Gay

Soho is the gay capital of London, but everywhere else welcomes gay people also. In fact 'gayness' has become a bit of a cult and nowadays everyone from celebs to city boys love a boogie at gay clubs and bars. Apart from the West-End, it's well worth checking out Shoreditch (East End) and Camden (North London) areas for a colourful and vibrant night on the town. Here?s our guide to the best bars and clubs!

Black Cap
A pub with beer garden by day, a Rocky Horror Show-style transvestite party by night! If you want to go somewhere for free and stay out late this is the place to go. It?s certainly value for money!
Price: Free
Where: 171 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1, 020 7428 2721, http://www.camdenlock.net/music/venues.html
Tube: Camden Town
Open: Mon-Thur noon-2am; Fri, Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-12.30am

The Shadow Lounge
The ultimate gay celeb?s drinking hole. Valet parking, cocktail waiters and an extremely flash clientele make the scene here.
Price: £5 before 10.30pm; £10 after
Where: 5 Brewer Street, Soho, W1, 020 7287 7988
Tube: Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square
Open: Mon-Sat 7pm-3am

The Royal Oak
Set very near Shoreditch on Columbia Road, The Royal Oak is a lovely old gay boozer. Welcoming anybody, the people who run it are really friendly ? if you?re lucky they?ll proffer a few drinks after hours. Crazy parties frequently take place upstairs on the weekends. This is a nice gracious East-End local. On Sundays it?s open from 8am to late.
Price: Free
Where: 73 Columbia Road, E2, 020 7739 8204
Tube: Old St, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch
Open: Mon-Sat 11am to late; Sun 8am to late

Heaven
Saturday night is 'the' night to visit. Party men sport flamboyant attire and gyrate the night away to Housey beats. Mondays sees Popcorn, Wednesdays sees Fruit Machine whilst Fridays revels in 'There' - another house night which tends to attract quite a mixed crowd.
Price: Up to £12
Where: The Arches, Villiers St, Charing Cross, 020 7930 2020, www. Heaven-london.com
Tube: Charing Cross
Open: Fri, Sat 10.30pm-5am; Mon, Wed 10pm-3am

Popstarz.
This gay night at Scala has become a bit of a Friday night institution. There?s no strict policy - gay and straight alike are welcome so long as they?re into the spirit of things. The spirit being bouncy and fluffy, dancing to Britpop tunes, and ironic Eighties classics.
Admission: £8, free to anyone with a flyer before 11am
Where: Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, King?s Cross, N1, 020 7833 2022, www.popstarznightclubcom
Tube: King?s Cross
Open: Fri 10pm-5am

Trade
Also a gay clubbing institution. This is the place to go after you?ve been out all night clubbing and you just don?t want the night to end. Starting at the crack of dawn, expect sweaty bodies, flash attire and a glam clientele. As a club Turnmills is large and cavernous with lots of funky rooms.
Price: £15
Where: Turnmills, 63B Clerkenwell Road, Clerkenwell, EC1, 020 7700 5352, www.tradeuk.net
Tube: Farringdon
Open: Sun 4.30am-late

Accommodation
Call Accommodation Outlet who can fix up short and long-term (including holiday) accommodation in the West End from £45 a night.
Price: Around £45 a night
Where: 32 Old Compton Road, Soho, W1D, 020 7287 4244, www.outlet.co.uk
Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Street, Leicester Square
Open: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm; Sat noon-5pm

 Check out http://www.gaylondon.co.uk/ for more information on the city's gay community.
 Lesbian and Gay switchboard, http://www.llgs.org.uk/
 E-cards, lifestyle and net meetings, www.gaydar.co.uk