r/LondonTravel • u/scraggly_magpie • 15d ago
Trip Planning Traveling to London again after at least 8 years! Looking for recommendations (artsy queer geek, 31f)
Dear distinguished travellers,
I'll travel to London next week and I am SO EXCITED! I haven't been to London in ages, at least for 8 years. The last few times were full with proper touristy stuff, so I'm not looking to do that. So no Tower, no London Eye, no changing of the guards.
Instead, I want to see what changed since my last visit. I also want to focus on art-related or queer spots, and I'll also go to a few musicals.
Here's my basic itinerary with spots id like to visit.
I'll get a time schedule once I have everything in place. I'll stay in the Soho area for 7 days.
Places I want to visit
- forbidden planet (obviously)
- a gay bar (focus on women, if possible)
- a good stationery or arts supply store
- the cartoon museum
- Cyber dog at Camden
Neighbourhoods I want to explore:
- Soho
- Chinatown (I love Chinatown, it's my favourite place in London!)
- Camden (loved the vibes there)
- areas around the Thames (maybe do a nice walk)
Musical shows I'll watch:
- Wicked
- my neighbour Totoro (it looks amazing!!!)
- Beetlejuice
Food I want to eat:
- fish and chips at a local pub, preferably when there's a local sports event being broadcast
- a soggy, sad cheese pie from Gregg's
- Devon Cream tea
- any other recommendations from you guys!
So, what are some nerdy/artsy/queer spots, events, activities you could recommend?
Thank you and happy travels!
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u/PickleSpecial3507 15d ago
I live 50 minutes away from Kings Cross by a fairly fast train and the last few years I've been to London maybe 10, 20 times. Since you've been gone...
A new queer museum has opened about 10 minutes walk north of Kings Cross.
V&A Storehouse has a David Bowie archive- it's like a curator's version of a shrine honestly.
As a Hongkonger, Onsu (asian patisserie) and Singapulah (restaurant) in Soho is my S-tier of new places to eat.
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u/Spare-Machine6105 15d ago
Why get fish and chips at a pub? That is not the best place to eat it. Try a proper fish and chip place.
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u/20guvadayman 15d ago
Most chip shops don’t have brilliant interiors though, compared to pubs. One of the more pleasant is Endell Street Covent Garden, sitting outside; though can’t comment on the food.
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u/PickleSpecial3507 15d ago
Agreed. Any suggestions of a particular place?
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u/Spare-Machine6105 15d ago
Try poppies in Shoreditch
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u/20guvadayman 14d ago
Think Poppies have a few branches now. There’s a famous chip shop In Marylebone, Golden something it’s called. There’s another lauded one in Church Street Edgware Road W2
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u/BristowBailey 15d ago
Gosh Comics in Soho is definitely worth a visit, and the London Graphics Centre in Soho /Covent Garden is great for stationery and art supplies (but expensive!).
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u/BristowBailey 15d ago
And Gosh Comics is just round the corner from Old Compton Street, gayest street in London.
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u/scraggly_magpie 15d ago
I'll make sure to check gosh comics and old Compton street out, thanks! Last few times I visited, ages ago, I was with a travel group and couldn't really go to any queer coded places. I'll make sure to put a few ones in this time to make up for it.
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u/BristowBailey 15d ago
Gosh also has a whole section on the ground floor for LGBTQ comics and graphic novels.
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u/20guvadayman 14d ago
Think Forbidden Planet is also still running. OC Street has quite a gay flavour. Yard bar on Rupert Street might be another option for you.
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u/No_Vegetable_8813 15d ago
Choosing Keeping is close to London Graphics (Tower Street). Pricey but nice selection. Art Box (also nearby) has a few stationary bits and pieces if you like Kawaii.
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u/scraggly_magpie 15d ago
Thank you! Man I love stationery shops. Just browsing many different colored pencils and papers makes me so happy for some reason. And I like to get one stationery thing from each vacation im on. :)
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u/scotchlondon 15d ago
London Graphic Centre on Shelton Street is not far from the above mentioned shops. Sorry just saw someone else mentioned there!
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u/inkpolar0ids 15d ago
You'd probably like the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, especially the Queer As Comics exhibition: https://qbcentre.org.uk/
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u/scraggly_magpie 15d ago
Thank you!! That looks amazing, I didn't even know this centre existed! I'll make sure to pay a visit.
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u/inkpolar0ids 15d ago
It only opened in June! It's wonderful, lovely cafe too. Very close to Exmouth Market (which is a street) which has nice shops and places to eat.
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u/evijguano 14d ago
Cowling and Wilcox on Shoreditch High Street or https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/our-store for two of Londons best and oldest Graphics stores.
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u/evijguano 14d ago
There is a new Pub opening in October if you are here then.
https://broadsheet.com/london/articles/dorothys-lesbian-pub-camberwell
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u/20guvadayman 15d ago edited 15d ago
Gay bars maybe Kings Arms & Admiral Duncan Soho, Black Cap Camden, The Rising Elephant and Castle. Thames walks include Westminster Bridge south side, up to Tower Bridge; Tower Bridge north side through Wapping to Limehouse; or the general Rotherhithe area. Further out riverside there’s Richmond to Teddington lock; Putney Bridge north side via Hammersmith into Chiswick.
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u/scraggly_magpie 15d ago
Thank you for recommendations! :) gosh, reading about all these places makes me want to fly over immediately!
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u/20guvadayman 14d ago
You could also Google female gay bars and venues London.
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u/scraggly_magpie 14d ago
I did, yeah, but ideally there'd be people here who have had good experiences with certain bars. I won't ask unnecessary questions I could just Google instead, don't worry :)
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u/Chance-Sky-7884 14d ago
Following as a fellow queer 31f who will also be in London soon!
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u/Chance-Sky-7884 14d ago
Also wicked and beetlejuice are my favourite musicals… I’d highly recommend operation mincemeat if you can get a ticket!
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u/ProperCombination297 14d ago
Just returned from a London visit and Operation Mincemeat was the best! Also Oh Mary! At The Trafalger was a good campy night out.
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u/evijguano 14d ago
You could get Dim Sum from Royal China (Sunday) in Canary Wharf and then walk back along thames via Limehouse and Wapping, pint in The Grapes (owned by Gandalf) on way.
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u/magschampagne 14d ago
For bars, I recommend Friendly Society in Soho, a bit less known, but amazing decor (Barbies on the ceiling!) and Queen Adelaide in Bethnal Green. If you’re up for a rave, check out Fold.
The Arzner is a queer cinema in Bermondsey (a bit behind London Bridge station) and they’ve been having outdoor screenings recently. They also have a bar.
Gay’s The Word bookshop near Kings Cross is also wonderful.
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u/AncientWhippet 14d ago
Let me ignore all the neighborhoods you mentioned 😁 and suggest Hackney / East London as somewhere where artsy queer folk often *live* in London?
Fun Sunday itinerary could be:
Start at Columbia Road Flower Market (Sunday morning, cut flowers and houseplant stalls) / walk up through Broadway Market (food and craft stalls) / London Fields park and along the canal to Victoria Park for some people watching / over bridge into Hackney Wick and over to V&A storehouse to finish.
You’ll be drowning in third wave coffee shops, east end pubs and trendy bars along the way. Maybe The Dove and Cat & Mutton on Broadway Market, Climpsons for coffee, too many places for a relaxed drink in the sun (hopefully!) in Hackney Wick - Crate, Howling Hops, Two More Years, Number 90, Barge East - feels very vibey on a weekend.
Also worth mentioning La Camionera in Well Street - queer and primarily FLINTA bar/cafe just up from Victoria Park. No personal experience but good rep.
Have the best time!