London Resources
HOTELS
Kip, 2 Aspland Grove, Hackney. Tel: 020-8629-7884. A budget-friendly yet cool hotel in Hackney within walking distance of all the best East London spots and well-connected to the city center. Rooms from ยฃ80. www.getsomekip.com
The Boundary Project Hotel, 2-4 Boundary St, Hackney. Tel: 020-7729-1051. This upscale hotel in the heart of trendy Shoreditch offers a real taste of luxury with a distinctly East London flavour. With individually designs bedrooms, two restaurants, a bar and a deli. Rooms from ยฃ170. www.boundary.london
The Hoxton Hotel, 81 Great Eastern St, Hackney. Tel: 020-7550-1000. A trendy hotel in East London, within a walking distance to all the best night spots. Complete with a stylish bar and excellent dining. Rooms from ยฃ119 www.thehoxton.com
DINING
Balans Soho Society, 60-62 Old Compton St, Soho. Tel: 020-7439-2183. A place to dine, day or night, alongside some of Londonโs coolest people. From celebrities to Soho regulars, Balans is filled with good vibes, offering a delicious modern menu and great service. www.balans.co.uk/restaurant/soho-london
Grow Hackney, 98c Wallis Rd, Hackney Wick. Tel: 020-8510-1757. This place is so cool, just walking through the front door will up your hipness status. Hidden by the side of a canal, this Hackney gem serves up mouth-watering food and a great selection of craft beers, all at affordable prices. Open late and complete with either a DJ or live music on most nights. www.grow-hackney.squarespace.com
Mare Street Market, 117 Mare St. This is a fabulous indoor market, with two restaurants, a late-night bar, a cafรฉ, a variety of pop-up shops, a florist and a vinyl record store. The food here is excellent and the vibe is quintessentially East London โ and very few tourists know about it. www.marestreetmarket.com
Texas Joes, 8-9, Snowsfields, Bermondsey. Tel: 020-3759-7355. One of my best friends, who is a Texan-born Londoner, calls this place a โtrue taste of home.โ Located in the heart of London Bridge, this place serves good old-fashioned Texan BBQ, cornbread, and other treats. If you find yourself suddenly home-sick, Texas Joes is here to take care of it. www.texas-joes.com
Wave, 11 Dispensary Lane, Mare St., Hackney. Tel: 077-3425-3401. One of the best, hidden secrets of Hackney is this uber-cool vegan eatery, with delicious food you can savour while sitting in a swing. Instant Zen. www.weareveganeverything.com
SHOPPING
Artwords, 20-22 Broadway Market, London. Tel: 020-7923-7507.A hip and trendy art bookshop, specializing in magazines and independently published photography books.
Brick Lane Market, Brick Ln, Spitalfields. Stock up on everything from vintage clothing to books, plus sample some of Londonโs best food. The curries here are world-famous, but bagels at the Bagel Shop and donuts at the nearby Crosstown Donuts are just as deserving of fame. Sundays only.
Columbia Flower Market, Columbia Rd., Hackney. Open every Sunday, this is a paradise of flowers and plants, attracting a wide variety of people from all over London. Explore the quaint shops and cafes alongside the main market street.
Donlon Books, 75 Broadway Market, London. Tel: 020-7684-5698.An eclectic independent bookstore in the heart of East London, stocking a vide range of gay-themed titles.
Gay is the Word, 66 Marchmont St, Saint Pancras. Tel: 020-7278-7654. Englandโs only LGBTQ-centered bookshop, GITW is a true gem, with a staggering range of books, a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a host of events. Here, Pride truly does go on all year round. www.facebook.com/gaystheword
Gear London, Old Street, 75 Great Eastern St, Hackney. Tel: 020-7739-0292. This newly opened trendy, boutique-style fetish store in East London also hosts events and kinky in-store parties. www.gearlondon.co.uk/london
Maltby Street Market, Maltby St., Bermondsey. A great alternative to Borough Market, with far more accessible prices. This weekend market features eclectic street food stalls interspersed with amazing antique stores.
Soho Original Books, 12 Brewer St, Soho. Once there were three branches of this neon-lit institution, dotted around Soho. This one is the lone remainder of the bygone era, and it should be cherished as such. With beautiful art titles, LGBTQ magazines and erotica, Soho Original Books is a true cultural landmark.
NIGHTLIFE SOHO
Admiral Duncan, 54 Old Compton St, Soho. Tel: 020-7437-5300. One of the capitalโs oldest and most beloved gay bars, this Soho landmark is a must for anyone visiting London. www.admiral-duncan.co.uk
Comptons, 51-53 Old Compton St, Soho. Tel: 020-7096-5470. This gorgeous retro pub is a Soho institution. Its popularity with the out-of-towners takes nothing away from its authenticity. Comptons is old-school gay London at its best. www.comptonsofsoho.co.uk
G-A-Y Bar, 30 Old Compton St, Soho. Tel: 020-7494-2756. Full of camp tunes and friendly, laid-back vibes, this is the perfect place to start your night. www.g-a-y.co.uk
The Village, 81 Wardour St, Soho. Tel: 020-7478-0530. Another one of Sohoโs staples, the Village is a decadent, three-floor bar, with stunning views of Old Compton Street and indecently delicious cocktails. www.village-soho.co.uk
NIGHTLIFE EAST LONDON
Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High St, Dalston. Tel: 020-7254-2273. One of the most popular alterative gay venues in the capital, this East London staple caters to all tastes. On offer is everything from weekend drag brunches to kinky club nights. www.dalstonsuperstore.com
The Glory, 281 Kingsland Rd, Haggerston. Tel: 020-7684-0794. East Londonโs most celebrated superpub, with queer cabaret, drag shows and dancing. Open nightly. www.theglory.co
NIGHTLIFE SOUTH LONDON
Above the Stag Theatre, 72 Albert Embankment, Lambeth. Tel: 020-3488-2815. The UKโs only full time LGBTQ theatre with an ever-changing repertoire ranging from musicals to drama and everything in between. www.abovethestag.com/vxl
The Cock Tavern, 340 Kennington Rd, Kennington. A trendy South London gay bar, with a friendly vibe, dim lighting, and a great cock-tail list. www.thecocktavernlondon.com
The Eagle, 349 Kennington Ln, Vauxhall. Te: 020-7793-0903. A friendly and fun-filled club, with an outdoor garden and great music every night of the week. www.eaglelondon.com
Fire, 44 Parry St, Vauxhall. Tel: 020-3242-0040. One of Londonโs leading late-night venues, Fire is an industrial-style railway arch super-club, specialising in techno and house music. www.firelondon.net
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Ln, Lambeth. Tel: 020-7820-1222. A legendary South London nightspot with an edgy vibe and world-renowned cabaret and drag shows. www.vauxhalltavern.com
ADDITIONAL NIGHTSPOTS
Bunker Bar, Shoreditch, 217 City Rd, Hoxton. This brand new club deals in kinky fetishism, with club nights such as the aptly named Fitladz. If you want to spot proper English lads in all their track suit glory, this is your place.
The Bridge, Clapham, 8 Voltaire Rd, Clapham. Tel: 020-3632-6426. One of South Londonโs newest and trendiest gay bars in the heart of Clapham, an area which has in recent years become a favourite residential district among young queer professionals. www.bridgewinebar.com
The Karaoke Hole, Stoke Newington, 95 Kingsland High St, Dalston. Tel: 020-7254-8860. Hands down the best queer karaoke and sing-along venue in town, with fabulous hosts and an all-around fun vibe. www.thekaraokehole.com
The New Bloomsbury Set, 76a Marchmont St, Saint Pancras. Tel: 020-7383-3084. A sophisticated yet fun cocktail bar in the heart of old Bloomsbury. Open late, often accompanied by live music or a drag show. www.newbloomsburyset.net
Riposte promotes art by young queer artists who might otherwise struggle to showcase their work in galleries or other well-established venues. The organizers combine performance art with music by international DJs and art exhibitions, choosing a different venue each time. www.facebook.com/CollectifRiposte
