Best lesbian clubs in London

Billing itself as east London’s ‘FLINTA*-gay living room’, this new café-bar is attached to the pioneering Guts Gallery by Hackney Downs. On the menu is a selection of classic cocktails at pretty reasonable prices, plus European low-intervention wines, draught beers from east London’s Queer Brewing, and a really decent variety of alcohol-free options, including Lucky Saint on tap. But don’t be fooled by the chic interiors and natty wine; it also offers a healthy dose of sapphic silliness, with recent events including women’s football screenings, a trans pride afterparty and a Friday night ‘Julia Fox hour’, where patrons could stop by to listen to the audiobook of the actress’s memoir ‘Down the Drain’.

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Dalston Superstore’s longest-running night for queer girls, Fèmmme Fraîche is run by the excellent DJ and east London queer scene stalwart Michelle Manetti, and will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2024. For trash-pop and guilty pleasures stay upstairs. Or if you want to get sweaty, descend into the basement for house, techno and acid. It attracts big-name DJs too, with the likes of Honey Dijon, Joyce Muniz, OK Williams and I.Jordan all having played here.

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After nearly a decade at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the every-growing popularity of this clubnight celebrating butch lesbian subculture resulted in a move to the 1250-capacity Clapham Grand, making it one of the biggest sapphic nights not just in London but in the whole of the UK. A rare haven for those trying to exist outside of gender binaries, it now takes place monthly on Saturday nights. Expect anything-goes performances, DJs spinning pop bangers, and big dyke energy.

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This name of this travelling, free-entry event tells you pretty much everything you need to know; twice a month, the Pop-Up Dyke Bar descends on an ordinary (read: heterosexual) pub somewhere in London, queues up some Chappell Roan on the aux and invites the local dykes to come down and sink some pints, play some pool and share a few tidbits of gossip in the smoking area. Instantly popular when it started in autumn 2023, it definitely played a huge role in the current resurgence of lesbian spaces across the city. Check out its Instagram page to find out where it’s popping up next.

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Initially intended as a fortnightly pop-up, La Camionera went viral back in early 2024 after practically every queer woman in east London descended on Broadway Market for its opening. After a whirlwind fundraising campaign to turn it into a permanent venue, the bar opened on  Well Street in late May. Inspired by Iberian bar culture – the name comes from the Spanish term for ‘female truck driver’, a euphemism for butch lesbians – it serves up a menu of natural wines, aperitivos and bar snacks. There are a few wry nods to queer femme culture – photographs by local lesbian artists line the walls, a numbered carabiner is issued to anyone opening a bar tab, and a one-eyed black cat called Captain can often be found lounging in a sunny spot on the floor – but otherwise, the vibe is more ‘east London small plates joint’ than gay bar. It’s the perfect spot if you’re after something a touch more sophisticated than drag brunch, and would prefer to sip your orange wine while studiously avoiding meeting the gaze of minor celesbians.

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Initially conceived by artist Lucy Nurnberg as part of an interior design MA, U-Haul Dyke Rescue’s Mobile Dyke Bar is an ingenious little travelling venue that can be packed away into two unassuming Luton vans. As well as hosting a series of events at The Yard in Hackney Wick, it’s been popping up on the festival circuit this summer, blasting out classic tunes from the dyke cannon (think Tracy Chapman, Missy Elliott and Peaches) while a crew of studs known as the U-Haul Dyke Rescue Service Team serve up beers and referee arm wrestling tournaments. Check out Instagram to see where the bar will be touring to next.

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This queer dance party was created in 2015 to address the lack of safe spaces for queer women and folks with marginalised gender identities. With regular club nights split between Brighton and King’s Cross venue Lafayette, it exclusively plays the best female-fronted bangers – pop, rock, hip hop and R&B. Bring your best gal pals, and come ready to belt out Chappell Roan until you lose your voice entirely. 

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With the majority of London’s lesbian nights playing pop, RnB and indie music, Leztopia caters to queer women who are into the heavier side of things. Hosting nights at clubs around the city, including Tola in Peckham, VFD in Dalston and The Yard in Hackney Wick, it features a roster of excellent queer selectors playing house, trance, acid and techno. And in the name of getting even more queers spinning tunes, it also stages regular DJ workshops in collaboration with Dalston Superstore’s FLINTA open decks night Vinyl Bitch.

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Founded by TV personality and local celesbian Teddy Edwardes, Lick is a club night aimed strictly at womxn and non-binary people. Events take place all over London roughly once a month, with clubs like Ministry of Sound, Here at Outernet, Electric Brixton and Studio 338 having hosted previous events. Expect sheer queer chaos, from dire-breathing, twerking, pole-dancing and plenty more queer chaos soundtracked by hip hop, R&B, afrobeats, house and garage. 

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For queer womxn, non-binary and trans people of colour, this monthly event loves its themed nights – from the tastefully named ‘Game of Hoes’ to the Wild West-inspired ‘Yeehaw’. It’s a welcoming, no-pressure environment, including a free taxi service for trans people of colour. 

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