While most people think of Manchester or Brighton when it comes to a lesbian scene, the capital is up there alongside the two heavyweights with its long list of venues and nights catering to gay women.
From raving clubs to sophisticated spots and casual, friendly pubs, read our recommended list of the best lesbian bars in London and have yourself a hootenanny.
Ruper Street Bar isn't exclusively a London lesbian bar, as it caters to everyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, offering a welcoming attitude and a great cocktail happy hour. During the day it's a chilled-out venue; when the sun goes down, the DJs come out in force, and the atmosphere keeps on buzzing until late into the night.
The Village has something to offer everyone. Upstairs, the Soho bar plays host to all the best pop and commercial action, while the basement caters to a more intense clubbing experience. Or, for a relaxed time, there's both a café bar and a cocktail lounge, making it ideal to spend day-to-night in an LGBTQ+ friendly environment.
The Two Brewers in Clapham is an institution that has been serving the LGBTQIA+ community since 1981. Even though you won't find strictly lesbian events in London here, you'll discover a stellar lineup of dazzling drag and glitter-filled cabaret, as well as karaoke, quizzes and lip-syncs.
When it comes to late-night DJ sets, heaving entertainment and epic gigs, nothing quite says queer clubbing in the city like Heaven. From a roster of residencies to drinks deals, this isn't one to miss out on when looking for lesbian clubs in London.
Head to Embankment where the exclusive club from the team behind Circa Soho is bringing you one of the best lesbian clubbing locations in London. Offering table service, epic tunes and homegrown DJ talent, it's the ultimate place to kick off all those weekend adventures.
Renowned in the gay nightlife scene, Royal Vauxhall Tavern is quite the raucous night out. Their Tuesday night event, Bar Wotever, is especially popular among the lesbian crowd but still attracts a friendly mix of individuals. Arty and flamboyant, it's not pretentious whatsoever and with a wide host of events going on.
An elegant and stylish club designed with the queer community in mind, Soho's She is an iconic addition to the scene and one of the best lesbian bars in London. With a chic interior design and impressive attention to detail, the Ku Group venue hosts a range of interesting nights that always keep you on your toes.
London has seen the opening of brand new venues, with Soho stalwart SHE Bar now joined by Hackney's La Camionera and Goldie Saloon.
Most lesbian and queer bars in London are welcoming to allies, though some have specific door policies worth checking in advance. Unlike other gay venues in Soho, SHE Soho has a women-exclusive door policy which states that you must identify as a woman or be accompanied by one to enter — though it is a trans-inclusive establishment. Many other venues on the scene, such as Rupert Street Bar, cater to everyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, offering a welcoming attitude and a great cocktail happy hour.
Yes — London's lesbian club night scene is thriving even beyond permanent venues. The Pop-Up Dyke Bar descends on an ordinary pub somewhere in London twice a month, queuing up some music on the aux and inviting local dykes to sink some pints, play pool, and share gossip — and it played a huge role in the current resurgence of lesbian spaces across the city.
Once upon a time, having a gay old time in London meant hotfooting it straight to Soho — but now the city's queer centre of gravity has shifted east, with edgier spots pulling crowds to Dalston when night falls. La Camionera is London's newest lesbian bar-café by day and wine bar by night, and it's currently the only FLINTA-owned lesbian bar in London, making it one of the most intentionally sapphic spaces in the city.
