Queer Britain – London, England - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Queer Britain

London, England

A small museum that celebrates the history and culture of the LGBTQ community in England. 

View all photos
A photo in the main room at Queer Britain. Nicky J Sims/Getty Images
A photo in the main room at Queer Britain. Nicky J Sims/Getty Images
Top-hat of Anne Lister aka “Gentleman Jack” BryanKnight (Atlas Obscura User)
Dress that belonged to Divine. BryanKnight (Atlas Obscura User)
The door of Oscar Wilde's prison cell BryanKnight (Atlas Obscura User)
Add your own identity to be seen BryanKnight (Atlas Obscura User)
Alan Turing 50 pound note SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Outside window display SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
Leather jacket owned by Alison Bechdel, cartoonist SEANETTA (Atlas Obscura User)
57
252
Top Places in London
Highgate Cemetery
London, England
The Embassy of the Republic of Texas
London, England
Magic Circle Museum
London, England
 See All

Opened in May 2022, this is the first museum in the United Kingdom solely focused on queer history. It was founded by Ian Mehrtens and Joseph Galliano in response to the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which ended the criminalization of homosexuality in England and Wales. This space was created for queer people to remember their struggles, find their communities and celebrate their success.

The collection includes the door to the prison cell of Oscar Wilde in Reading Gaol, the iconic top hat of Anne Lister aka “Gentleman Jack,” and a dress from the legendary drag performer Divine.

The museum is spread across two floors with gallery spaces, exhibition areas, and a small store. Talks, events, and new exhibitions are filled with growing enthusiastic energy and plans for the expansion of the collection.

Know Before You Go

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Admission is free, donations are encouraged.


The closest underground station is at King's Cross. There are food stalls and vendors in the Granary next door as well.


The museum is in the same space once occupied by the The House of Illustration. It is located on the right-side of Granary Square. The nearest landmark is Waitrose Supermarket.

lgbtq museums and collections history & culture
Nearby
Word on the Water
0.03 miles
The King's Cross Ice Well
0.20 miles
Platform 9 3/4
0.24 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
London's floating bookstore.
London, England

Word on the Water

This 1920s Dutch barge is now a floating bookstore.
The King's Cross Ice Well
London, England

The King's Cross Ice Well

A subterranean ice warehouse that has lain hidden beneath central London for over a century is now open to the public.
London, England

Platform 9 3/4

Kings Cross Station pays tribute to its role in Britain's best-selling book series.
London, England

Tomb of Mary Wollstonecraft

Visit the grave of a famous feminist author and the mother of Mary Shelley.
Related Places
Halifax, England

Shibden Hall

This centuries-old mansion was the home of the noted 19th-century diarist Anne Lister (aka “Gentleman Jack”).
Bloomfield, Missouri

The Stars and Stripes National Museum and Library

The first military newspaper in U.S. history was printed in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Georgetown, South Carolina

Gullah Museum

A unique museum that uses visual art and storytelling to reveal the hidden history of the Gullah Geechee and their African ancestors.
1950s Museum Denbigh
Denbigh, Wales

1950s Museum Denbigh

One person's collection from the era.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web