Loading AI tools
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an incomplete list of private members' clubs with physical premises in London, United Kingdom, including those that no longer exist or have merged, with an additional section on those that appear in fiction. Historically most of these clubs were gentlemen's clubs with membership restricted to men. More recently,[when?] a number of women-only clubs have been formed.
Name | Est. | Location | Located Since | Affiliation | Admission of women |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 Pall Mall | 2015 | 67 Pall Mall | 2015 | Wine and food | Since beginning |
AllBright[1][2][3] | 2018 | 24–26 Maddox Street, Mayfair | 2019 | Business | No male members[4][5] |
Alpine Club | 1857 | 55–56 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch | 1991 | Mountaineering | Since 1975 |
Annabel's | 1963 | 46 Berkeley Square | 2018 | Social | Admitted |
Army and Navy Club | 1837 | 36–39 Pall Mall | 1963 | Army and Navy officers | Since 1995 |
Arts Club | 1863 | 40 Dover Street | 1896 | The arts, literature, science | Since 1946 |
The Athenaeum | 1824 | 107 Pall Mall | 1830 | The sciences, law, medicine, arts, literature, and the Church | Since 2002 |
Authors' Club | 1891 | 1 Whitehall Place, sharing the premises of the National Liberal Club | 2014 | Literature | Since 1971 |
Bath & Racquets Club | 1989 | 49 Brook's Mews, W1K 4EB | 1989 | Sports | No women members |
Beefsteak Club | 1876 | 9 Irving Street, near Leicester Square | 1876 | Social | No women members |
Boodle's | 1762 | 28 St James's Street | 1782 | Aristocratic; Tory | No women members |
The Bridge | 2012 | 73–81 Southwark Bridge Road | 2012 | Sport | No male members |
Brooks's | 1764 | 60 St James's Street | 1778 | Aristocratic; Whig | No women members |
Buck's Club | 1919 | 18 Clifford Street, Mayfair | 1919 | Social | No women members |
Caledonian Club | 1891 | 9 Halkin Street, Belgravia | 1946 | Scottish | Since 2011 |
Canning Club (formerly the Argentine Club) | 1911 (renamed 1948) | 4 St James's Square, sharing the premises of the Naval and Military Club | 1999 | Social; Latin America, Spain, Portugal | Admitted |
Carlton Club | 1832 | 69 St James's Street | 1943 | Political; Tory, latterly Conservative | Since 2008 |
Cavalry and Guards Club (the merged Cavalry Club and Guards Club) | 1810 (Guards' Club); 1890 (Cavalry Club); 1976 (merged club) | 127 Piccadilly | 1908 | Cavalry and Guards, latterly officers of other British Army regiments | No women members |
Chelsea Arts Club | 1891 | 143 Old Church Street, Chelsea | 1990 | The arts | Since 1976 |
City Livery Club | 1914 | Bell Wharf Lane, Upper Thames Street, sharing the premises of the Little Ship Club | 2023 | The City | Admitted |
City of London Club | 1832 | 19 Old Broad Street, London | 1834 | City professions | Since 2011 |
City University Club | 1895 | 42 Crutched Friars | 2018 | The City, Oxbridge graduates | Since 1994 |
Civil Service Club | 1953 | 13-15 Great Scotland Yard | 1953 | Civil Service and Diplomatic Service | Since beginning |
East India Club (in full: The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club) | 1849 | 16 St James's Square | 1866 | Originally for East India Company, since 1972 merger with the Public Schools' Club primarily aligned with public schools | No women members but female members of reciprocal clubs have full use the club[6] |
Eccentric Club | 2008 | Currently seeking new premises | Social; eccentricity and philanthropy | Since 1984 (former club) | |
English-Speaking Union | 1918 | Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street | 1926 | Philanthropy | Admitted |
Farmers Club | 1842 | 3 Whitehall Court | 1942 | Agriculture and landowning | Since beginning |
Flyfishers' Club | 1884 | 69 Brook Street, sharing the premises of the Savile Club | 1995 | Flyfishing | No women members |
Garrick Club | 1831 | 15 Garrick Street, Covent Garden | 1864 | The arts and theatre | Since 2024 |
George | 2001 | 87-88 Mount Street, London | 2001 | Social | Admitted |
Groucho Club | 1985 | 45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB | 1985 | Media | Admitted |
Harry's Bar | 1979 | 26 South Audley Street | 1979 | Social | Admitted |
Home House | 1998 | 20-21 Portman Square, London, W1H 6LW | 1998 | Social; eccentricity and philanthropy | Admitted |
Honourable Artillery Company | 1537 | Armoury House, City Road, EC1Y 2BQ | 1735 | Serving and veteran members of the British Army regiment and Police Special Constabulary of the same name | Admitted |
The House of KOKO[7] | 2022 | 74 Crowndale Road, Camden | 2022 | Music; art | Admitted |
Hurlingham Club | 1869 | Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham | 1869 | Sports; tennis and crocquet | Admitted |
Ivy Club | 2008 | 9 West Street, WC2H 9NE | 2008 | Social, Theatre, Arts | Since beginning |
Lansdowne Club | 1935 | 9 Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square | 1935 | Social | Since beginning |
Little Ship Club | 1926 | Bell Wharf Lane, London EC4R 3TB | 1962 | Yachting | Admitted |
London Sketch Club | 1898 | 7 Dilke Street, Chelsea | 1957 | Sketch artists | No women members |
Mark's Club | 1972 | 46 Charles Street, Mayfair | 1972 | Social | Admitted |
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) | 1787 | Lord's, St John's Wood | 1814 | Cricket and Real tennis; formerly headquarters of ICC | Since 1998 |
National Liberal Club (NLC) | 1882 | 1 Whitehall Place | 1887 | Political; Liberal | Since 1967 |
Naval and Military Club | 1862 | 4 St James's Square | 1999 | Originally officers in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the British Army | Since 1966 |
Den Norske Klub | 1887 | 4 St James's Square, sharing the premises of the Naval and Military Club | 1999 | Norway | Since 1982 |
Oriental Club | 1824 | Stratford House, Stratford Place | 1962 | Founded for members of the East India Company; now social | Since 2010 |
Oxford and Cambridge Club (called the United Oxford and Cambridge Club, 1971–2001) | 1821 (United University Club); 1830 (Oxford and Cambridge Club); 1971 (merged club) | 71–76 Pall Mall | 1837 | Members of Oxford and Cambridge Universities | Since 1996 |
Portland Club (formerly the Stratford Club until 1825) | 1815 (circa) | 36–39 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the Army & Navy Club | 1990s | Cards | No women members |
Pratt's | 1857 | 14 Park Place, St James's | 1857 | Aristocratic | Since 2023 |
Queen's Club | 1886 | Palliser Road, West Kensington | 1892 | Sports | Admitted |
Reform Club | 1836 | 103–105 Pall Mall | 1841 | Originally political (Liberal), now social. Members still sign a declaration agreeing to the principles of the 1832 Reform Act. | Since 1981 |
Roehampton Club | 1901 | Roehampton Lane, Roehampton | 1901 (site); 1960s (buildings) | Sports | Admitted |
Royal Air Force Club | 1918 | 128 Piccadilly | 1922 | RAF officers | Admitted |
Royal Automobile Club | 1897 | 89–91 Pall Mall | 1911 | Social and automobile enthusiasts | Since 1998 |
Royal Ocean Racing Club | 1925 | 20 St James's Place, St James's Street | 1942 | Yachting enthusiasts | Admitted |
Royal Over-Seas League (formerly the Over-Seas Club) | 1910 | 4 Park Place, St James's | 1921 | Commonwealth citizens, affiliate membership available for other nationalities; music and the arts; travellers. | Since beginning |
Royal Society of Medicine | 1805 | 1 Wimpole Street | 1910 | Medical practitioners | Admitted |
Royal Thames Yacht Club | 1775 | 60 Knightsbridge | 1952 | Yachting enthusiasts | First recorded 1874 |
Savage Club | 1857 | Currently seeking new premises | The arts, science and the law | No women members | |
Savile Club | 1868 | 69 Brook Street | 1927 | Conviviality, from the arts to the sciences | No women members |
The Sloane Club | 1922 (Initially as the Service Women’s Club, then The Helena Club) | 52 Lower Sloane St, Chelsea | 1922 | Social | Only women members originally, male members admitted in 1976 |
Special Forces Club | 1945 | 8 Herbert Crescent, Knightsbridge | 1945 | Members of Special Operations Executive, British intelligence and UK Special Forces; foreign special forces, intelligence agencies and senior military officers | Since beginning |
Travellers Club | 1819 | 106 Pall Mall | 1827 | Diplomats, social and business travellers | No women members |
Turf Club | 1861 | 5 Carlton House Terrace | 1965 | Aristocratic; social, equestrianism, sports & cards | No women members |
Union Jack Club | 1904 | Sandell Street, Waterloo, SE1 8UJ | 1907 | Serving or veteran enlisted HM Armed Forces personnel | Admitted |
University Women's Club (originally the University Club for Ladies) | 1887 | 2 Audley Square, Mayfair | 1921 | University graduates | No male members[5] |
Victory Services Club | 1907 | 63–79 Seymour Street, Marylebone | 1948 | All NATO Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force personnel | Admitted |
The Walbrook Club | 2000 | 37a Walbrook EC4N 8BS | 2000 | City professions | Since beginning |
White's | 1693 | 37 St James's Street | 1778 | Aristocratic; Tory | No women members or visitors |
Winchester House Club | 1892 | 10 Lower Richmond Road, Putney | 1892 | Social | Admitted |
Name | Established | Clubhouse location (s) | Affiliation | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
1920 Club | 1920 | 2 Whitehall Court | Political; Liberal | Closed in 1923 |
Albemarle Club (Ladies and Gentlemen) | 1874 | 13 Albemarle Street (from 1874); 37 Dover Street (by the 1910s); 21 Curzon Street (by the 1940s) | Social | Closed in 1941 |
Almack's Club (Ladies and Gentlemen) | 1765 | King Street, St James's (1765–1867) | Social; especially card games | Closed in 1867; a 'refounded' Almack's operated from 1908 to 1961 |
American Club | 1919 | 95 Piccadilly | American | Closed in the 1980s |
Argentine Club | 1910 | 1 Hamilton Place, near Piccadilly | Social | Later became the present-day Canning Club |
Arthur's | 1827 | 69 St James's Street | Social; non-political | Closed in 1940. Building later taken over by the Carlton Club; ironic, given its avowedly non-political membership. |
Arundel Yacht Club | 1838 | Coal Hole Tavern, Strand | Yachting enthusiasts | Renamed London Yacht Club 1845. Moved to Cowes, Isle of Wight 1882.[8] |
Bachelors' Club | 1880[9] | 106 Piccadilly | Bachelors | Closed in the late 1940s |
Badminton Club | 1875 | 100 Piccadilly | Sports; driving (horses and coaches were owned by the club) | Dissolved in 1938, as by then horse transport was becoming anachronistic; Clubhouse taken over by the Public Schools Club |
Bath Club | 1894 | 34 Dover Street (1894–1941); 74 St James's Street (1950–1959); 43 Brook Street (1959–1981) | Sports; the Dover Street club offered a swimming pool with athletic rings over it. | Original clubhouse bombed in the Blitz. Relocated club closed in 1981 – members dispersed to other Clubs including the Oriental Club |
Beaconsfield Club | 1880 | 66–68 Pall Mall (1880–1887) | Political; Conservative | Closed circa 1887/1888; Clubhouse taken over by the Unionist Club |
Beefsteak Club | 1705 | Imperial Phiz public house, Old Jewry | Social; Whig | closed 1712; current premises near Leicester Square |
Blenheim Club | 1909 | 12 St James's Square, later King Street | ? | ? |
British Empire Club | 1910 | 12 St James's Square | Facilities for Temporary Honorary Members of Visitors to the United Kingdom | ? |
Burlington Fine Arts Club | 1866 | 177 Piccadilly (1866–1869); 17 Savile Row (1869–1952) | The arts | Closed in 1952 |
Cavalry Club | 1890 | 127 Piccadilly | Cavalry officers | Merged with the Guards' Club in 1976 to form the present Cavalry and Guards Club |
Cobden Club | 1866 | ? | Political; Free Trade doctrine | Closed in the 1970s |
Cocoa Tree Club | 1746 | St James's St | Tory. Members inc Byron & Gibbon | closed 1932 |
Commonwealth Club | 1868 | 25 Northumberland Avenue | formerly headquarters of the Royal Commonwealth Society | Closed June 2013. The RCS still exists as a charity. |
Conservative Club | 1840 | 88 St James's Street (1841–1845); 74 St James's Street (1841–1950) | Political; Conservative | Merged with the Bath Club in 1950, taking on the name of the Bath Club, but moving to the Conservative Club's premises. |
Constitutional Club | 1883 | 28 Northumberland Avenue (1886–1959); 40 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the Junior Carton Club (1962–1964); 116 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the United Service Club (1964-late 1960s); St. James's Street (1970s) | Political; Conservative | Closed in 1979; membership merged with the St. Stephen's Club |
Cosmopolitan Club | 1852 | 30 Charles Street, Berkeley Square | Social | Closed in 1902 |
Coventry House Club | 1846 | 106 Piccadilly (1846–1854) | Social | Closed on 25 March 1854 |
Crockford's (officially known as the St James's Club) | 1823 | 50 St James's Street | Social; especially card games | Closed on 1 January 1846; clubhouse taken over by the Military, Naval and County Service Club (1849–1851), and then the Devonshire Club. Re-founded in 1928, closed in 1970. |
Devonshire Club | 1874 | 50 St James's Street | Political; initially Liberal but later largely apolitical | Closed in 1976; membership merged with the present East India Club |
Eccentric Society Club (1) | 1781 | Various addresses around Covent Garden | Social | Closed in 1846 |
Eccentric Society Club (2) | 1858 | Leicester Square | Social | Closed in 1881 |
Eccentric Club (3) | 1890 | 9 Ryder Street, St James's | Social | Closed in 1984 for refurbishment, went into liquidation in 1986; in 1985 most members were elected to the present East India Club, and still meet there to this day. In 2008 a group started an endeavour to re-establish the Eccentric Club |
Eighty Club | 1880 | ? | Political; Liberal | Closed in the 1900s |
Goodenough Club | 2001 | 23 Mecklenburgh Square | Faculty club for Goodenough College (est. 1930) | ? |
Grace Belgravia[10] | 2012 | Belgravia | Female-only wellness | Closed in 2019[11] |
Green Room Club | 1877 | 10 Adelphi Terrace (1877–1883); 22 King Street, Covent Garden (1883); 20 Bedford Street, near Strand (1883–1903); 46 Leicester Square (1903–1940); Whitcomb Street, near Leicester Square (1940–1954); 8–9 Adam Street, near Strand (1955–2000) | The arts and theatre | Closed in 2000 |
Gresham Club | 1843 | 1 King William Street (1844–1910s); Gresham Place (early 1910s); 15 Abchurch Lane, near King William Street (1915–1991), | The City; Merchants and bankers | Closed in 1991; members accepted into the City University Club |
Guards' Club | 1810 | 49 St. James's Street (1810–1826); 106 Pall Mall (1826–1827); 49 St James's Street (1827–1848); 70 Pall Mall (1848– ) | Officers of the Household Cavalry and Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh regiments of Foot Guards. | Closed in 1976, and merged with the Cavalry Club to form the present Cavalry and Guards Club |
Gun Club | Late 19th century? | ? | Pigeon hunters | Closed |
Hogarth Club | 1858 | 84 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia | Artists | Closed in 1861 |
Irish Club | 1952 | Eaton Square, and latterly Blackfriars | Closed in 2012 | |
Isthmian Club | 1882 | 105 Piccadilly | Rowing, cricket | ? |
Jockey Club | 1750 | Pall Mall | Horse racing; primarily for racehorse owners | Still exists today, but has moved out of London to Newmarket |
Junior Athenaeum | 1864 | 116 Piccadilly | The arts, science, or the clergy | Closed |
Junior Carlton Club | 1866 | 30 Pall Mall (1868–1968); 94 Pall Mall (1968–1977) | Political; Conservative | Closed in 1977; membership merged with the present Carlton Club |
Junior Constitutional Club | 1887 | 101 Piccadilly | Political; Conservative | Closed |
Junior Naval and Military Club | 1870 | 19 Dover Street (1870–1875); 66–68 Pall Mall (1875–1979) | Army and Navy officers | The cost of the club's elaborate, purpose-built Pall Mall clubhouse bankrupted the club, and it closed in 1879. The building was then acquired by the Beaconsfield Club. |
Kennel Club | 1873 | 29a Pall Mall | Dog lovers | Still exists today as a society, but no longer provides club facilities. |
King of Clubs | 1798- ?1830 | Crown & Anchor; Freemasons' Tavern; Grillions; Clarendon Hotel | High Whig | ? |
Marlborough Club | 1868–1945 | 52 Pall Mall | 'a convenient and agreeable place of meeting for a Society of Gentlemen' | On 31 December 1945 the Windham, Orleans and Marlborough Clubs amalgamated to form the Marlborough-Windham Club. Rising costs and lack of candidates for admission compelled this club to close in December 1953.[12] |
Military, Naval and County Service Club | Nov. 1848 | 50 St James's Street | active & retired military officers, including East India Company, Militia and Yeomanry. | Founded as the Military and County Service Club, renamed St James's Club c.1850 and dissolved in July 1851. The club used the premises of the former Crockford's Club. Later on the premises were used by the Wellington Dining Rooms, the St George's Club and the Devonshire Club. |
The Museum Club | 1844 | Northumberland Street and then 5 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden | Literary | Dissolved 1849 and replaced with "Hooks and Eyes" and "Our Club" |
National Sporting Club | 1891 | 43 King Street, Covent Garden | Sports; Boxing | Closed |
National Union | 1887 | ? | Political; Unionist | Closed in the 1890s |
Naval Club (formerly RNVR (Auxiliary Patrol) Club (1919–1946), RNVR Club (1946–1969) | 1919 | 38 Hill Street Mayfair | Royal Navy reservists, and later all RN officers | Closed 2021 |
New Cavendish Club | 1920 | 44 Great Cumberland Place | Social | Closed in 2014 |
New University Club | 1864 | 57 St James's Street; later 6 St James's Street | Graduates of Oxford and Cambridge | Merged with the United University Club in 1938, which then merged with the Oxford and Cambridge Club in 1971. |
Nimrod | 1890s | 12 St James's Sq predated the Blenheim Club at this address | ? | Liquidated 1919 |
Palace Club | 1882 | ? | Political; Conservative | Closed in the 1900s |
Pembridge Club | 1868[13] | 1, St. Stephen's Square (renamed St. Stephen's Gardens in 1938), Westbourne Grove, Bayswater | The arts | Founded as the Notting Hill and Bayswater Club |
Portland Club | c1815 as the Stratford Club; renamed 1825. | Originally, 1 Stratford Place, then 9 St James's Square 1890–1943 | Card-playing game club | Now located within the Army & Navy Club |
Press Club | 1882 | Wine Office Court, near Fleet Street | Journalism | Clubhouse closed in 1986. Press Club still exists today as a society, but no longer offers club facilities |
Primrose Club | 1886 | 4&5 Park Place, St James's Street[14] | Political; Conservative | Closed in the 1910s |
Prince's Club | 1853 | Hans Place (1853–1886); 197 Knightsbridge (1888–1940s) | Sports | Closed in the 1940s |
Public Schools Club | 1863–1868; 17 St James Place; 1909–1915; 1918–1972 | 13 Albemarle Street (1909–1913); 19 Berkeley Street (1913–1915); Curzon Street (1920–1938); 100 Piccadilly (1938–1972) | Alumni of the British public schools | Merged with the present East India Club on 1 May 1972, now providing the bulk of their membership |
Raleigh Club | Late 19th century? | Regent Street | Members had to have served a year in the armed forces, or be an existing member of another club | Closed |
Road Club | Late 19th century? | 4 Park Place, St James's | Enthusiasts for the revival of coaching | Closed |
Royal Aero Club, formerly the Aero Club (1901–1909) | 1901 | 119 Piccadilly (1901–1961); 9 Fitzmaurice Place (inside the Lansdowne Club, 1961–1968); 94 Pall Mall (inside the Junior Carlton Club, 1968–1970); 116 Pall Mall (inside the United Service Club, 1970–1977) | "the encouragement of aero-automobilism and ballooning as a sport" | Merged into the British Gliding Association in 1977 – no longer provides club facilities, although Office in Leicestershire. |
Royal Anglo-Belgian Club | 1942 | 6 Belgrave Square (1942–1978); 60 Knightsbridge (sharing premises of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 1978–2010); 8 Northumberland Avenue (2010–2012) | Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands | Closed in 2012. |
South African & Rhodesian Officers Club | WW1 to 1920s | 48 Grosvenor Sq | ? | ? |
St James's Club (Crockford's) (1) | 1823 | 50 St James's Street | ? | Closed on 1 January 1846, late the Military, Naval and County Service Club, formerly the Military and County Service Club. |
St James's Club (2) | 1857 | 106 Piccadilly | Members of the British diplomatic service, and foreign diplomats in Britain | Closed in 1978, and membership merged with Brooks' . |
St Stephen's Club | 1870 | Bridge Street, Westminster (19th century); 34 Queen Anne's Gate, near St James's Park (1962–2013) | Political; Conservative | Closed 31 December 2012 |
Sports Club | 1893 | 8 St James's Square | Sports | Merged with the present East India Club in 1938 |
Thatched House | 1865 | 85 St James Street? | Originally c19th Tory coffee house, later taken over by Civil Service Club | |
Union Club | 1800 | Trafalgar Square | Social | Closed in 1949, was then at 86 St James's Street until 1960s merging with the United Service Club; clubhouse is now Canada House |
Unionist Club | 1886 | 66–68 Pall Mall | Political; Liberal Unionist | Closed in 1892; clubhouse acquired by the New Oxford and Cambridge Club |
United Club | Late 19th century? | Charles Street, near Berkeley Square | Linked to the United Hotel, with additional facilities for members | Closed |
United Empire Club | 1904 | 101 Piccadilly | Global Reform; | Closed |
United Service Club
("The Senior") |
1815 | 116 Pall Mall | Senior officers (Major/Commander and above) in the army and navy | Closed in 1978; former clubhouse is now occupied by the Institute of Directors |
United University Club | 1821 | 1 Suffolk Street, near Pall Mall (1826–1971) | Graduates of Oxford and Cambridge | Merged with the present Oxford and Cambridge Club in 1971. Clubhouse is now the London centre of the University of Notre Dame |
Watier's | ? | 81 Piccadilly | ? | Closed |
Wellington Club | Oct 1832 | 1 Grosvenor Place; 116a Knightsbridge (1932–2016) | Social | Closed 26 June 2016 |
West Indian Club | 1898 | Howard Hotel, Norfolk Street; 4 Whitehall Court; | Social | Closed March 1971 |
Windham Club | 1828 | 106 Pall Mall (1828–1830, 1941–1946); 10 St James's Square (1830–1836); 13 St James's Square (1836–1941) | ? | Merged with Marlborough and closed |
The Wing[3][15] | 2019 | 14 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia | Social | 2020 |
York Club | Mid/late 19th century | 8 St James's Square (1886–88) | ? | Closed. Building later acquired by the Junior Travellers' Club, then the Sports Club. |
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.