Celeb City Guide: John Amaechi's London

Presented by Las Vegas

The first openly gay NBA basketball player chats about a few of his favorite places, events and things in London.

Name: John Amaechi
Age: 38
Profession: Psychologist, Author and TV presenter in the UK
City: London
Relationship Status: Single
Sexuality: Gay

What are some of the things you love most about London?

Vibrant, diverse, noisy, and full of people who want to be more and better. 60 languages are spoken and every type of food and culture you can imagine has its place here.

What are some of your least favorite things about it?

The traffic!!! (and the congestion charge!)

What is the best date you ever had in London?

Probably, when I went to Tate Modern and we walked around the exhibits, but spent most of our time standing in the turbine hall with coffee when the artificial Sun exhibit was on. We just stood close and basked in the glow.

What gym do you like most there?

Sadly, I am lazy, living steps away from a Soho gym, and going once a month. They are a lovely warm, community feeling gym - but high end, and don’t try to “out-cute” the trainers, you will fail.

What are some great London restaurants for a night out with gay friends?

The restaurant in the OXO tower is a great day/night out: good bar and good food and a fantastic view of London. Hakassan is an Asian fusion type restaurant and has a great bar.  I love the food there and it is a wonderful place for an impressive date! (Don’t let them rush you when they are busy.)

What are some great restaurants for a romantic date? What about these restaurants appeals to you?

London just doesn’t seem to care what “type” of date is going on, I have been to both previous suggestions and seen gay and lesbian couples on dates.

Is there a particular best place to "people watch" in London?

The Cafe Nero on the corner of old Compton street and Frith street.  Mine’s an earl grey tea…

What are your favorite gay bars and/or dance clubs? What do you like about them?

Rupert Street (On Rupert Street strangely enough) in Soho for bar times and on the rare occasion I am awake late enough, I head to the Shadow Lounge for great music and a crowded dance floor.

What are your favorite gay parties or events, if any? What is the crowd or scene like at those places?

I have a feeling I am just too old for that, but I think London pride is amazing - the whole city seems to go gay. The crowd is diverse and crazy at times; solemn and thoughtful at the memorials and loud and fervent at the rallies. Brilliant.

Where is the best public place for a gay person to make out?

Pretty much anywhere in Soho around Old Compton Street, South of the river (my neck of the woods) it’s Clapham high street and Vauxhall. BUT...do remember, some people can be a bit British about PDA, whether gay or straight.

What is the gay community like in London? Do you consider yourself to be part of any particular "scene"?

I am not a big fan of labels. The scene in London is as varied as the people, one of the few places (like Manchester, my home town) where there is literally something for everyone.

Do gay men and lesbians hang out in the same places in your town, or is that just a ridiculous notion?!

LOL, it depends on the night and the venue. Some places have a really good mix, others are not so diverse... but most local gay bars are very mixed and welcoming to everyone.

Are you involved with any London LGBT community organizations?

I am a supporter of Stonewall, an organization with a budget a fraction of the HRC’s for example, who have helped make great strides in actual legislation and groundbreaking partnerships with organizations like the British Navy and the Police (who March in Pride, may I add!)

Tell us about the London Pride event. Do you usually attend? What are the highlights for you? What do you like least about it?

It is a special occasion, but I have to say most of London feels pretty gay friendly most of the time!  I love to see the looks on the faces of young people who have obviously come to London for Pride, for the first time. Eye’s wide open, feeling safe and a part of something bigger than themselves, maybe for the first time.

Do you have a particular fashion style? Where do you shop for clothes?

I only look even half good fully clothed.  If I had a choice, I would only be photographed in a suit! My suits are all made by Ermenegildo Zegna, a great guy called Noah from the Beverly Hills shop works very hard to make me look respectable. Pretty much everything else I wear is old basketball sweats - but not in public!

Where do you go for other forms of entertainment -- live theater, concerts, movies, art exhibits? Are there any local gay performance groups, bands, or artists that you're a fan of?

I love theatre, my sister, Muriel and I go as often as we can, I also went to see “La Fille mal garde” (kind of a pop-ballet) at the London Opera House - I travel so much it is hard to get in too as much as I would like.

I am a big fan of Matt Alber, and I also like Rufus Wainwright - especially his older, ‘wrist-cutting’ work.

If you had gay friends visiting from out of town for the first time, what are some "musts" that you'd recommend they see or do while in London?

Go on a boat tour on the Thames - it sounds cheesy, but I did it and had a blast.  Go to the Museums, art galleries - especially the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern - they are free…

If you like bourbon, go to the bourbon bar in the Trafalgar Hilton. Don’t go to number ten, you can’t see anything from the gates.

Go to the OXO tower for a drink and see London from their balcony.

Don’t ask people if they know the queen.

Get a pass for the tube to get around, taxis are expensive and slow at certain times of day.

Go to the markets, like: Camden Market (hip, cool crowd, ethnic art, clothing and jewelry) Borough Market (Saturday - farmer’s market)

What city (or cities) in America would you most like to visit next, and why? Are there any specific spots there (theaters, nightclubs, historic sites, etc.) that you'd really like to see?

I feel like I have been everywhere in the States, but I would like to go back to San Francisco, I loved the Mission district - I got a real flavour of it while on the set of a film I helped produce.

I also have a slight Canada fetish and really want to go to Montreal for the first time and back to Toronto...

Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/meech13

Photos courtesy RDA and Getty Images

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