Drag Queen Taylor Trash’s Guide to London
Boundary-blurring, alternative, and expressive; that’s the London drag scene according to one of its staple acts, Taylor Trash, a self-professed bearded queen who grew up in the rough-and-ready north London neighborhood of Edmonton. She spent her youth watching drag icons such as Lily Savage and Dame Edna on British television, and her drag persona is inspired by Cupid Stunt by Kenny Everett, who’s most recognizable when dressed as Dolly Parton.
Drag was a way for her to come out of her shell, “where I found like-minded people and I felt safe around them, a place I could truly just be myself.” That, and it allowed her meld her love of the nightlife scene with work, emulating the drag queens of whom she was (and still is) in awe. Here’s her essential guide to London—drag scene and all.
How and where to experience London’s drag scene
One of the best places to catch London’s drag performers in the act is at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Since the 1980s (or as they say, “since before Kylie was born”), this institution has hosted a veritable variety of LGBTQ+ events with names almost as fabulous as the acts themselves—we’re talking Star Wars–themed May the Fierce Be With You and BEEFMINCE. Taylor’s favorite RVT events are Bar Wotever (“a fantastic cabaret for a variety of queer acts”), and Not Another Drag Competition, hosted by Me the drag queen. Past winners of the latter have included Wet Mess, Bi-Curious George, and Sweet FA.
More LGBTQ+ nightlife and events in London
Other extravaganzas include Buff Bingo Brunch in Salsa! Soho—“I’m there with Herr the Queen and our gorgeous butlers in the buff,” says Taylor—where you’ll be waited on by, as mentioned, butlers in the buff. Then there’s the East London stalwart of Dalston Superstore, which hosts a drag brunch every Saturday and Sunday.
Another top Taylor pick is the Admiral Duncan, which she describes as “an iconic Soho pub with shows every night of the week from fabulous queens like Martha D’Arthur, Wilma Ballsdrop, and my good sis Saffron Slayter.” Expect live vocals, comedy, audience participation and what most would consider old school drag. She also loves Zodiac Bar in Camden, “which is run by some fabulous and fierce trans women.”
Other LGBTQ+ celebrations include the bright and beautiful Mighty Hoopla festival in June, a music festival which also serves as a makeshift fashion show. Towards the end of June each year, the Two Brewers (another iconic LGBTQ+ venue in Clapham, South London) also hosts a street party that attracts LGBTQ+ people from all corners of the capital.
Pride in London
Of course London’s Pride parade is one of the major LGBTQ+ events of the year. Though the main events take place in Soho on Old Compton Street and Trafalgar Square, where there’s a main stage, Taylor recommends “checking out the parade and Soho for a few hours, then slinking off to the outskirt events where it’s not so overpriced and busy. East London and South have some fab places.” There, you can find the aforementioned venue the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
Taylor’s London must-do’s
What to see and do
If you’ve got time between shows, pop into Gay’s the Word, the UK’s oldest LGBTQ+ bookshop—check the website to see if you can catch one of the talks or panel events that the shop hosts on a regular basis.
Taylor also considers the Black Cap a big part of London’s LGBTQ+ history—“it’s closed down but the premises still exist. [It’s] worth checking out if you want to see a pub that was standing and operating when it was illegal to be gay in the UK.”
You can also delve deeper into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history at the Queer Britain Museum in Kings Cross, which exhibits photographs and art that traces queer history. Be sure to pose for a photo beside the Oscar Wilde statue opposite Charing Cross station, too.
What to eat
Dalston Superstore offers a 100 percent vegan menu, while just down the road at Voodoo Ray’s—an LGBTQ+–owned, long-standing venue—you can buy pizza by the slice. If you’ve been dancing the night away in Soho, Balans Cafe stays open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and serves up British classics such as full English breakfasts and fish and chips—cocktails are also served until the early hours. (And keep your eyes peeled, because this is where Taylor says “you might spot a celeb.”) Nearby, the family-run sandwich bar Bar Bruno is a favorite among local drag queens looking to grab a snack between shows—you’re likely to spot some drag royalty at the counter.
Where to stay
When it comes to where to stay, Taylor thinks “East London is the best place to stay for queers. Dalston and the surrounding areas feel like safer spaces than anywhere else I’ve been.” Shoreditch is another great pick. Not only will you be close to some of London’s hottest LGBTQ+ venues, you’ll also be amongst the capital’s hippest crowd, where fashion and art are at their most fabulous.
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