The best drag clubs, shows and nights in London

Missing The Glory, the infamous London pub that was a key part of the capital’s LGBTQ+ scene? The Divine is the new venue run by that much-missed space’s team and owned by iconic drag queens Jonny Woo and John Sizzle. You’ll find a whole host of drag shows to liven up your nights downstairs – and, after the show’s over, you can stay and hang out across the venue’s two floors, dancing until the small hours as the space turns into a drag-fuelled disco.

This gorgeously designed Covent Garden club is an oh-so-chic place to watch performances with a retro feel. And despite the luxe atmosphere, admission is totally free. Regular drag queen shows are on the schedule alongside burlesque, cabaret and striptease. The only thing you need to do is order a martini and drink it all in.

Sticky red carpet, broken lampshades and a dazzling illuminated heart at the back of the stage perfectly suit the programme of quirky drag, retro club and cabaret that you'll find here. A young, mixed crowd revel in kitschy nights with eccentric performances and a welcoming party atmosphere. 

This gorgeous, gilded former music hall hosts London's biggest drag nights (in amongst a mixed line-up of comedy, music, and much-loved games night Bongo's Bingo). Get your celebrity drag fix by popping in to see queens from Ru Paul’s Drag Race, who regularly shake a tailfeather here. And each summer it's also the home of Lipsync1000, which is to drag queens what the World Cup is to footballers.

Fortnightly queer cabaret night Bar Wotever is a place for smashing gender binaries and reimagining what queerness can be. Showcasing everything from drag to live music to spoken word, it's a joyful if somewhat ramshackle night out that's welcoming to every stripe of the rainbow. Need more convincing? It was the winner of the Best Ongoing Cabaret trophy at the QX Awards.

Get your drag king fix at BoiBox, where nattily dressed performers with painted on abs strut their stuff in front of an adoring crowd. Expect a chaotic cross between a party, a cabaret show and an open-mic night.

This unpretentious gay boozer regularly hosts visits from queens who are dripping with sequins, feathers, and brutal sarcasm. It might not be the edgiest joint around, but you're guaranteed a night of camaraderie and silliness that spills out onto the streets of Covent Garden.  

This ultra hip Dalston basement venue runs queer nights of pretty much every flavour, from raves to rituals to fundraisers to clowning classes. Scrutinise the line-up and you'll come across the odd drag and cabaret night, too, usually with a decidedly leftfield flavour. 

Vauxhall's The Eagle is famous for hosting flagship Sunday party Horse Meat Disco. But it's now taken on another iconic South London queer night, Duckie, which has moved here after 27 years in business down the road at Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Duckie bills itself as an 'electronic tea dance', filling Saturday with DJing from Readers Wives and an impressive array of subversive drag performances. 

The decor of this female-owned Stoke Newington basement bar will have you feeling like you’re back in the womb in the best way possible. It’s outfitted in pink velvet swags and tassels and is home to occasional but stellar drag and cabaret nights. 

Immerse yourself in Crazy Coqs's Parisian art deco glamour for the most decadent cabaret nights this city has to offer. Dress up fancy, book a candlelit table, and prepare to be wooed by the sultry voices of drag sirens paying homage to some of the 20th century's greats. 

While you’ll find plenty of karaoke chaos here, with drag queens overseeing your night of singalong fun, there’s much more on the programme too. Join the crew for messy pizza brunches and hilarious drag king nights in store. Book a table and gird your loins for fun, hilarity, and a little light ritual humiliation. 

This legendary Soho gay bar has been in business for over 100 years, so it's no surprise that the vibe's on the trad side. Expect queens with cinched waists and fierce putdowns holding court, with crowds of mixed, good-natured punters.

Though affectionately nicknamed the ‘Two Sewers’, this long-established gay pub and club is the opposite of grotty. After 40 years in business, regular facelifts keep her looking fabulous, while a multi-generational crowd puts its best foot forward at fun-loving cabaret, karaoke, quiz and club nights. Gather for communal Ru Paul’s Drag Race viewing parties and keep an eye out for the telly famous queens themselves at periodic live appearances.