Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In central London, Soho's
Old Compton Street
(see p.99) is, so to speak, its main
drag; traditional gay pubs rub alongside cafés and bars selling expensive designer
beers and lattes, while hairdressers, letting agencies, sex boutiques and spiritual
health centres offer a vast range of gay-run services. Lesbian bars complete the
diverse mix in Soho.
The biggest and best
clubs
are now found just south of the river in
Vauxhall
, catering
for every musical, sartorial and sexual taste, but there are well-established venues all
over the city.
Clapham
also hosts a smaller gay contingent for the south.
In
east and northeast London
, the clubs and bars of Shoreditch and particularly
Dalston cater for a younger, cooler and substantially more mixed crowd, to the point
you can struggle to tell the gay and straight nights - and clienteles - apart from each
other. Head further north again for London's main lesbian contingent in Stoke
Newington and Hackney.
Despite some recent homophobic attacks, you may see some gay couples holding
hands around town. Still, it's probably wise not to follow suit until you have a feel for
any given area.
ESSENTIALS
LESBIAN AND GAY MEDIA
PRINT
While glossy print titles have to appeal to a broader UK
audience, the free magazines have excellent London
listings. Pick them up in gay bars around town.
Paid-for titles include
Attitude
(
W
attitude.co.uk) and
rival
Gay Times
W
gaytimes.co.uk) with
Diva
(
W
divamag.co.uk) and
G3
(
W
g3mag.co.uk) aimed
squarely at the lesbian market. As for the freebies, check
out
Boyz
(
W
boyz.co.uk) and
qx
(
W
qxmagazine.com),
which are also available in full on their websites.
27
W
twatboutique.com
The best grrl listings for the east
London crowd.
HELPLINES
London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard
T
0300 330
0630,
W
llgs.org.uk.
Whether you need to talk through
coming out or other personal problems, find legal advice
and counselling, or just get some information on their
massive database, this should be your first port of call.
Lines are open 365 days a year, 10am to 11pm: keep trying
if you can't get through, or try contacting through the
website.
THT Direct
T
0808 802 1221,
W
tht.org.uk.
Helpline for
anyone worried about HIV, as well as other STIs and
problems.
ONLINE
Where print media has wilted, online sources have filled
the void
W
pinknews.co.uk
An LGBT slant on news from the UK
and abroad.
W
gaytoz.com
Directory of LGBT-friendly organizations
and businesses.
W
gingerbeer.co.uk
Regularly updated website for
London lesbians, offering listings and reviews of bars, clubs
and events.
TOURS
A good introduction to Soho's lesbian and gay history is
offered by the walking tour (2-4pm) organized by Centred
most Sundays (
T
020 7437 6063,
W
centred.org.uk to
check it is running; £5) - meet outside the
Admiral Duncan
pub (see opposite).
HOTELS
Homophobia in mainstream services has dropped massively in recent years, but these hotels are specifically gay
run. London's best-known gay accommodation options cater mostly for men, though all are lesbian friendly.
Self-catering
apartments
are available through the gay-run Outlet Gay Accommodation, 32 Old Compton St, W1
(
T
020 7287 4244;
W
outlet4holidays.com).
Number 16
, a charming, tiny gay-run B&B in Greenwich is also a good
choice (see p.362).
Fitzbb
15 Colville Place, W1
T
07834 372866;
W
fitzbb
.me.uk;
!
Goodge St; map p.97.
This eighteenth-
century townhouse only has two rooms so book ahead, but
it's a great price in stumbling distance from Soho. There's a
minimum booking of three nigh
ts. O
r try it
s you
nger
sibling via
W
sohobb.me.uk. Fitzbb
£70
, Sohobb
£55
Griffin House Holiday Apartments
22 Stockwell
Green, SW9
T
020 7096 3332,
W
griffinhouse
.info;
!
Stockwell.
Highly rated self-catering
accommodation with an emphasis on providing a home
from home. A 1
0min
walk from the Vauxhall scene.
Apartments from
£115
