Part of the Gay London Guide — bars, events & things to do.
London, London
Grade II-listed Vauxhall pub known for outrageous drag and cabaret.
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is the grande dame of London's queer scene — a Victorian pub on Kennington Lane that has been a gay venue for generations and is widely held to be the oldest continually operating LGBTQ+ community venue in the UK. The building dates to the early 1860s, raised on land that was once the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. In 2015 it became the first building in the country granted Grade II listed status specifically for its importance to LGBTQ+ history, after a campaign backed by Ian McKellen and Paul O'Grady; it also holds Asset of Community Value protection. The programming runs to alternative cabaret, drag and club nights rather than a straight dance-bar formula — this is where Paul O'Grady built the Lily Savage character, and where the legendary Saturday club Duckie held court for 27 years until 2022. Expect performance with an edge: campy, political, occasionally chaotic, rarely polished in the West End sense. It's a destination rather than a drop-in, a short walk from Vauxhall station and the cluster of railway-arch venues nearby. For anyone tracing the actual history of queer London, the RVT is the anchor.
Have feedback on this description? Let us knowDrag brunches, circuit nights & every party worth knowing in London — in your inbox every week.
No upcoming events
Try checking a later date or browse events in the app
$92
$147
$12
$21
$66
Experiences powered by Viator
Get the full experience — check in, follow this venue, and connect with the community.
The complete LGBTQ+ guide to Honolulu: Queen's Surf Beach, the Waikiki gay bars, Honolulu Pride in October, Hawaii's Māhū heritage, and the hotels that put you in the middle of it.
Robbie S.
The complete LGBTQ+ guide to San Juan: the gay beaches, the Santurce nightlife district, gay-owned hotels, Pride, and why Puerto Rico is the easiest Caribbean trip a US traveler can take.
Robbie S.
The fast ferry from Boston is the classic, car-free way to arrive in Provincetown — 90 minutes across the bay, straight to MacMillan Wharf. Here's the complete guide: operators, schedules, tickets, plus the Plymouth boat, driving and flying.
Robbie S.
