Hello London!
A metropolis of art, business, and design, London celebrates diversity like no other city in the UK, if not the world. As a city steeped in queer history, it is one of the most exciting and inclusive destinations for LGBTQ+ people in the world.
Whether you are trying to access sexual health services, meet other queer people, or know your rights as a migrant or asylum seeker, the following sections contain everything you need to know.
Checklist
Just arrived in London? Here is a list of essentials to get you started:
⃞ Getting a National Insurance Number
Having a National Insurance Number (NIN) is essential if you want to work in the UK, but it can also facilitate a lot of other processes, such as registering to vote. You can apply online following this link.
⃞ Opening a bank account
The requirements for opening a bank account vary depending on each bank. Normally, you will need to provide documents to verify your identity and address. If you are homeless or do not yet have a permanent address in the UK, check out this guide for advice.
⃞ Getting a SIM card
Having a UK phone number is extremely useful for getting around, accessing services and making appointments. You can easily buy a SIM card either online or in any mobile shop or supermarket. You can choose from several different providers and plans - if you are unsure which one suits your needs best, you can go on Compare the Market to explore your options.
⃞ Getting around
London is huge and has an extensive public transport network, making it very easy to move around with no need for a car. The easiest and cheapest way to pay is to use pay as you go, either using contactless (card or device), or an Oyster Card. Visit the Transport for London website for more information.
Health information
Many healthcare services are free for everyone in the UK, regardless of your immigration status, through the National Health Service (NHS).
Here you can find everything you need to know about accessing health services in London as a queer migrant:
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One of the first things to do after arriving in London is register with a GP (general practitioner or family doctor) surgery near you so that you can easily access NHS services. You can register independently of your immigration status, and do not need to provide proof of ID.
You can use the NHS website to find a GP surgery that suits you, based on the services that you need. To register as a patient, you can either do it online, through the GP surgery’s website, or by calling or emailing them.
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You can normally book an appointment with your GP by phone. However, some GPs also allow you to make appointments online. The process can vary slightly, so check your GP’s website for details.
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In England, treatments in A&E Departments and at GP surgeries are free for all - including sexual health services. However, if you are not considered ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, you might be charged for other services.
If you want to apply for a visa to enter and remain in the UK for more than six months, you will have to pay an immigration health surcharge to be able to access NHS services. You will only be considered ordinarily resident in the UK once you are granted indefinite leave to remain.
For more information, go to this page.
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Some GPs offer a range of sexual health services, but they aren’t able to provide the same specialist services that sexual health clinics can - such as free PrEP or HIV treatments. Details of tests and treatments received at a GP will be featured in your medical records and, although they are confidential, the records can be seen by other medical professionals.
As such, many people decide to access sexual health services through NHS sexual health clinics. They offer testing and treatment for STIs and HIV, and vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B and HPV. They also provide condoms, PEP and PrEP. Many clinics can also offer access to sexual health counselling and support for other sexual health issues.
Find your nearest sexual health clinics through this link.
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Yes: NHS sexual health clinics have an additional layer of confidentiality and cannot by law share information without your permission (including to your family doctor or GP). They cannot pass on your details to the Home Office. Clinics are only able to share details about you with other authorities if they believe there is a safeguarding issue (such as concerns about abuse, neglect, or modern slavery).
You also do not have to give your real name to use the services of a sexual health clinic. All you have to give is a postcode, and usually a contact phone number. It’s important to remember the name you give to your chosen clinic as it allows sexual health clinics to contact you and provide you with the support and care needed.
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You can get tested for STIs, and HIV (if you’re not already living with HIV), either in person, going to a sexual health clinic, or at home, by ordering a FREE STI testing kit through https://www.shl.uk
You will be required to give your phone number and an address in order to receive the tests and results. Again, your information is confidential and won’t be shared with anyone else.
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If you are HIV negative and believe that you’ve been at risk of HIV in the past 72 hours you can go to a sexual health clinic (or an accident and emergency department) to start PEP. PEP is a combination of drugs that can stop HIV. It needs to be taken for 28 days. PEP is free on the NHS.
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PrEP is a way of preventing HIV by taking a pill before sex and continued after sex. It’s taken by someone who doesn’t have HIV, to prevent them from getting HIV. PrEP is free on the NHS. Find a clinic offering PrEP here.
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Some NHS sexual health clinics offer counselling and support if you are struggling with chemsex. There are also other organisations that provide support and harm reduction advice, such as London Friend. They run Antidote - the UK’s only LGBT run and targeted drug and alcohol support service. You can find out more about the services that they provide here.
You can also reach out to Controlling Chemsex for one to one support and advice. They provide their services in different languages - visit their website for more information.
You can also have a look at our Little Backpocket Guide to Safer Chillouts to learn about how to use drugs safely and ensure your wellbeing. It’s available in different languages. Download it on this link.
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Getting access to hormones and other gender-affirming treatments as a trans or non-binary person can unfortunately be a long process. NHS gender dysphoria clinics (GDCs) provide medical and psychological support around transition, including hormone treatment, referral for gender-affirming surgeries, speech therapy, and counselling.
You first need a referral from your GP or another health professional to access GDC services. However, there is likely to be a very long waiting list, and getting the treatment you need can take several years. Check out our ‘Bridging prescriptions’ little backpocket guide to find out about alternative routes to access hormones for free via the NHS whilst you’re waiting for specialist services on this link. Alternatively, if you are able to, you can pay to access private services with much shorter waiting times.
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Most sexual health services aimed at the LGBTQ+ community focus on health care for men who have sex with men and transgender people. There is a widespread misconception that women who have sex with women are not at risk of STIs. In addition, many queer women and people with uteruses are hesitant to get the gynaecological care that they need due to prejudices related to sexuality and gender.
The NHS has a guide on sexual health for queer women, which you can read here. If you have any concerns about your health, we recommend going to your GP or a sexual health clinic.
If you are between the ages of 25 and 64 and have a cervix, and are registered with a GP, the NHS will invite you for regular cervical screening tests. You should attend even if you have never had sex with a man or someone with a penis. For more details, check out this guide on cervical screening for queer women.
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You can get vaccinated for monkeypox (mpox) through the NHS if you are a man who has sex with other men and who has multiple partners, participates in group sex or attends sex-on-premises venues. Find your closest monkeypox vaccination site through this link.
You do not need to be registered with a GP to get vaccinated at a monkeypox vaccination site.
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Interpretation services are available in most sexual health clinics. If you need further support, or information before attending a clinic, or help with accessing an online service, contact us at outreach@prepster.info.
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If you have applied for a UK visa for over 6 months and come from a country where tuberculosis is common, you will have to get tested before entering the UK. It’s better to get screened in your own country, to reduce your time at the UK border.
In this link you can find a list of Home Office approved clinics in each country. For more details on the screening process and what it involves, check out this guide.
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It is recommended that men who have sex with men are vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, especially if you’re having lots of sex. You can get vaccinated for free by your GP or at a sexual health clinic. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, but you can take precautions to avoid getting it - see below.
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Hepatitis C is more common in some groups of men who have sex with men. If you’re having lots of sex, have particular types of sex (including fisting), or have injected drugs, getting tested for Hep C at your regular sexual health check-ups is recommended. For more information about the virus and how to prevent transmission, go to this link.
Mental health support
Moving to a new place often means being far away from family, friends, and the people that make up our support network back home. Struggling with loneliness and homesickness as a migrant is very common - even more so if you live in London!*
All of this can take a significant toll on our mental health. If you need help, this section can help you access the resources that are available to you.
*At least 8% of Londoners experience severe loneliness, and the percentage jumps to 15% for LGBTQ+ Londoners.
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Unfortunately, many mainstream services are not well aware of the particular mental health needs of queer communities. Additionally, as queer people, we often feel more comfortable speaking to someone who is also queer. If you find yourself in need of mental health support, organisations like London Friend, ELOP, and Spectra offer LGBTQ+ counselling services. If you are on a waiting list and need immediate support, you can also contact Switchboard, the LGBTQ+ helpline, available seven days a week.
If you are trans or non-binary, CliniQ offers mentoring and counselling services to support the wellbeing of trans people. Email mentoring@cliniq.org.uk for more information.
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If you are a refugee or asylum seeker, you might be caught up in really long processes to claim asylum in the UK, and struggling to navigate uncertainty - on top of having to adjust to a new environment. In addition to the organisations above, you can also reach out to Say It Loud Club, which offers support to LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. If you are a queer African migrant, refugee or asylum seeker, you can also check out Living Free. They support people battling with their sexuality and gender identity, especially in countries where it is still illegal to live their truth.
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Antidote, which is run by London Friend, offers support to LGBTQ+ drug users and those in recovery. They run a weekly drop-in clinic where people can discuss their issues and get referrals for detox or rehab, through their partnerships with the NHS and other services.
The drop-in clinic runs Mondays in person and Thursdays online. You do not need to make an appointment to attend.
In addition to the drop-ins, Antidote can allocate you a personal key worker to work with for six weeks, to support you and help you meet your goals. You need to show commitment to the process and attend the drop-ins at least three times in order to be added to the keyworking waiting list and access this service.
Besides Antidote, the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre also hosts Queer to Stay, a Narcotics Anonymous group for people in recovery. You do not need to register to attend. Visit the NA website for more information.
Social groups & Community
Making connections, building community and having a good support network around us can help us feel less alone and settle into a new city or country. You might be looking to get involved with the local LGBTQ+ scene, or meet other queer migrants from your country of origin.
Here you can find links and resources to make queer connections and explore what London has to offer.
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Queer people are everywhere in London! You can find many different LGBTQ+ organisations that offer activities of all kinds, so you’re assured to find something that caters to your taste.
Besides counselling services, London Friend organises a wide variety of in-person and online social and support groups that target specific collectives, such as queer men, LBT women and non-binary people, trans people, neurodivergent queer people, and older LGBtheir websiteTQ+ people. They also host ‘Pink Ink’, a queer creative writing group. For more information and to see when each group is scheduled, go to their website, or check out their Instagram for updates.
The London LGBTQ+ Community Centre also offers an array of activities, workshops, social groups, and events, including a book club, a film club, LGBTQ+ yoga, meditation, and several others. They also have a cafe space for visitors to simply hang out. Check out their Instagram to see what’s on every week.
In addition to these organisations, you can check out meetup.com to find other LGBTQ+ social groups centred around specific hobbies or interests.
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Learning English can make your life in London significantly easier, allowing you to make friends, get a job, communicate with your doctor, and much more. Attending English classes is also a great opportunity to meet other migrants that might be in a similar situation as you. If you come from a non-English speaking country, there are several services you can access to improve your English.
In the UK, English classes for adults are called ESOL (‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’). The London City Hall website has a service that allows you to find formal and informal ESOL courses near you. You can find it in this link.
If you would like to practice your English with other queer people, London Friend also runs a weekly English class to improve your spoken English. You do not need to sign up to attend. For more information, contact english@londonfriend.org.uk
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There are several groups that support LGBTQ+ people from different cultural backgrounds:
• Queer China UK supports the Chinese-speaking LGBTQ+ and feminist communities in China, the UK, and across the diaspora. They organise a wide array of events such as queer tours around London in Mandarin and Cantonese, cultural exchange programmes, and art programmes. They also run a regular Chinese-language meetup for native speakers and learners at the LGBT Community Centre. To register and for more information, check out this link.
• GIN (Gay Indian Network) is a social and support group for LGBTQ+ people of Indian heritage and the wider diaspora. They run several social groups in London as well as in other parts of the UK. Go to their meetup page to join.
• The London LGBTQ Community Centre hosts Queer Refugees Unite, a group for LBT+ women and nonbinary asylum seekers and refugees. They meet monthly in a closed and confidential space. The group is open to new members and referrals. To join, email hello@londonlgbtqcentre.org.
• Slav 4 U is a queer Polish and Slavic drag collective. They perform drag shows and organise social events for queer Eastern European people. To keep up to date with them, visit their Instagram.
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Queer Britain is the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, dedicated to LGBTQ+ history in the country. Entry is completely free.
You can also visit Queer Circle, a space dedicated to LGBTQ+ arts, culture, and social change. They constantly have new exhibitions displaying the works of queer artists from different backgrounds. They also run creative workshops.
Legal advice
We know - bureaucracy is a nightmare! This section is here to make it a bit more bearable for you.
For refugees and asylum seekers
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If you want to make an asylum claim, it is important to have a lawyer that can assist you through the process. Rainbow Migration has a list of lawyers with experience handling cases for LGBTQ+ communities. Have a look on this link.
If you cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, some of the firms above offer legal aid. This means that you can get the help you need for free. Keep that in mind when choosing which firm you want to contact.
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Ideally, you should claim asylum immediately when you arrive in the UK. If you wait, you must be able to explain why you did not claim asylum earlier, and there is a greater risk that your application will be denied.
To support your claim, you are going to have to explain in detail why you fear being persecuted in your country of origin. You will also need to present evidence to prove that you are an LGBTQI+ person. The Home Office often refuses LGBTQ+ asylum claims because they do not believe the applicants are actually queer. For this reason, you must be ready to talk about your experience as an LGBTQ+ person in your country, and why you fear going back there.
Rainbow Migration has an in-depth guide of how to apply for asylum as an LGBTQI+ person, with all the steps that you have to take. Read it here.
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Rainbow Migration is the main organisation in the UK that offers legal advice and emotional support to LGBTQ+ people claiming asylum. Please note that they can only advise you if you are already in the UK. To contact them, go to their website.
You can also reach out to Micro Rainbow. They provide safe housing for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers, as well as support around employment and social inclusion activities. Go to their website to learn more.
General immigration questions
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If your partner is a British citizen, or has indefinite leave to enter or remain, you can apply to live in the UK, or to stay in the UK, on the basis of three types of partnership:
Marriage/civil partnership
Two years’ cohabitation (commonly known as unmarried partners)
Fiancé(e)/proposed civil partnership
If you are not married or in a civil partnership, you must be able to show proof of cohabitation for at least two years before the date of your application. It is not enough to have been in a relationship for two years or longer: you must have lived together. However, you do not need proof of cohabitation if you are married.
You can also apply for a fiancé(e) visa if you plan on getting married in the UK and continue living there afterwards. This visa allows you to stay in the UK for six months to get married or enter a civil partnership, and then you will be able to apply for a right to stay as a spouse or civil partner.
For more details on how to apply for a partner or spouse visa, check out the guide from Rainbow Migration.
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You risk being deported from the UK if you are not a British citizen and have been convicted of a serious criminal offence, and you have been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more. This is justified on the basis that the deportation of a foreign criminal is for the public good.
If you have broken immigration rules and do not have permission to stay in the UK, you might also have to leave the UK. This is called ‘administrative removal’.
If you have been notified that you will be deported or removed from the UK, we strongly recommend getting legal advice as soon as possible. For more guidance, check out this page from Citizen’s Advice.
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Sex work is legal in the UK. However, many of the activities surrounding the exchange of sex for money or other goods are criminal offences - for instance, working together with other sex workers, or anything you need to do to contact a client. There are also several laws that make sex workers particularly vulnerable to criminalisation.
The English Collective of Prostitutes has very useful information to protect yourself and know how to react in specific situations. Their guides on knowing your rights and your rights against deportation for migrants are available in several languages. Read them here.
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A hate crime is an act of violence or hostility because of who you are. In the UK, the law currently recognises five types of hate crime on the basis of:
Race
Religion
Disability
Sexual orientation
Transgender identity
If you have experienced a hate crime, you can report it to the police if you feel safe to do so. For more guidance and support, you can reach out to Galop, the LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity. They have a hate crime guide for LGBTQ+ people, and provide advice and support if you have been the victim of a hate crime or any other type of abuse as a queer person.
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If you are HIV positive and have sex with someone without disclosing that you have HIV, and HIV is transmitted to the other person, it is theoretically possible that you could be charged with reckless HIV transmission. Laws relating to HIV status disclosure are different from country-to-country, and can frequently change. The HIV Justice Network provides an extensive database of HIV criminalisation law around the world and provides up-to-date information globally.
Brexit support
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The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021. You can only apply now if you meet certain criteria or can provide ‘reasonable grounds’ (such as medical reasons, or being the victim of domestic abuse) for why you did not apply by 30 June 2021.
Take a look at this page to see if you meet the conditions to still be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
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You can get settled status if you have been living continuously in the UK for five years.
Normally, you should not have spent more than 6 months outside the UK within a 12 month period in order to be eligible. However, there are some exceptions if you were outside the UK for up to 12 months due to coronavirus-related reasons, or any other important reasons such as pregnancy or military service.
For more details on how to switch to settled status, check out this page.
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In order to be able to claim benefits, you need to have a ‘right to reside’ in the UK. If you have settled status, you automatically have a right to reside and can apply for all benefits.
If you have pre-settled status, however, you need to meet some extra conditions to prove your right to reside through your employment situation or a family member. Note that if you stop working and are looking for another job, you should claim benefits as soon as possible - otherwise, you will have to explain why you waited to make your claim.
For more guidance on proving your right to reside, go to this page.
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You might need to prove your immigration status for several reasons, such as proving your right to work or rent, to claim benefits, or to apply to a university course.
If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can do this by generating a share code and sharing it with your employer, landlord, or any other relevant person. Follow the instructions on this page to generate your share code.
Housing advice
Navigating the complexity of the London housing market is difficult enough - let alone if you are an immigrant.
If you are tired of going to viewings and dealing with unresponsive landlords, this section will hopefully make your experience a bit more bearable and help you manage challenging situations.
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If you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the most popular website you can use is spareroom.co.uk. It has a filter to find LGBTQ+ households.
You can also join the Facebook group Homes for Queers London and surrounding to find more available rooms in queer households, or to meet other LGBTQ+ people to buddy up with and rent a property together.
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Micro Rainbow is an organisation that provides safe temporary housing to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees where they can stay while they go through the long asylum process. They also provide other general support to LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers. For more information, check out their webpage.
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London is an extremely diverse city, and queer people are everywhere! For this reason, there is no particular area that is more queer-friendly than others.
However, there are some areas that have a higher concentration of LGBTQ+ venues and organisations, and that tend to attract queer people. In addition to the areas traditionally known as queer hot-spots (such as Soho and Vauxhall), other neighbourhoods popular amongst the LGBTQ+ community include Brixton, Clapham, Hackney, Deptford, and Walthamstow. You can find a complete list of the boroughs with the most LGBTQ+ friendly housing here.
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Stonewall Housing provides support to LGBTQ+ people in the UK who are homeless or living in an unsafe environment. They can give you advice and support in all housing-related issues. They also run a drop-in service every Friday in person at London Friend, where you can go get advice. For more information, visit their website.
If you are a young person (aged 16-25) you can also reach out to AKT. They can give you support and refer you to emergency accommodation. For more details, go to their website.
The Outside Project is an LGBTQ+ Community Shelter & Centre. They offer emergency accommodation and also organise social groups and activities. They accept referrals from Stonewall Housing, AKT and other LGBTQ+ organisations. Visit their website for more details.
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If you are renting a property, you might be required to provide a guarantor - especially if you are unemployed or your income is not enough to pay rent. A guarantor is the person who will be responsible for paying your rent if you cannot afford it.
You might have a family member or close friend willing to be your guarantor, but if they do not live in the UK, your landlord might not accept them as a suitable guarantor. However, this can be solved by using a private guarantor company. They will act as your guarantor in return for a service charge. Some of these companies include Housing Hand and YourGuarantor.
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Your landlord can increase your rent based on something called 'market rates'. This is the average cost of similar properties in your local area. If you have an AST, your landlord can normally only increase your rent when the fixed term of your tenancy ends, and if you sign a new tenancy agreement after.
You can try negotiating with your landlord for a lower rent than what they’re proposing. If you can’t reach an agreement and you think that the increase is unreasonable, you can challenge it by appealing to a tribunal for rent complaints.
For more guidance on how to navigate this situation, take a look at this guide from Citizens Advice.
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You might be at risk of being evicted for several different reasons, such as if you do not pay rent on time, or for antisocial behaviour. If that happens, your landlord might give you a section 8 notice. Take a look at this guide from Shelter for guidance on what to do in this situation.
However, your landlord may also give you an eviction notice for no specific reason. This is called a section 21 notice, also known as ‘no fault’ notice, meaning that your landlord does not have to give a specific reason for wanting the property back.
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You can challenge your section 21 notice in court if you think it’s invalid. If it’s valid, you can try to negotiate with your landlord to let you stay in the property.
A section 21 notice does not end your tenancy: once the notice ends, if you have not left the property, your landlord can apply to court to evict you, and the process can take several months. Your tenancy will only end when you agree to leave or are evicted by court bailiffs.
For more details on what to do if you get a section 21 notice, check out the following guide by Shelter.
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If a landlord refuses to rent their property to you, treats you unfairly or tries to evict you for being queer, you can take action against them for violating the Equality Act 2010. Make sure to prepare and gather as much evidence as you can before taking legal action. For an in-depth guide, go to this link.
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If your flatmates are discriminating or being abusive towards you for being queer, the best thing to do for your safety is to leave as soon as possible. If you feel comfortable, you can report the issue to your landlord/estate agent to explain why you want to move out, or try to find a solution.
You will normally have to give at least one month’s notice to move out. If you feel like your safety is at risk and you need to leave immediately, you can reach out to Stonewall Housing, The Outside Project or Shelter for advice and to find temporary accommodation.
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Most landlords will require you to go through a reference and identity check process before renting out their property to you, and may not accept tenants who are undocumented or cannot provide proof of income. However, some landlords might accept cash payments if you ask them.
If you are a sex worker, you do not have to disclose your occupation - the most important thing is to provide proof that you earn enough to afford rent. If you can afford it, you can offer to pay several months’ rent in advance to increase your chances of securing a place to live.
Sex & Connections
Looking for a hookup? Wanna know what the hottest dating apps are? Looking to find someone with the same kinks as you? Regardless of your preferences, London is bound to have something for you.
Feel free to explore this section, and don’t forget to always take the necessary precautions.
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Besides dating apps, London has a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene with plenty of venues where you can meet people. Soho in particular is London’s most well-known ‘gaybourhood’, and there you will find a variety of venues that cater to the LGBTQ+ community. However, there are also plenty of queer clubs in other parts of London: we encourage you to research and see which ones are the best fit for you.
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Hooking up and dating as a queer woman can be tricky due to a general lack of apps and spaces that cater to this demographic. However, besides mainstream dating apps, HER and Lex are quite popular in London and worth a try.
If you would like to meet queer women in person, She is London’s only lesbian bar. In addition, the most popular club nights to attend in London are Butch Please, Gal Pals, and Pxssy Palace (caters to BIPOC queer women, trans, non-binary and intersex individuals). Take a look at their social media to find out when their next events are.
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London is a big city with plenty of options if you are looking to engage in casual sex. Mobile apps such as Grindr, Scruff, HER or Lex are very popular amongst queer people to find dates and hookups. As in any city, it's important to follow these safety tips:
Consider meeting your hookup in public first: if you met on an app, consider meeting in a public space, so that you can make sure they really are who they claimed to be, and assess whether or not you feel comfortable and safe with them before taking things further.
Let someone know where you’re going and who you’re going with: tell someone you trust that you are going for a hookup, so that if they do not hear from you after several hours they can check up on you. You can also share your location with them so that they know where you are in case you need help!
Discuss your boundaries and preferences: communicate clearly with your hookup about what type of sex you want to have (and if you want sex at all!). You should never do anything that you don’t feel fully comfortable doing.
Always ask for consent! Even if you have already discussed beforehand what you would like to do, you still need to get consent from the other person before you actually engage in any sexual activity. Remember that it is also okay to change your mind and say no if you no longer feel comfortable having sex with someone.
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The overwhelming majority of queer spaces and dating apps in London are trans-friendly. Nonetheless, if you are looking to hookup it is best to always take some safety precautions. Check out this guide from LGBT Hero for some tips.
If you are looking to meet other trans people, we got you covered! T-Boys Club celebrates everyone who falls under the transmasc umbrella, and Dalston Superstore often runs trans-centred club nights. If you prefer something more chill, London Friend runs its social group T-on-Tuesday every week. For more information, check out their website.
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Cruising - looking for people to have sex with in a public place, such as a park - is not illegal in the UK. The police are unlikely to be patrolling cruising grounds, and they do not have the right to stop and search you just for being at a cruising spot. However, a person can report it as a public nuisance or form of harassment if they are approached with indecent proposals.
You still need to make sure you are safe while cruising: if you are going to a new location, find out where the exits, dead ends and shortcuts are. Remember that consent is still important and you always have the right to say no - stick to your boundaries!
Keep in mind that some of the acts that follow cruising can be illegal - e.g. ‘cottaging', having sex in a public toilet, is a criminal offence and you might be prosecuted for it if you get caught.
If you get in a dangerous situation while cruising - e.g. threatened or harassed - contact Switchboard or Galop’s helplines for support and advice.
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A city the size of London has way more places to connect beyond the commercial ‘scene’. Many of us don’t have the money to hang out in pubs or bars, or we might be sober or in recovery and want to avoid being around alcohol.
London has a growing number of LGBTQ+ sites. Besides the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre mentioned in previous sections, there are also cafes such as The Common Press (which is also a bookshop) and Atlas Grinds (serves coffee as well as cocktails and wines). Gay’s The Word, the UK’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop, is also worth a visit.