List of members' clubs in London

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The members' bar at the Savile Club, London W1

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.

Extant clubs[edit]

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 Business No male members[4][5]
Alpine Club 1857 55–56 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch 1991 Mountaineering Since 1975
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 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 Admitted
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
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
Fitology Hub 2016 Unit 43, 96 Endwell Road Sport No male members
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 No women members
Groucho Club 1985 45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB 1985 Media 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
Hurlingham Club 1869 Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham 1869 Sports; tennis and crocquet Admitted
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
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 7 Albemarle Street (19th century); 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
StrongHer 2016 19A Cudworth Street, Bethnal Green Sport No male members
Travellers Club 1819 106 Pall Mall 1827 Diplomats, social and business travellers No women members
Trouble Club[3] 2014 No fixed headquarters Social, talks from women Since beginning
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 Club 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

Defunct or merged clubs[edit]

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.[6]
Bachelors' Club c.1881 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 [1]
Eighty Club 1880 ? Political; Liberal Closed in the 1900s
Goodenough Club 2001 23 Mecklenburgh Square Faculty club for Goodenough College (est. 1930) ?
Grace Belgravia[7] 2012 Belgravia Female-only wellness Closed in 2019[8]
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 [2]
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.[9]
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 Mid/late 19th century? 1, St. Stephen's Square (renamed St. Stephen's Gardens in 1938), Westbourne Grove, Bayswater The arts ?
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 [3]
Primrose Club 1886 4&5 Park Place, St James's Street[10] 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 [4]
The Wing[3][11] 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.

Fictional clubs[edit]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

General references[edit]

  • Sheppard, F. H. W., ed. (1960). "Pall Mall, North Side, Existing Buildings". Survey of London: volumes 29 and 30: St James Westminster, Part 1. Institute of Historical Research. pp. 339–345. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  • The Gentlemen's Clubs of London by Anthony Lejeune, first published 1979, most recently in 2012 by Stacey International.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hanson, Kyra (25 April 2018). "Women-Only Member's Clubs: Sexist And Elitist Or A Way For Women To Get Ahead?". Londonist. Retrieved 22 March 2024. My clients are 98% women so it's important for me to mix with other women. The women have similar personalities and it's a lovely place to catch up with friends for lunch or my hubby for drinks after work [...].
  2. ^ Hart, Anna (26 February 2019). "Women-only clubs: the future is female". Condé Nast Traveller. In a female environment, women are more likely to speak up, talk about their successes and be a bit more open and honest about some of the challenges that they face [...].
  3. ^ a b c Barber, Sonya (26 February 2020). "The best female-only spaces in London". Condé Nast Traveller. Retrieved 24 March 2024. The backlash to the shape-shifting political landscape of the past two years has been thrillingly fast, fierce and female. All-women societies, clubhouses, retreats and trips are on the rise [...].
  4. ^ Smith, Ellie (2024). "London's Best Women's Members' Clubs To Join This year". Country & Town House. Retrieved 24 March 2024. When members' clubs first came about, they were reserved for wealthy men. Pall Mall and St James's Street were the hub of what was known as Clubland – a cluster of venues designed exclusively for high-society men, with women outright banned. Yet, thankfully, the club scene has evolved a great deal over the years [...].
  5. ^ a b Derrick, Florence (30 July 2019). "Elitist or Empowering? Inside the Women-Only Private Members' Clubs". Florence Derrick. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ^ "The Club History : Royal London Yacht Club".
  7. ^ Dalamal, Malika (3 April 2013). "London's first female-only club". BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2024. Men are strictly not allowed at anytime except for Thursday nights, when – in a reversal of the age-old tradition – they are permitted to enter the club for dinner.
  8. ^ Prynn, Jonathan (19 February 2019). "Health club where royalty and A-list celebs were members shuts down amid Brexit fears". Standard. Retrieved 24 March 2024. I regret to advise the Grace Belgravia has ceased operations and the Club has closed.
  9. ^ "Pall Mall, North Side, Existing Buildings | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  10. ^ London Street Directory for 1902
  11. ^ "The Londoner: Scandal-hit women's club The Wing closes". Standard. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2024. Women-only club The Wing is shutting down its London location for good after being hit by accusations of racism and bullying.
  12. ^ "Anthony Trollope: TV and Radio: Television: The Pallisers: Episodes 13–19". 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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