Soho’s gay bars cluster on and around Old Compton Street, with Wardour Street, Frith Street and Rupert Street holding most of the rest. It is the largest concentration of gay venues in Britain and the most walkable — everything is within about five minutes of everything else. Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road are all a short walk, and the Elizabeth line at Tottenham Court Road runs latest.
- Old Compton Street is the spine; the rest is one or two streets off it.
- Drinks cost noticeably more than any other UK scene.
- Most venues close between midnight and 3am — Soho is not an all-night district.
- Night Tube on Friday and Saturday makes getting home far easier than it used to be.
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How Soho is laid out
| Street | What is there | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Compton Street | The best-known venues, pavement tables | Busiest and most visible; the street people mean by “Soho” |
| Wardour Street | Pubs and bars | A little calmer, good earlier in the evening |
| Frith Street | Bars, music venues nearby | Mixed crowd, quieter end |
| Rupert Street | Bars towards Shaftesbury Avenue | Busy, close to the theatres |
| Lisle Street / Chinatown edge | Late bars | Where the night tends to end |
The venues
Addresses and, where published, phone numbers. Tap Directions on any card to route there.
Gay bars, pubs and clubs in Soho
CircaBar
G-A-YBar
Ku BarBar
Little KuBar
The Friendly SocietyBar
The YardBar
VillageBar
Admiral DuncanPub
Comptons of SohoPub
Duke of WellingtonPub
King’s ArmsPub
Rupert StreetPub
She SohoNightclub
13 venues listed. Details come from public listings and venue websites — ring ahead before travelling, opening times change.
What Soho costs, and how people manage it
Soho is the most expensive scene in Britain, and it is not close. A round costs what a night out costs elsewhere. What regulars actually do:
- Go early. Several venues run cheaper drinks before a cut-off, and the pavement tables are pleasant before the crush.
- Weekday evenings are far cheaper and much less crowded than Friday and Saturday.
- Eat before you arrive. Soho’s restaurants are excellent and priced accordingly.
- Watch entry charges at the club end of the night — free before a certain time is common.
Getting there and home
- Tottenham Court Road — Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines. The most useful for late departures.
- Leicester Square — two minutes from Old Compton Street.
- Piccadilly Circus — a short walk from the western end.
- Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights on several lines, which changed Soho considerably — check which lines are running.
- Night buses from Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street cover most of London when the Tube does not.
The character of the place
Soho is a working entertainment district rather than a gay village in the Manchester sense: gay venues sit alongside theatres, restaurants, media offices and a great deal of tourism. That gives it energy and it also means the crowd is mixed, the pavements are crowded from early evening, and the atmosphere is more anonymous than a smaller scene.
It carries real history. Old Compton Street has been a centre of gay London for decades, and the Admiral Duncan was the target of a nail bomb attack in 1999 that killed three people; a memorial inside marks it. That history is part of why the street matters to people beyond its bars.
Safety and access
- Keep your drink with you. Standard, and worth restating for a district this crowded.
- Pickpocketing is common in crowded central London, on the street and in busy venues.
- Step-free access is poor across much of Soho — many venues occupy narrow Georgian buildings with steps and basements. Where it is recorded it appears on the card; otherwise ring ahead.
- 999 for emergencies, and Galop on 0800 999 5428 for LGBT+ specific incidents.
More in staying safe.
Shops and other venues nearby
Shops and other venues in Soho
ClonezoneAdult venue
ProwlerAdult venue
Prowler RedAdult venue
RegulationAdult venue
Sweatbox Sauna & GymSauna
5 venues listed. Details come from public listings and venue websites — ring ahead before travelling, opening times change.
Elsewhere in the city: gay bars across London, Vauxhall, East London and clubs.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the gay bars in Soho?
On and around Old Compton Street, with more on Wardour Street, Frith Street, Rupert Street and towards Lisle Street. Everything is within about five minutes’ walk.
Which Tube station is best for Soho?
Tottenham Court Road for the Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines, or Leicester Square, which is two minutes from Old Compton Street.
Is Soho expensive?
It is the most expensive gay scene in Britain. Going earlier in the evening, and on weekdays rather than weekends, makes the largest difference.
What time do Soho gay bars close?
Most between midnight and 3am depending on the venue and night. Soho is not an all-night district in the way some club areas are.
Is there Night Tube for getting home?
Yes, on Friday and Saturday nights on several lines, with night buses from Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street covering the rest of the week.
Is Soho accessible?
Patchily. Many venues are in narrow older buildings with steps or basement rooms. Where step-free access is recorded we show it, but ringing ahead is the reliable approach.
Sources and further reading
- Transport for London — Night Tube and night buses
- Venue locations © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Galop — 0800 999 5428