London for adults: a weekend from Dublin
A basement cabaret near Trafalgar Square, a cocktail lounge in Chinatown, a queer pub in Southwark and a sauna that never closes: 4 London addresses for a weekend from Dublin.
Flights between Dublin and London run all day, and a weekend in the city is an easy trip. London's queer nightlife is huge, with drag and cabaret every night of the week. For a first weekend we picked 4 addresses: two cabaret bars in the West End, a queer pub south of the river and a sauna by Waterloo.
Drag and cabaret in the West End
Halfway to Heaven
A gay pub open since 1991, a short walk from Trafalgar Square, Halfway to Heaven pairs a ground-floor local with a basement cabaret lounge. It advertises live entertainment and cabaret seven days a week, so there is always something on, whatever night you land.
Ku Lounge
On the first floor of Ku Bar on Lisle Street, between Chinatown and Leicester Square, Ku Lounge is an LGBTQ+ cocktail lounge built around cocktails and cabaret, with live drag on several nights a week. It is a good place for a drink before or after a show in the West End.
South of the river: The Rising
On Harper Road in Southwark, between Borough and Elephant & Castle, The Rising is a queer pub with live events and quiz nights. It puts on a drag show every Friday and Saturday night, with a more local crowd than the West End bars.
The sauna by Waterloo: Pleasuredrome
Pleasuredrome is a gay sauna that has been running since 1996 in a railway arch on Cornwall Road, a minute from Waterloo station. What sets it apart is that it never closes: it is open 24 hours a day, which suits late arrivals or a break between two nights out.
A weekend plan
- Friday: land, check in, then the drag show at The Rising.
- Saturday: the city by day, Pleasuredrome in the afternoon, cocktails at Ku Lounge and cabaret at Halfway to Heaven.
- Sunday: a slow brunch, then a last show at Halfway to Heaven before the flight home.
Practical tips
- Getting in: trains and buses link the airports to central London; the Elizabeth line and the Tube are the quickest options.
- Money: the UK uses pounds, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, including on public transport.
- Getting around: Waterloo, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square are close to each other, and The Rising is a short ride away.
- Where to stay: around Waterloo or the West End to walk to most addresses.
Rules everywhere
- No means no, straight away.
- No photos of other guests, especially in the sauna.
- Towel in shared areas of the sauna, and condoms always.
- Tip the performers if you enjoy the show.
More in London
Find more venues on the London page, with the drag cabarets in London and the gay saunas in London. To plan other trips, open the drag cabaret map and use "Near me".
