Why London’s Dyke & FLINTA Scene Is in Its Golden Age
Any weekend in London, you’ll have a choice of FLINTA & dyke activities: whether it's a rave, an erotica movie night or a Sunday morning five-a-side.
Last year, the term ‘lesbian renaissance’ dominated cultural discussion and pop culture trends, from p*ssy-licking pop songs to snog-filled reality TV. In London, the viral opening of dyke bar La Camionera on Broadway Market fuelled this narrative on a local scale. But what’s happening now is not just a second coming of a past lesbian culture, but the emergence of a whole new scene.
Today’s chapter has evolved from a build up of different queer parties for underrepresented groups, with London’s Black and POC communities laying the groundwork with club nights including PDA and P*ssy Palace, soundtracked by the likes Shygirl, Coucou Chloe, and LSDXOXO. DJs like Sherelle, who has queered the UK’s jungle circuit, have also helped position the city as a hub for dykes and FLINTA individuals.
While not all groups use the term, FLINTA’s emergence in London is relatively recent. Imported from Berlin, the German term stands for Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Trans and Non-Binary, to describe people excluded by patriarchal structures, including queer scenes dominated by cis gay men.
“There are so many parties representing different intersectional identities within London’s FLINTA scene,” says Ali Wagner (she/her), who co-runs Uhaul Dyke Rescue, a mobile party with a DIY ethos. “There's no competition—we’re all selling out packed parties. There's such a want and need for these spaces.”
In south London, Rabz Lansiquot and Mo Probs (both use they/them) run WET, a club night for lesbians with a focus on Black and POC individuals. Rabz, born and raised in Brixton, has noticed the growth of London's lesbian scene first-hand.
“There’s much more on offer. It's interesting to see how each night has its own vibe, crowd, and flavour. They obviously cross over, but there’s a bit of specificity within it, which is cool and new,” they say, adding that they personally prefer not to use the term FLINTA. “I think that we, as a community, are quite scared of words like lesbian and dyke. For me, those are things to be proud of, not to cower away from.”
While WET and Uhaul operate in the party sector, the dyke & FLINTA community isn’t limited to nightlife. There’s board gamers, movie clubs, wrestling groups, strip clubs, hikes, football teams spread out across the city (see below for a directory).
Sex and Rage, which does events across London, was founded by Black Venus in 2020. With a background in sex work, martial arts and performance, Venus’s platform is diverse not only in audience but in activity—from bondage workshops and erotic poetry to pop-up lesbian strip clubs and wrestling events.
This commitment to community also extends to grassroots football clubs, which have become instrumental to fostering belonging outside of the nightlife sector. The presence of these teams, which rocketed after the Lionesses’ Euro 2023 championship victory, highlight the importance of outdoor and sober spaces.
"FLINTA sports groups are essential because they centre the needs and experiences of people who've historically been marginalised in sporting spaces," says Lydia Birgani-Nia (she/her), who plays for Baesianz FC, a football team for women, trans & nb people of Asian heritage.
"For those seeking community connection without alcohol-centred socialising, groups like ours offer a meaningful alternative to traditional nightlife, where people can build relationships through a shared passion and physical movement.”
Other communities outside of the nightlife scene include Vinyl Bitch, founded to “demystify vinyl culture, from playing to purchasing”. Founder Madison True (she/they) moved to London from Indiana in the United States—a Bible Belt state that elected Mike Pence as governor before he became Trump’s VP in 2017.
In London’s FLINTA scene, True has found a refuge—“it welcomes you with open arms,” she says, seeing it as a haven for those seeking to escape more hostile realities, such as those in Trump's America. Acting on his long-held vendetta against trans people, Trump has removed rights to ID cards that match their gender identity.
“I had a call with a friend who is scared because they need to renew their passport—and are thinking about getting a hysterectomy,” says True. “The level of fear that one has to live in every day—it’s wild.”
London’s dyke & FLINTA scene operates against a backdrop of global political turmoil, with anti-LGBTQ+ movements threatening to undo rights across the world. Even in the UK, the groups are a point of resistance as the government introduces bans on puberty blockers for under 18s, and the prime minister's stance on trans rights remains unconvincing, having openly aired transphobic views.
While groups like Uhaul recognise the scene's political significance, they highlight the need for joy and relief. “The spirit of Uhaul is that, yeah, the outside world is quite bad,” says Lucy Nurnberg, Uhaul’s founder. “What can we do in this space that feels fun? Political, but through a lens of having a silly time.”
In just a few years, London’s FLINTA scene has grown from a scattering of parties to a thriving, diverse network of communities committed to creating safe, inclusive and fun spaces. But the scene still has room to grow—in February, P*ssy Palace hosted its last dance, driving concerns how to increase diversity, as a large chunk of existing events and spaces are concentrated among a white, Hackney-based crowd.
“This is a big issue that means that a lot of us don't necessarily feel comfortable in our own spaces. It was really important to create somewhere that we felt like reflected ourselves, and also in south London,” says Rabz. “London is not an overwhelmingly white city. If you're having spaces within London that are overwhelmingly white, then you have a problem, because it's not representing the city that you're in.”
London's Dyke and FLINTA communities are carving out spaces of their own, queering the city at unprecedented rate. This era of sapphic glory must be celebrated and protected, which is why Trippin has put together a definitive directory that spotlights London’s that reflects the diversity of our home city. If you’re in London, whether a local or a visitor, looking to experience and support a thriving and growing scene, check out the list below.
Trippin's Definitive Guide to Dyke & FLINTA London
Bars & Clubs:
Goldie Saloon: Darkly-lit FLINTA “living room” with sober nights, film events and good beer.
La Camionera: Sleek FLINTA Hackney wine bar with a viral following. Reserve before you go.
Parties & Events:
WET: A south London BPOC Run & Prioritised Dyk3 Night, with focus on music.
Uhaul Dyke Rave: Mobile party that transforms existing spaces into inclusive worlds of their own.
Leztopia: A London lezza party that happens in different venues across the city, with a big focus on DJ talent.
Plastyk: Inclusive rave for dykes with discounted rates for trans, POC and disabled people.
Bumpah: QTIPOC-centered bass rave collective that spotlights the best of the underground.
Bodyswap: Weekly club night at Dalston Superstore that raises money for trans healthcare.
2CPerrea: Latinx queer booty-shaking party soundtracked by reggaeton and perreo styles.
Harpies: LGBTQ+ Strip Club inclusive of all bodies and genders.
Hot n Bothered: Bringing hot lezza energy, with speed dating events, to Stockwell pub The Cavendish Arms.
Catnip Productions: Inclusive parties for kink communities.
Club Stamina: Chic queer club night with a focus on trans femme identities, soundtracked by Latin club beats.
Hobbies & Skills:
Vinyl Bitch: A community dedicated to demystifying turntable culture, from learning how to DJ to browsing record stores.
Lez Girls Community: A group based in South London that host board game socials and specialise in non-alcoholic get togethers.
FLINTA Film Club: Hosts special screenings at Signature Brew in Haggerstone, with a focus on queer cult classics.
Common Press: Intersectional queer book shop at the top of Brick Lane, featuring panel events, book signing, and more.
Baller FC: Hosts inclusive events that show women’s football in different venues across London.
Sports & Outdoors:
Whippets FC: Inclusive Hackney football team for all ranges and stages.
Dykes That Hike: LDN-based walking group with expeditions across the city and further afield.
Goal Diggers FC: Trans inclusive team for women, enby & gender non-conforming players
Baesianz: Multi-disciplinary collective, with a team and adventure club, for women, trans and non-binary people of Asian heritage.
Deptford Ravens: Inclusive football for women, trans* + nb folk every Wednesday in Deptford
Camp Trans: Made by and for people who are trans, non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming, to create healing and nurturing spaces within the contexts of nature, art, and community.
Not Dead Yet: NDY is a queer and people of colour initiative that provides free and accessible fitness classes in premium gym spaces.
Sex and Rage: xrage is led by sex activists, educators, activists, hosting pop up lesbian wrestling, workshops and strip clubs. They also host a monthly cabernet night at Louche, Soho.
Misfits: Safe inclusive gyms that offer free fitness and wellbeing classes for trans adults.
Les running club: Inclusive queer running club based in London for queer women, trans & NB folk.
Businesses & Professional
Cruise Casting: LGBTQIA+ casting agency showcasing community members, grassroots leaders, prominent figures & everyday people
BEAUTIFUL: Label platform for Black and LGBTQI+ artists founded by Sherelle.
Girls in Film: Collective supporting female, non-binary and trans creatives in film.
Check what's going on at:
Dalston Superstore: Cult Dalston gay club that's the home of many of the above parties.
The Divine: New incarnation of The Glory, known for glorious drag events.
The Old Nun’s Head: South London pub that hosts FLINTA events and get-togethers.
Walthamstow Tradeshall: Non-profit members social club in Walthamstow with focus on inclusive and diverse events.