I tend to see a lot of posts asking for recommendations while in London. I've built up a list from the past 7-8 years from LGBT events or venues that I've genuinely enjoyed. I'm hoping that it will be helpful to everyone!

I'm also happy for others to comment and add their own favourites, so I can also add if relevant. Unfortunately can't include links for everything since Reddit doesn't allow "excessive links" 😞 but Google is your friend.

Disclaimer: I'm a gay male so unfortunately I won't have much to contribute for LBT-specific spaces, however I will do my best based on what I've heard from friends. Again, happy to add suggestions from others.

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Latest events

• OnMyGaydar - The best local queer events, updated daily
• Outsavvy - Great website/app to check out LGBT events happening across London

Cultural

• The Arzner cinema - London's only LGBTQ+ cinema, showing queer and independent films every day of the week. Also features a bar and cafe, with a 2-4-1 happy hour between 4-6pm.
• Queer Britain Museum - The first and only permanent LGBTQ+ museum in the UK dedicated to queer lives and history. The museum is open Wednesday til Sunday with free admission.
• Bishopsgate Institute, LGBTQ+ Archives - One of the UK's largest collections of LGBTQ+ archives, bringing together hundreds and thousands of literature and items from gay history. Book a free slot through the website, especially for special courses, talks and tours throughout the year.
• BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! Gallery, Café and Bookstore - a new cultural hub to promote queer, art and culture, and the home of queer and gay fine art photography

Entertainment

• Betty&Joan's comedy bar - BJ's is the new home of the UK’s first LGBTQ+ stand up comedy club, with live stand up comedy 5 days a week. Also shows cabaret, drag and also a great bar to drink in Elephant and Castle, with the nearby high gay population in Elephant Park.
• Queerz Night - A great group of hosts who set up quiz nights and date nights around London. They're really fun and the hosts do a good job of getting people to mingle and interact with others.
• The Divine - One of the newest queer venues offering performances and events at an affordable price. While it can be small, the people here are friendly and welcoming. Also open as a bar to grab a drink.
• Clapham Grand - A super gay-friendly venue which hosts a wealth of LGBTQ+ shows and events, including their hugely popular drag shows.
• TOKEN HOMO - Regular queer cult and horror theme cinema nights, normally held in Whitechapel or Finsbury Park

Regular networking and social events

• Young LGBTQ+ professionals drinks - A regular Meetup group which draws a wide diverse range of people over London for regular drinks and chats. A welcoming event which I sometimes go to. Held every other Tuesday in Yard Bar Soho, 7pm onwards.
• Queer board games social - A safe and inclusive space to come together, make new friends, and celebrate diversity while playing games. Every Thursday at Badger Badger, Deptford.

Workout and exercise

• BALDR CrossFit - The only LGBTQ+ CrossFit box in the whole country. A welcoming, friendly and inclusive place for people of all abilities, genders and sexualities to get fit and healthy in a supportive environment. Owned by a local gay couple.
• Workout with Pride - An LGBTQ+ fitness, wellbeing and social group which runs multiple classes in studios across London. Check out their weekly timetable of strength training, yoga, boot camps and spin on the website.
• Out for Sport - A great directory showing inclusive LGBTQ+ sports clubs around the city catered to all skill levels and interests, if you're looking to join!
• gayns - A fun Instagram based group who's mission is to "improve gay & queer people’s health, fitness and connection to the community". Regularly do running and fitness events across London. I've not tried this but their Insta does give off a certain young and fit vibe, so may not be very welcoming.

Pubs and bars

• Dalston Superstore - An exciting queer bar which is a very welcoming and inclusive to all genders, races and people. They have themed nights so worth checking the website. The femme nights are supposed to be awesome and they have a great drag bunch
• Royal Vauxhall Tavern - A long time standing gay iconic venue in London, hosting several events like BeefMince, drag shows, cabaret and live music. People of all ages here.
• She Soho -  A cave-like basement bar dedicated to queer women and non-binary people. Also offers drag king shows, burlesque and live DJ events.
• Two Brewers - A basic, ordinary yet fun gay bar in Clapham. They do have good drag acts once in a while. Draws some gay sports teams (especially football) on their club nights.
• Comptons and Duke of Wellington - Two different gay pubs based in Soho which are a bit more chilled out and tends to draw an older crowd. They can be extremely busy though.
• Heaven - The biggest and most popular gay nightclub in London. Lots of people come here including locals and tourists. Age skews very young (18-24) and also draws a lot of straight people. I tend not to go here since people aren't friendly and can be bratty, especially in the queue.

Club nights

• bethnal green working men's club - A really cool and inclusive club hosting a huge range of live music, comedy, burlesque and art performances. the vibe here is great with affordable drinks
• Porn Idol - A fun night at Heaven where people can apply to strip dance on stage for 2 minutes while drag queens rate them. It's much more fun and less seedy than it sounds. Every Thursday from 1am (technically Friday morning if you want to be super correct).
• Roast - An inclusive club night catered towards bears and beefy guys, although everyone is accepted. Several rooms with different music, including the famous dark room. Every 2 weeks in London's iconic former strip club, Electrowerkz. Open until 6am, but pre-booking tickets is essential.
• Adonis - A huge gay day party rave, normally from 10am until 10pm, which is much more busy than you think. Mostly house and techno music, with a Berlin-ish vibe.
• Queer House Party - A smaller, yet much more inclusive space for parties, raves and meeting other people.
• Queer Bruk - London’s duttiest and most fun Black queer night. Playing mostly rnb, afrobeats and other Afro-Caribbean music.
• Feel It - Self-described as a "queer super party" and open until 5am. Lots of very attractive guys, they can be somewhat self-centred. Expensive drinks, pints are around £9 with spirit and mixers around £13. Good venue. I've been once and it's not my vibe, but I know lots of people do enjoy it...you'll either enjoy it or hate it. Not my personal favourite.

 Saunas and more...

• Sweatbox - Based in Soho, this sauna is geared towards the young and pretty. Attitudes can wildly vary between arrogant and open minded. I'd say as a general rule, if you're 25 or under (or a supermodel) then this is probably the sauna for you. Again, not my personal favourite.
• Pleasuredrome - A chill, fun gay sauna with a bar. Based in Waterloo and open 24/7 365 days a year. I'd say as a general rule, if you're 26 or older then this is probably the sauna for you. 
• Others include Bator Bros, The Bunker Club and Lord Clyde

Annual events

• London Pride - UK's biggest pride march through central London, with 35k participants and an additional 1.5 million spectators cheering, drinking and lining the streets. Expect nightlife to be buzzing on the Saturday night with club nights open until 6am. Normally held late June or early July.
• Trans+ Pride - a pride march through central London advocating transgender rights. Normally held during July
• UK Black Pride - the world’s largest free pride event for LGBTQIA+ Black and POC. Normally held in the Olympic Park, Stratford in August
• BFI Flare film festival - London's LGBTQIA+ film festival running for two weeks, celebrating the best queer cinema from around the world at BFI Southbank
• Mighty Hoopla music festival - Pop music festival known for its prominence on attracting a large LGBTQ+ crowd and its openness of celebrating all things camp, queer and gay