www.theshadowlounge.co.uk/

This is not the bar for you if you're in London on a one-time trip; it's members only, with hefty eyarly fees if you're not planning on coming here often. But if you do, then it's worth it; they hint strongly at a rentboy scene, and the benefits (including free entry for you and a guest) really do make the fee worth it.

10 Village | 81 Wardour St | 020 7439 4089 | http://www.village-soho.co.uk/

New Yorkers might be confused by this, but here goes: Village helped make Soho what it is today for gay Londoners. And from karaoke to go-go boys to happy hour specials, they keep the party going seven nights a week.

11 Manbar | 79 Chaaring Cross Road | 020 7434 2567 | http://www.manbarsoho.com/

With a name like Manbar, how can you resist? Mondays are bear nights, Tuesdays feature local performers, Wednesdays is a jukebox vibe with oldies and new hits as well, and Saturdays are a revolving DJ roster. They stay open late, but charge a cover after 10:30pm to do so, so no bitching.

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Clubs

1 Barcode | 69 Albert Embankment | 020-75824180 | https://www.facebook.com/barcode01

This club in Vauxhall has a fantastic dance vibe super fun, lots of smiles, and no small amount of flirting. There's all ages and all types, so there's something for everyone at Barcode. There are bear nights and leather nights, so check the schedule for up to date info.

2 Escape | 10 Brewer Street | 20 7734 3040 | http://escapesoho.com/

Cheap drinks, LGBT nights, Arabic nights, and general insanity means that people come here to get fucked up and fucked in equal measure. Don't schedule anything for the next day after visiting this beautifully awful dive.

3 The Vault | 139143b Whitfield St, Fitzrovia | 020 7388 5500 | http://www.vault-london.com/home.html

Yes, it's a club, but there's no dancing here. Whether it's naked night, underwear night or just your average daytime cruising, it's all about sex, and lots of it. Come here ready to get it on, because the action never stops.

4 G-A-Y @ Heaven | Under The Arches, Villiers Street | 020 7930 2020 | http://www.heavennightclub-london.com/

Thursdays through Saturdays are G-A-Y nights at Heaven, when the young and the fabulous come to get their camp on in several themed rooms on several theme nights. So walk around and find the space that fits your mood, and then settle in for a night of fun.

5 XXL @ Pulse | 1 Invicta Place | 020 7403 9643 | http://www.xxl-london.com/

XXL refers to the size of the sexy, burly bears, leather daddies, and chubby chasers who come here to party it up. A membership fee of £10 per year will get you in, and gets you discounts on future cover charges but note you can only pay the fee on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

6 Fire | South Lambeth Rd | 020 3242 0040 | http://www.firelondon.net/

Not every night is gay at Fire, so check before heading there, but it's usually the weekends that get their gay on. And when they do, it's about a traditional a club as it gets no real theme nights other than a guest DJ here and there, and lots of posing, dancing, and checking out. Go for it, stud.

7 Area | 67-68 Albert Embankment | 75 0066 7874 | http://www.arealondon.net/

Area is run by the same promotors that run Fire, and it's basically the same scene. But this one tends to last longer, so if you're a true night owl, this is a good place to while away those sultry hours. In fact, Sunday mornings have their own events!

8 BJ's White Swan | 556 Commercial Rd, Limehouse | 020 7780 9870 | http://www.bjswhiteswan.com/

Not the best area of London, you'll want to take a taxi here and back. But don't let that stop you from enjoying this super-fun spot. Literally every conceivable type of man comes here, and dance class nights on Sundays are a sight to behold. If you like talking with your club experience, Tuesdays has a meet-and-greet thing that's amusing.

9 The 2 Brewers | 114 Clapham High Street | 020-78199539 | http://www.the2brewers.com/

As mentioned earlier, this is a bar during regular London pub hours, and then on the weekends around midnight it turns into a club until 4am. It's best to come early and stick around for the best shot at getting it, because it's not the biggest venue you've ever seen.

10 Union | 66 Albert Embankment | 7970 193236 | https://www.facebook.com/unionvauxhall

Union doesn't open until late, and doesn't heat up until the wee hours, so take your disco nap before getting your dance on. Then be prepared to exit in daylight and head straight to brunch. Note that they have a fetish party once a month, so check the calendar.

11 The Underground @ Central Station | 37 Wharfdale Road | 020 7278 3294 | http://www.theundergroundclub.net/home.html

Naked nights, pants (underwear) nights, and other sexy themes dominate the events calendar at The Underground. The additional twist, though, is that the party starts at a bright and early 1pm and goes to a respectable 1-2am. A novel idea, and surprisingly fun.

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Saunas

1 Sweatbox Soho | 1-2 Ramillies Street | 02032146014 | http://www.sweatboxsoho.com/home.html

Sweatbox is a cross between a gym, a legit sauna, and a gay nightclub. There are the usual features Jacuzzi, video room, a cruising area, and massage services as well as a foam party on Wednesdays and Saturdays that get pretty lively for a sauna.

2 Steamworks | 309 New Cross Rd | 020 8694 0606 | http://www.steamworks-sauna.co.uk/

Steamworks has been around since the beginning of time, and for the most part it shows. But the clientele is decent, the staff is friendly, and it's still on every sauna fan's list of haunts to visit when in foggy London town.

3 The Locker Room | 8 Cleaver St | 020 7735 6064 | http://www.lockerroomsauna.com/

The sauna has two floors, the sauna has two levels, and the cabins have glory holes. There's naked nights and porn films, wifi and piss rooms. It's a fucking amusement park in here, and it's all waiting for you so take the longish journey and get your fuck on.

4 E15 | 6 Leytonstone Road | 020 8555 5455 | http://www.e15club.com/

The age of the clientele at E15 is all over the place, so chances are you'll find someone that strikes your fancy and on bear nights, you'll get exactly what you want. The outdoor area is great when the weather is being agreeable, and inside there are rest rooms that double as private cabins as well as a sex sling and a darkroom.

5 Paradise Spa | 17 Crouch Hill | 020 7263 9675 | http://www.paradise-spa.co.uk/home/

The sauna facilities are fine here, but they're definitely not the draw this is about as cruise-y as it gets in the sauna scene. There are plenty of cabins here for private moments, and a lounge for relaxing after your work is through.

6 Sauna Bar | 29 Endell St, London | 020 7836 2236 | http://www.thesaunabar.co.uk/page-0

The Sauna Bar is another faded dame in the sauna scene, but it still shines especially after work when men of all ages come in to relax. And just a note here, some of them actually do come here to relax, so if they're pulling the quiet act, they're not playing hard to get. That being said, there is action here, and it's one of the few places where they serve booze, so enjoy!

7 Pleasuredome | 124 Cornwall Road | 020 7633 9194 | http://www.pleasuredrome.com/my-website

They made no mistake when they named this place; it's all about pleasure here, and not just the feeling you get from a good turn in the steam room. There are dark rooms, a labyrinth, and a bar that serves booze 24/7. It's big with visitors to London.

8 Chariots | 0207 247 5333 | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/

Chariots is a chain of gay saunas in Longon. Here is the rundown on their five locations:

Shoreditch | 1 Fairchild St. | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/Shoreditch/shoreditch.htm

The heated pool is the draw here, as are the massive steam rooms and saunas. Skews older in the afternoons; heaving on the weekends. The gym equipment could use an update, but then again, we didn't really come here for that, did we?

Waterloo | 101 Lower Marsh | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/Waterloo/Waterloo.htm

Great AC, comfortable video room, another huge sauna they say it's the largest in the UK. The darkroom sees a ton of action, and there are plenty of cabins if you want something a bit more private. Note that this is up on the second floor of the building, so keep an eye out for the entrance.

Limehouse | 574 Commercial Rd | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/Limehouse/limehouse.htm

The showers and the dark-ish room are where the action happens at this location; the steam room itself is a bit too clinical seeming to be sexy. The enormous jacuzzi can get fun as well, and the rooftop deck gives you a breather from all the excitement.

Streatham | 292 Rear Of Streatham | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/Streatham/streatham.htm

Tuesdays are Bear Days and some Saturdays here; there's also a dark room night on Fridays that's popular, but overall it's not as popular as it used to be. But this is the best south of the river sauna, so if you find yourself there, you know where to go!

Vauxhall | Rail Arches 63-64 | http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/Vauxhall/vauxhall.htm

Weekends are good here, but note that its proximity to the clubs means a lot of guys come in to sweat out the party favors they may have taken earlier so if that's not your scene, then stick to weekdays/nights. Glory holes, video rooms and a dark rooom accommodate a wide range of men, so don't worry your type is there.

9 The Portsea | 2 Portsea Place | 020 74023385 | http://www.gaysaunabar.com/

Afternoons offer guests the best choice of delectable men, and a recent renovation has made a big improvement to the video room. It can skew a bit mature, but this is one of those places that you enver know who you'll find lurking in the shadows.

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Restaurants

1 Mildreds | 45 Lexington St | 020 7494 1634 | http://www.mildreds.co.uk/

A mixed LGBT crowd packs the place to enjoy vegetarian dishes that don't apologize for being vegetarian satisfying cous cous and veggie burgers are the popular favorites here, and it can get to be scene later on so be an early bird to get a good seat.

2 Cafe Boheme | 13-17 Old Compton Street | 0 20 7734 0623 | http://www.cafeboheme.co.uk/

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, served in the traditional French bistro style and attracting a loyal and devoted crowd especially after the pubs close, since they're open well into the wee hours.

3 Balans Café Soho | 60-62 Old Compton Street | 020 7439 3309 | http://www.balans.co.uk/site/index.php/london/soho/

Balans has several locations throughout London; this one in Soho will be closest to all your favorite gayborhood haunts. English and American breakfast is serbed here, and throughout the day and evening you can expect high-end diner-type fare that is way better than a chain has to be.

4 Bistrotheque | 23-27 Wadeson St | 20 8983 7900 | http://www.bistrotheque.com/

You may remember when Bistrotheque had a cabaret in the basement, but their amazing food won out, and now it's all restaurant, all the time but that doesn't mean that the campy vibe went away as well. Expect a lot of sass and fun here along with your meal.

5 Les Trois Garçons | 1 Club Row | 020 7613 1924 | http://wordpress.lestroisgarcons.com/

We're fairly certain that this street was called Club Row before clubbing was invented, but this restaurant pretty much takes its vibe from it anyway it's expensive, fabulous, and quite the scene. If you aren't up for a club night but don't want to eat at the corner chip shop, this is your happiest medium.

6 Café Rive Gauche | 20-21 Warren St | 020 7387 8232 | http://www.caferivegauche.co.uk/

The Venn Diagram of gay-friendly restaurants and French-themed restaurants would closely resemble a single circle, we're sure but as long as this place is involved, we're not complaining. Pick up a true baguette sandwich to go, or grab a seat in the tiny room if you're lucky but either way, this is a place that's not to be missed. YUM.

7 The Stockpot | 18 Old Compton St | 020 7287 1066 | http://www.stockpotlondon.co.uk/

NOTE: The Stockpot is currently closed for renovations, but we're putting it on here anyway because between the cheap prices, the great food and the location, we're sure to be stopping by here the minute it opens back up again. Grab a window seat for prime people watching and dig in.

8 Great Queen Street | 32 Great Queen St | 020 7242 0622 | https://www.facebook.com/greatqueenst

If you're the type who's always made of fun of British cuisine, then you need to visit this place. They've rethought the whole idea, and are serving up amazing dishes foodies used to turn up their noses at just a few years previous.

9 Patisserie Valerie | 44 Old Compton St | 020 7437 3466 | http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk/

Valerie's is another chain, but this Soho location is their first, and arguably still their best. Pick up a coffee and a pastry in the morning or throughout the day for a nice, civilized break. And don't listen to the haters who say it's gotten worse since they've sold out - it's totally and completely fine.

[TotallyOz]

London Gay Activities

1 MA1 Club | http://www.sewellandmarbury.co.uk/ma1events.html

This is a club consortium of sorts; a £15 yearly membership fee has benefits for all of their wildly popular club nights at The Backstreet and sometimes other locations as well. And with names like Buff, Hardplay, Spurt and Tattoo, these nights are not to be missed.

2 Out & Out | 72 Old Compton Street | 0208 998 8000 | http://www.outandout.co.uk/

The Out & Out could best be explained as a cross between an Old Boys' Club and a Ladies' Auxiliary with a bit of BoyToy Forums mixed in. You can only get in by being referred by someone who's already a member, and once in they host various events and dining club evenings. It can be a bit stuffy, but it's definitely something to be experienced if you have the chance.

[Guest asskicker]

hmmmm...... all are entitled with their own opinion.