Going to London for Christmas and New Years? Here’s what you can’t miss.

The holidays can feel tough for some LGBTQ+ folks who are alienated from their biological families. As queer people, we have to create our own traditions, and London is an excellent place for that, not just because of the marvelous city’s sparkling lights, atmospheric theater performances, and festive comedy nights, but because the UK capital is one of the gayest places in the world.

I have liked London since my first visit to the UK as a Ukrainian trans refugee. Since then, I have visited the city several times every year, with Christmastime being especially marvelous.

There are plenty of LGBTQ+ things to do in London during the Christmas and New Year season, from shopping and queer history to nightlife. GayCities has you covered.

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Soho is one of London’s gayest neighborhoods, with most bars located around Old Compton Street. Underground gay bars emerged in Soho in the early 20th century when Austrian author Frida Strindberg opened one of the first queer nightclubs in 1912. But some say Soho’s gay history is much older. One of the most prominent gay iconsin British history, Oscar Wilde, threw gay bohemian parties in the neighborhood. 

In the early 80s and 90s, Soho became the center of London’s LGBTQ+ community and now is full of shops and nightclubs catering to the queer culture. You don’t need to spend a long time to find a proper “gay spot” on this street.

Ku Bar/Klub is considered to be the largest LGBTQ+ venue in this area and also one of the oldest Soho bars. Ku Bar’s founder, Gary Henshaw, a man who made millions promoting gay club culture, was inspired by Ibiza party’s culture in the 80s (and now defunct Ku Club) when he opened his own version of Ku Bar. This three-floor entertainment establishment will be interesting for everyone who’s into drag cabaret and DJ culture. In Ku Bar/Klub, you will find a DJ-driven basement and dance floor.

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Another great place to go is the world-famous and affordable G-A-Y Bar. If you see a crowd of young queers meeting up before going out to the clubs, their final destination is most probably G-A-Y Late or Heaven — the main arena for the G-A-Y enterprise.

Duke of Wellington is another popular Soho corner club that brings together queer locals and travelers alike to sip some beer and find new friendships. This is the always busy and buzzing place with weekly trivia and bingo nights.

Looking for an LGBTQ+ venue with lots of options? Think about the Village Soho London, which features four bars on three floors, including karaoke, cabaret, and the basement dance floor. Andrew Scott, famous for his role of James Moriarty in the BBC series Sherlock, was spotted here in August 2024. The Village promotes itself as a safe and inclusive place for LGBTQ+ community. However, if you are looking for something legendary and subcultural, then visit  Comptons, one of the most celebrated LGBTQ+ places since the 1980s, attracting leathermen, bears, and bikers. 

We speak a lot about pubs for gay men, but what about ladies? She Soho is the first active lesbian bar in London, and regularly hosts queer female events and welcomes nonbinary people.

If you want to work up a different kind of sweat, there are also gay gyms, like Sweetbox, a small and stylish gay gym with a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. 

In Soho there are also plenty of adult-oriented shops: the perfect place for folks who want to add spice to their holiday gift-giving. The most obvious choice is the UK’s first gay two-floor superstore Clonezone/CZ. Here you may find everything connected to gay culture, from books and adult toys to clothing and designer undies (Andrew Christian, Barcode Berlin, Brutus, etc). 

If you need more traditional presents, walk down the road to find more holiday vibes with the Soho Nights experience with late night shopping and dining options. Don’t miss the atmospheric “Into The Light” Christmas installation on Carnaby Street. 

If you love bookshops, don’t forget about community-centered Gay’s The Word – London’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookstore, and be sure to enjoy the Christmas lights on central Oxford Street and Regent Street areas.

Pubs, clubs, and shopping are not the only ways to celebrate Christmas in London.

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The East End is famous for performances for any audience, inducing festive gay theatrical shows such as Our Gay Maria: How the Binch Snatched Christmas. If you prefer museums, London has a special queer culture and history museum, Queer Britain.

Actually, there are plenty of free museums in London, from engaging and family-friendly Science Museum that have objects connected to the work of queer scientists and LGBTQ+ culture to the world-famous British Museum in the Bloomsbury area, dedicated to two million years of human history with unique collections from all around the globe, including its “Desire, love, identity: LGBTQ+ history trail,” a self-guided tour exploring LGBTQ+ related objects from ancient times to the late 18th century.

If you would like to see something traditional, bright, and festive — especially if you are traveling with kids — visit Wonderland with Christmas at Kew at the Royal Botanical Gardens. From November to early January, you can walk nearly two miles of lights with 20 amazing installations, including glittering tunnels, lakeside reflections, and jewel-toned lights. 

If you have visited more famous sites like Big Ban, London Bridge, and Buckingham Palace during the summer, you should check them again in the winter: it will give a completely different perspective. 

Many LGBTQ+ Christians want to attend church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Most British churches I’ve visited have been LGBTQ+ affirmative, but if you need a queer-specific church, welcome to MMC Church in West London. They also have Christmas parties and holiday online events. 

London also stands out for its multiculturalism and inclusivity. 

If you are autistic, like me, you will find a reasonable adjustment and understanding in many places, so I just wear an autistic badge or a sunflower hidden disability ribbon. Also, as a trans person, I sometimes wear pronouns badges and have never faced open transphobia. Generally, the attitude is very friendly, especially in LGBTQ+-centered places.

You can find almost everything you need for the best Christmas holidays in London. From magical street decorations, exciting shopping experiences, and places where you could hang out with your buddies or find a new relationship. Calmer cultural programs, museums, and church services are also an option. And all of this is LGBTQ+ friendly. 

You may have your own radically gay holiday adventure, feeling closer to the LGBTQ+ community instead of traditional family celebrations, or create your own gay family traditions. It is also a good destination for last-minute, non-planned holiday trips because in London, you can always find a place to stay and choose where to go from a huge number of different activities, entertainment venues, and pubs. 

A London holiday may bring you closer to the long-standing tradition of festive celebrations that was born in Victorian times and influenced holiday celebrations all around the globe. But at the same time, in London, you can also find out more about local LGBTQ+ history, which puts our own struggles in perspective.

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