Hungry for an orgy? Desperate for human touch after a two year pandemic? Tired of faking orgasms when your boyfriend relentlessly rubs that bit of skin to the side of your clit? Whatever your problem, London’s underground sex party scene surely contains the answer. Here are the notable establishments and what they’re all about.
The old-school party : Torture Garden Est. 1990
If you haven’t heard of Torture Garden, you probably won’t have heard of the rest. It’s an international affair, having earned the badge of Europe’s largest fetish club. Since the beginning they shocked society with their ‘anything goes’ vibe, which is now way more widely accepted and celebrated. There’s a dance floor, and of course an S&M dungeon.
The music varies from drum and bass, to party mashups to electro goth. It’s open to all, so expect to meet anyone and everyone. Don’t be fooled- the fact that it’s well known doesn’t make it more vanilla, so if it’s your first sex party, expect to be thrown in at the deep end.
But don’t fear, there’s never an expectation for you to take part- it’s totally fine to just have a boogie and watch from the sidelines.
Location: Varies, but usually a large studio space in East London decked out like a club.
Dress Code: The kinkier, the better.
Average Price: £37
The elitist party: Killing Kittens Est. 2005
First of all, great name. Cute and terrifying. Très chic. This one’s also quite well known. It’s probably the most ‘Eyes Wide Shut’-esque club. Only couples and women are allowed, meaning no single leery men attending, but also meaning it’s more of a hetero crowd.
They make a point of being an elite club, meaning that you have to send over a photo and description of yourself before they decide whether you’re in the club. Although the rumours that you must be super sexy to pass are false. You probably need to have an ounce of sex appeal and be quite young.
For the elder sex fanatics, they hold special ‘silver kittens’ events. The women are always in control here. Only they can invite guests, and at the parties, only they are allowed to make the first move.
Location: Secret central London spots, often fancy townhouses.
Dress Code: Varies depending on the event, but it’s often black tie. The overall vibe is sexy, sleek, high-class kinky. Masks are good. Not the covid type.
Average Price: £70
The cool party: Klub Verboten Est. 2016
Verboten is on the newer side of London’s sex parties, and it’s a very exciting one. BDSM and kink orientated, with hardcore techno playing all night long, it’s very Berlin-esque and perfect for the more alt. peeps. Whilst some events are for non-members, most are not and you need to apply online or in person to join.
The good news is that it’s free, the bad news is that they only accept around a third of the people that apply. Most of the people accepted are probably similar to people who get accepted into Berlin’s Berghain. This means the attendees seem to be quite like-minded, and there’s very much a community feel.
It’s way more progressive than the likes of Killing Kittens, clearly open to the LGBTQ+ crowd. They have some amazing guest DJ’s with the owners seeking out some of Berlin’s best, so it’s pretty great, considering the tickets aren’t too pricey.
Location: Usually an underground, industrial venue in Soho, and sometimes East London venues.
Dress Code: Latex, rubber, leather, lace etc.
Average Price: £10-£30
The femme-only cool party: One Night Parties Est. 2019
If the only thing holding you back from sex partying is the thought of predatory males, this one’s for you. One Night Parties is a safe space for women and non-binary people of all ages and sexual orientations to explore their femininity. The team behind it noticed that so many sex parties focused on the tastes and preferences of cis-gendered men, and wanted to do it differently.
There’s an in-house Shibari artist to tie people, kink performances, and a ‘private, elegant, female-led dungeon.’ Think low-key music and cute decor. The only males allowed in the space are a couple of subs that are solely around to fetch drinks, give foot massages, and, yep…be human toilets.
Although it’s femmes only, you don’t have to be gay or even bi to attend. There’s no age limit, but it tends to attract a slightly younger crowd.
Location: Various locations.
Dress Code: Lingerie/fetish wear only, with a different colour scheme for each party.
Average Price: £10-£30
The sensual party: Pleasure Island Parties
Founded by a couple, and created for couples (and intimate friends), Pleasure Island is all about sensual sex. It’s a bit more discreet than some of the others on this list with each event being limited to 30 people. Meeting usually at five star hotel suites, you will be introduced to founders Ebony and Ivory, sensual masseuse experts, as well as the other attendees.
It’s focused more on hands and less on toys, and the evening is kicked off with ‘touch tours’ and group massages. From that point onwards it’s a free flow of intimate fun. Expect relaxing lighting and music. Tickets are only sold in pairs or threes and you need to register online and be accepted before booking.
Location: Luxury central London venues.
Dress Code: Smart clothes, they say ‘wear what you feel sexy in’.
Average Price: £150 for a couples ticket.
The music party: Crossbreed Est. 2019
Update 2024: Crossbreed is currently closed for the meantime.
‘A record label and a party’- It’s already sounding pretty good. At the forefront of these queer, sex-positive raves is freedom of expression. It’s not called a ‘sex party’ because why should anything have to be called a sex party? Can’t we just…be more openly sexual at normal events?
Their resident artist and founder of the label, Kiwi (Alex Warren), plays techno, house and electronic music all night, along with special guest DJs. They’ve got three rooms each with very different vibes, a dance floor, a wellness sanctuary, and of course a playroom.
They also have a scheme where people who are unemployed or on low income can apply for free tickets; donations to tickets are also accepted from those in the community who can afford it. Hopefully more music events in the future will follow in the progressive footsteps of Crossbreed and allow more sexy nights for all!
Location: Various London clubs, one being Hackney Wick’s Colour Factory.
Dress Code: They like fetwear, PVC, latex, drag etc. They state, ‘if you can get on the bus and not have everyone turn their head in shock – you probably won’t get in.’ However, it is stressed that you mustn’t arrive in fancy dress.
Average Price: £10 – £20
Remember
- It’s ok to attend a sex party alone. Don’t stress about looking strange, lots of people do it.
- It’s always ok to not take part. No sex party forces you to do anything sexual. You can just treat it as a normal party.
- No one can touch you without consent. Just because the atmosphere’s liberal, it’s not a free for all. There will staff watching and making sure nobody’s getting creeped on.
Want to explore sex parties in London and need a partner for that? Discover Sensualists in London on Sensuali.
Iso
Iso is a writer and filmmaker based in East London. She is passionate about all things erotic and leads a sexy, shame-free life in hope that she can inspire others to do the same. Originally from a Northern seaside town, she is naturally drawn to the best things in life: candyfloss, trashy karaoke bars and heart-shaped sunglasses.
