You will have to dig a little deeper for lesbian bars, but a good starting point is the Candy Bar. Located just a stone’s throw away from the theatreland of the West End, Soho houses dozens of gay bars catering for all ages and music preferences: you can kick-start your evening at the friendly, Spanish-flavoured Edge bar, conveniently located between Oxford Street and Soho Square, then move from the poppy, twinkly atmosphere of the recently relocated Ku Bar to the more mature, pub-like nature of staples like Comptons of Soho or The Duke of Wellington. The historic smuttiness of Soho has also been toned down in recent years with the closure of the landmark Soho Revue bar, making it the wind-down destination of all Central London media darlings after a hard day's work. Once the epicentre of gay clubbing, this London neighbourhood has blossomed into a gentler, more poised alternative to the amyl nitrated excesses of other hardcore party areas like the Vauxhall Gay Village. Here is a selection of spots you shouldn’t miss on your ‘pink tour’ of London. In the last 20 years, its gay community has proudly stepped out of back alleys and underground bars into the main streets, making the city one of the world’s leading destinations for gay and lesbian tourists. London, with over 8 million residents and a strong liberal tradition, has historically been the place for gays and lesbians to take refuge from prejudice and discrimination.