The onetime glittering jewel in London’s most notorious former red-light district, Madame JoJo’s maintains much of the tawdry mystique of its former incarnation as a strip joint and transvestite cabaret club. Cloaked in red velvet and framed by a gargantuan stage, this former mafia watering hole still hosts regular nights of debauchery (though the parties these days are somewhat tamer).

The popular Tuesday night indie party “White Heat” sees local and international bands treading the boards in front of a predominantly student crowd while the Friday night funk parties are legendary. The club pays lip service to its raunchy reputation, hosting the occasional cabaret or burlesque performance as well the (in their words) “tran-tastic” Wednesday night transvestite parties.