London is an important hub for tourists, and the city is home to an array of famous tourist attractions.
Although, the majority are located in Central London, others can also be found outside the city centre. The City of London is home to St Paul's Cathedral, with the Tower of London and Tower Bridge just outside its official boundary. The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace bring visitors to the City of Westminster to the west, which also counts many of London's top museums and galleries amongst its attractions, including the British Museum, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the Tate Britain, London Zoo and Madame Tussaud's. Royal attractions are always popular — as well as the various palaces, Horse Guards Parade is a ceremonial photo opportunity, whilst nearby Downing Street is home to the Prime Minister.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea further to the west includes the museum district of South Kensington (home to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum) and Kensington Palace. Many hotels are also located in this area.
Recent years have seen the regeneration of the South Bank and Bankside areas across the river from the City and Westminster, featuring the Globe Theatre, the London Eye, the London Aquarium and the Tate Modern.
Outside the centre, Camden Town, home to the well-known market, is an attractor just to the north, whilst Greenwich in South London is a popular tourist destination with the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum. Kew Gardens and Richmond are attractions on the other side of the city in West London, whilst Hampton Court Palace is at the south-western edge of the city.
Main gay area has to be Soho, just west of the West End, where all theatres are located and north of China Town. Main gay street is Old Compton Street, where many bars are located.
London is an important hub for tourists, and the city is home to an array of famous tourist attractions.
Although, the majority are located in Central London, others can also be found outside the city centre. The City of London is home to St Paul's Cathedral, with the Tower of London and Tower Bridge just outside its official boundary. The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace bring visitors to the City of Westminster to the west, which also counts many of London's top museums and galleries amongst its attractions, including the British Museum, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, the Tate Britain, London Zoo and Madame Tussaud's. Royal attractions are always popular — as well as the various palaces, Horse Guards Parade is a ceremonial photo opportunity, whilst nearby Downing Street is home to the Prime Minister.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea further to the west includes the museum district of South Kensington (home to the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum) and Kensington Palace. Many hotels are also located in this area.
Recent years have seen the regeneration of the South Bank and Bankside areas across the river from the City and Westminster, featuring the Globe Theatre, the London Eye, the London Aquarium and the Tate Modern.
Outside the centre, Camden Town, home to the well-known market, is an attractor just to the north, whilst Greenwich in South London is a popular tourist destination with the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum. Kew Gardens and Richmond are attractions on the other side of the city in West London, whilst Hampton Court Palace is at the south-western edge of the city.
Main gay area has to be Soho, just west of the West End, where all theatres are located and north of China Town. Main gay street is Old Compton Street, where many bars are located.
Theatre :
The Drill Hall is a beacon for performance work and arts activities of the highest quality. Lesbian, gay and queer aesthetic illuminates all of our activities.
The Drill Hall creates and supports the development of unusual, unexpected, special and artistically daring work, and champions the work of lesbian, gay and queer artists. The Drill Hall leads, educates and entertains. Through its artistic activity, The Drill Hall works for greater social inclusion leading to an equal, tolerant and compassionate society.
The Drill Hall is a leading producer and presenter of original new work across a wide range of genres: musical, physical, comedic and cabaret. It is the number one London venue to see radical queer theatre and new work that plays with the politics of identity.
Visit the Gay district in Soho
Nightlife
DTPM@fabric : 77A, Chaterhouse Street, EC1
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7439 9009
Metro : Farringdon
Ghetto
5-6, Falconberg Court, W1
Tel :+44 (0) 20 7287 3726
Metro : Tottenham Court Road
One of the best gay clubs in London
Heaven
Under the Arches, Villiers Street, WC2
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7930 2020
Metro : Charing Cross
The bigest and the most famous gay club in London
G-A-Y Club
G-A-Y is London’s largest gay and lesbian party. It’s also one of the few places that offers attitude free clubbing and a completely camp atmosphere. Go on a Saturday night and the place will be rammed with people for the PA, and it’s just as busy during the week with its cheap drinks and entry too. Friday’s is Camp Attack with 70s, 80s and 90s tunes and it’s the club’s busiest night after the big night in on Saturday.
The Astoria, 157 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0EN, 020 7434 0403, www.g-a-y.co.uk
Popstarz
Popstarz is unlike any gay club around. Situated in Kings Cross, Popstarz is the original indie club playing up-to-date hits on a Friday. With a Trash Room playing pop and R’n’B tunes in the Love Lounge, you’ll love it as soon as you waltz through the door.
The Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London, N1 9NL, 0871 332 6482, www.popstarz.org
Restaurants
Balans
34, Old Compton Street
Tel : + 44 (0) 20 7439 3309
Very popular in the heart of Soho
Cafe Goya
85, Acre Lane
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7274 3406
Metro : Brixton
Modern english cooking
First Out Cafe-Bar
52,St Giles High Street, WC2
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7240 8042
Metro : Leicester Square
First ever vegetarian gay and lesbian restaurant
Steph's
39, Dean Street
Tel :+44 (0) 20 7734 5976
This place has been open for 15 years ! A classic in Soho
Bars :
Admiral Duncan
54, Old Compton Street, W1
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7437 5300
Metro : Leicester Square/Piccadily Circus
Bar Code
3-4, Archer Street, W1
Tel : 00 44(0) 20 7734 3342
Metro : Leicester Square/Piccadily Circus
Very popular gay bar
Comptons of Soho
53-57, Old Compton Street, W1
Tel : + 44 (0) 20 7479 7961
Metro : Leicester Square ou Piccadily Circus
The oldest gay bar in Soho
Bar pour les Filles
Candy bar
4 Carisle Street, W1
Tel : + 44 (0) 20 7494 4041
Metro : Tottenham Court Road
The most famous and the best lesbian bar in London
Librairies
Gay's the Word
66, Marchmont Street
Tel :+44 (0) 20 7278 7654
The bigest gay and lesbian library in the United Kingdom !
Silver Moon
Foyles Bookshop. 113-119, Charing Cross Road, WC2
Tel : + 44 (0) 20 7440 1562
Metro : Covent Garden
The bigest library for women in Europe !
