(venues which are reviewed in detail are in bold)

Tottenham Court Road Area:

On the North-East fringe of Soho, this area has a particularly good (and cheap) vegetarian café-bar (First Out) which is popular with both gays and lesbians. It also has a couple of good bars.

But on a hot summers day, the star attraction is Soho Square where you can crash out on the grass with a bottle of wine, and sunbathe with the other gays which congregate. Alternatively, on Thursday nights, don't forget to bring your bathing costume - and head for the Oasis Sports Centre where you can swim with other gays in a well heated outside pool - even when it is snowing in the middle of winter!