The death of an English dancer at a Melbourne strip club is being investigated by police after her body was found up to 12 hours after she died.

The body of Stacey Tierney, 29, was discovered in Dreams Gentlemen's Club at 11.50am on Monday, December 19.

The fitness instructor from Manchester had been working at the Elizabeth Street club and had been partying with several men who fled after she died on Sunday.

While the exact circumstances of the death remain unclear, it's understood Ms Tierney's body was left for up to 12 hours inside the strip club, which is closed to the public on Sundays.