Britannia might no longer rule the waves, but today’s London is a truly cosmopolitan magnet for the arts, fashion and culture.
The thriving sea port that once made it great has now migrated East, but London has morphed into a harbour for the world’s best talent. Here trends start, money is made, fame is created. London impresses its mark on the world like never before. From a LGBT point of view, London has always been a haven for minorities, but in the last few years it has become a trailblazer in terms of tolerance, equality and queer culture, so well expressed in a LGBT scene that truly offers something for everyone.
Photo Credit: Paul Lee-Maynard
When to visit
London enjoys a mild Atlantic climate. Winters are never particularly harsh and snow is very infrequent. The wettest and stormiest months are October and November, though wet spells are possible in any season. In the months of June to August the weather is at its driest and the sun sets late in the day. On a sunny summer day Londoners flock to their parks and along the river en masse. Winter months may be less attractive, but London offers lots of things to do even on a cold and wet day. At Christmas the city becomes alive with lights, crafts markets and ice skating rinks in many locations.
Discover and enjoy...
If you have never been here before, make sure you don´t miss the main sightsAnd whether it´s your first time or you´re coming back again, we think you´ll enjoy these hot tipsor take that special vacation selfie
There's so much to see and do in London that no list would be complete and do the city any justice. Anyway, if you've never been, this is your 'bucket list' in the British capital.
- Westminster Abbey, Britain's coronation church since 1066, the Houses of Parliament, with the iconic Big Ben.
- Theatreland: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
- Soho and its buzzing nightlife, heart of LGBT+ London.
- The City, London's financial district and the oldest neighbourhood. The baroque grandeur of St Paul's Cathedral and the medieval Tower of London with its dark history.
- The British Museum, one of the world's most amazing collection of classical art.
- The National Gallery, home to some of the best known paintings in the world.
- Trafalgar Square and the world-famous Nelson's Column.
- The Tate Modern, with its world class modern art masterpieces.
- Buckingham Palace, grand residence of British Kings and Queens.
- Shopping at the iconic Harrod's or Selfridges department stores. Or checking swinging London's Carnaby Street or classy and upmarket Chelsea.
- Check the view from the London Eye panoramic wheel.
The Thames Path is over 79 miles long (128 Km) and crosses London from Richmond all the way to the Eastern Marches. We’re not suggesting to walk the whole length, but there are so many sections that are worth exploring, allowing the sight of some of London’s iconic bridges and monuments from a different perspective. From the wildlife oasis and navigation locks to the West to the old warehouses and canals of the former Port of London, from which all sorts of goods were traded, from the gleaming modern towers of Canary Wharf, all the way to the Thames Barrier, which today protects the city from the North Sea tides, this is a great way to understand London and its history through its bloodline, the Thames.
Everyone knows Portobello Market, which is actually a bit touristy, but there are other historical and lively street markets all around London, starting with Brick Lane and Spitalfields Markets, which are true meccas for those loving vintage clothing and second hand items (and they also offer some spectacular street food options). On a Sunday morning, pop to Columbia Road Flower Market which will fill you with colour even on a grey London day. Historical Petticoat Lane Market will give you a taste of London’s East End and to the South, Brixton Market with its bounty of Afro-Caribbean products, will open a window on the many cultures cohabiting in London.
London can boast some really spectacular parks, where you will feel a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the city. Regents Park, St James’ Park and Green Park are the most central-located famous, however there are many parks that are just a quick trip on the Tube away. Such as Richmond Park, where you will catch a glimpse of the 600+ majestic deer, that roam free here since 1637. Or head to Hampstead Heath, with its breathtaking views over the city. South of the city you may roam Crystal Palace Park with its stone dinosaurs, inspired by Darwin’s revolutionary findings and that caused a furore in Victorian London. Another beautiful option is Wimbledon Park, with its rolling hills and country village feel.
Starting with the Horniman Museum, created by the philanthropy of the famous tea merchant. Here you will find a vast collection of 350,000 anthropology and natural history objects in a beautiful late Victorian building. Tennis fans cannot miss the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which is largest in the world dedicated to this sport. For a taste of the Old Masters head to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, where you will find works of Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin y Murillo. Finally, in trendy East London you will find the Museum of the Home, where you will be able to witness, though reconstructions and many common domestic items, how our homes & gardens have changed in history.
Once upon a time, the Docklands were the heart of industrial and mercantile London, where brothels, seedy taverns and extensive slums catered for the many sailors and warehouse workers. And not just for them - Oscar Wilde came here to find rent boys and smoke opium in these shady establishments. Although today the area is very trendy and fashionable, even unrecognisable in parts which were redeveloped in the 1990s, like Canary Wharf, you can find riverside spots in Wapping, Limehouse or Rotherithe where you can have a pint in some historical pubs dating back to those days, each with their own stories to tell. More about this (in)famous area of London is explained in the Docklands Museum of London, in Canary Wharf.
No London visit is complete without a visit to one of the city’s theatres. London’s offer is simply outstanding and only on a par with New York’s. From classic musicals like Mamma Mia! or Phantom of the Opera, to the newest additions, experimental theatre, old classics - London has got it covered. Check also smaller theatres, as they often have really interesting offering of fringe and LGBT+ themed plays and comedies: some of these theatres are really tiny and intimate, making for a great experience. One of our favourite theatres is the Soho Theatre, which has an amazing programme of comedy, cabaret and avant garde shows.
Gallery
The Scene
It is almost impossible to freeze frame the London scene. Clubs and Parties come and go quickly, just as fashions and trends appear and disappear, but perhaps this is inevitable in such a dynamic city like the British capital.
Soho may not be as queer as it once was and many LGBT venues have closed or are being turned into luxury flats, to the outcry of the last few Bohemians living in the area, but it is still the very heart of London’s LGBT bar scene, especially along Old Compton Street, where the buzz on a weekend night is irresistible.
Those with more alternative tastes or looking for live music, or DJs spinning more eclectic tunes should head east to the Shoreditch and Dalston areas.
Vauxhall, just south of the river for many years acted as a refuge for bars & clubs that did not fit the ‘mainstream’ and could find refuge in the many empty warehouses and under-used railway arches with a low rental value. Home to a large gay population, the area is now undergoing a massive redevelopment, at least north of the railway.
