{"id":1431199,"date":"2025-05-01T16:36:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T15:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?p=1431199"},"modified":"2025-05-01T16:39:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T15:39:35","slug":"london-queer-landmarks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/travel\/london-queer-landmarks\/","title":{"rendered":"A fictional mental health walk through London\u2019s queer landmarks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Behold: a totally subjective guide to the queerest landmarks in London, Hell Island’s occasionally redeemable capital city.<\/p>\n

WORDS RHYS THOMAS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Have you ever stomped about a city like a feral rat with a penchant for iced vanilla matcha? Stomp, clack, stomp, the ice rattling everywhere, wired headphones in, pushing straight cis men in suits out of the damn way? Well, one sunny weekend, I did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I had no agenda for my tirade of steps. But then I decided on one: visit like all of the queer landmarks across London. Because, well, why not. They’re there, they\u2019re queer, etc. and so here\u2019s where I went\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hampstead Heath\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Where else can we begin but the Somme of the culture wars, the centre of the battle, Hampstead Heath (we were here first!). Despite recently being the focus of a poster campaign shaming cruisers, it’s still a queer-friendly haven and a lovely place to get some steps in. The ponds, particularly, are known for their salacious stories of hook-ups. In reality, they\u2019re sweet, freeing and friendly places to lounge or swim. I did not swim, for wild swimming isn\u2019t chic to me. I marched on\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A post shared by This Is My Culture Sexual Freedom Party (@thisismycultureparty)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n