February means LGBT+ History Month — and London always celebrates in style. Whether you're after walking tours, podcast recordings, kids' events, or just a good ol' bit of death dropping, we've got you covered.
Also: read our article on how learning your local LGBTQ+ history can be an empowering experience.
Special LGBT+ History Month events in London for 2024
There's a loooot happening to celebrate LGBT+ History Month 2024 in London (plus a bonus day in the month for enjoying it). Here are some of the hundreds of events that've caught our eye. Many of these are free.
QUEER BRITAIN: London now has a dedicated museum to all things LGBTQ+. Call in to check out their permanent, yet evolving, exhibition, described as a "riot of voices, objects and images from the worlds of activism, art, culture and social history covering over 100 years of queer life." FREE, open Weds-Sun throughout Feb
RAZE COLLECTIVE: A charity dedicated to nurturing and developing innovative queer performance in the UK, Raze Collective have a slew of events taking place this Feb, including a Past, Present & Future cabaret at Shoreditch's Rich Mix, and a drag makeup workshop at Stanley Halls in Norwood Junction. Throughout Feb
OUT ON AN ISLAND: A pioneering project, Out On An Island documents queer inhabitants of the Isle of Wight, through portraits and interviews. It's the first time anything like this has been done on the island. This free exhibition is on at the wonderful Omnibus Theatre in Clapham; also be aware that LGBTQ+ show Remythed is performed here on 3 and 4 Feb. FREE, 3 Feb-3 March
LGBTQ+ WESTMINSTER: Philip Scott's leading two of his queer tours of Westminster this month, which whisk you on a journey from the Stuart period to the present day, meeting the likes of trans fencer Chevalier D'Eon de Beaumont, and Oscar Wilde along the way. 4 and 23 Feb
LAUGH-ABLE: LGBTQ+ history podcast Laugh-Able records with a live audience at Wanstead Library this February, featuring a raft of comedians including headliner, Essex Comedian of the Year 2019, Luke Poulton. 7 Feb
LGBTQ+ TATE MODERN: Tate Modern hosts a smattering of LGBTQ+ themed tours each month, in which you get to explore works of queer artists and hear the stories behind them. There are two of these tours in February 2024; just show up on the day. FREE, 7 and 24 Feb
QUEER BRITISH MUSEUM: A handful of LGBTQ+ tours of the British Museum take place over February (although if you can't make it then, know they happen every month). Desire, love, identity — an LGBTQ tour of the British Museum is free, but can sell out, so better get on it! FREE, 10, 18, 24 Feb
GAY BARNSBURY & HOLLOWAY: Wade into the history of local gay clubs, bars, politics, residents and supporters on a free guided tour of Barnsbury and Holloway, which begins and ends in Caledonian Park. FREE, 11 Feb
OUT AT SEA: Greenwich's National Maritime Museum hosts another edition of Out at Sea — a free, day-long festival celebrating queer maritime history through time. With workshops, storytelling, and a special tour of the museum, it's fun for all the family. FREE, 17 Feb
KIDS' STORYTELLING: Take the kids along to Cally Clocktower, to hear Dani the storyteller tell engaging stories about London's queer history. FREE, 19 and 26 Feb
LGBTQ+ ARCHIVES TOUR: Bishopsgate Institute near Liverpool Street station is home to a jaw-droppingly huge LGBTQ+ archive, featuring everything from personal photo collections to the UK Leather and Fetish Archives. You can explore some of it online, or delve deeper by booking an in-person visit. This month it's open twice. 8 and 22 Feb
QUEER FOOTPRINTS: One of our fave books of 2023 was Dan Glass's Queer Footprints: A Guide to Uncovering London's Fierce History — a riveting tour through LGBTQ+ London. Now, you can experience that tour (or the King's Cross part of it, anyway) in the flesh — with the author himself leading the way. FREE, 29 Feb
LSE LIBRARY DROP-IN: Materials relating to Camden Lesbian Centre, London Friend, Gay's the Word bookshop and Switchboard can be viewed at LSE's library, as part of a free drop-in session. FREE, 29 Feb
Go partying!
All that history learning can be exhausting, so you're probably going to want to party too. Check out our list of great LGBTQ+ bars and pubs around London — from Ealing, to Soho to Dalston — as well as our guide to the queer capital.
You can, of course, catch fantastic drag and cabaret everywhere from the RVT in Vauxhall to Two Brewers in Clapham.
And Queer Comedy Club in Archway has a glut of shows in Feb as well.
Dig into our archive of LGBTQ+ articles
And for the morning after the night before? Put on the kettle and dip into some of Londonist's LGBTQ+ articles:
- Heaven, The Gay Ultradisco - And The Story Of Terry Higgins
- 10 Great LGBTQ+ Books Set In London
- A History Of Soho's LGBTQ+ Bars
- London's Obsession With Drag Brunches
- London's Queer, Sex-Positive Spaces: How They Lift Us Up, And Let Us Down
- 'Sodomite’s Walk' And Other Secrets Of 18th Century Queer London
- "I Created A London Club Night For Queer People Of Colour"
- "Why I Started A London Trans Choir"
- "I Quit Football Because Of Homophobia - Then I Discovered The London Titans"
