List of members' clubs in London explained

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, a number of women-only clubs have been formed.

Extant clubs

Name Est. Location Located Since Affiliation Admission of women
67 Pall Mall201567 Pall Mall2015Wine and food
AllBright[1] [2] [3] 201824–26 Maddox Street, Mayfair2019Business[4] [5]
Alpine Club185755–56 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch1991Mountaineering
Army and Navy Club183736–39 Pall Mall1963Army and Navy officers
Arts Club186340 Dover Street1896The arts, literature, science
The Athenaeum1824107 Pall Mall1830The sciences, law, medicine, arts, literature, and the Church
Authors' Club18911 Whitehall Place, sharing the premises of the National Liberal Club2014Literature
Bath & Racquets Club198949 Brook's Mews, W1K 4EB1989Sports
Beefsteak Club18769 Irving Street, near Leicester Square1876Social
Boodle's176228 St James's Street1782Aristocratic; Tory
The Bridge201273–81 Southwark Bridge Road2012Sport
Brooks's176460 St James's Street1778Aristocratic; Whig
Buck's Club191918 Clifford Street, Mayfair1919Social
Caledonian Club18919 Halkin Street, Belgravia1946Scottish
Canning Club (formerly the Argentine Club)1911 (renamed 1948)4 St James's Square, sharing the premises of the Naval and Military Club1999Social; Latin America, Spain, Portugal
Carlton Club183269 St James's Street1943Political; Tory, latterly Conservative
Cavalry and Guards Club (the merged Cavalry Club and Guards Club)1810 (Guards' Club); 1890 (Cavalry Club); 1976 (merged club)127 Piccadilly1908Cavalry and Guards, latterly officers of other British Army regiments
Chelsea Arts Club1891143 Old Church Street, Chelsea1990The arts
City Livery Club1914Bell Wharf Lane, Upper Thames Street, sharing the premises of the Little Ship Club2023The City
City of London Club183219 Old Broad Street, London1834City professions
City University Club189542 Crutched Friars2018The City, Oxbridge graduates
Civil Service Club195313-15 Great Scotland Yard1953Civil Service and Diplomatic Service
East India Club (in full: The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club)184916 St James's Square1866Originally for East India Company, since 1972 merger with the Public Schools' Club primarily aligned with public schools
Eccentric Club2008Currently seeking new premisesSocial; eccentricity and philanthropy
English-Speaking Union1918Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street1926Philanthropy
Farmers Club18423 Whitehall Court1942Agriculture and landowning
Flyfishers' Club188469 Brook Street, sharing the premises of the Savile Club1995Flyfishing
Garrick Club183115 Garrick Street, Covent Garden1864The arts and theatre
198545 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB1985Media
Home House199820-21 Portman Square, London, W1H 6LW1998Social; eccentricity and philanthropy
Honourable Artillery Company1537Armoury House, City Road, EC1Y 2BQ1735Serving and veteran members of the British Army regiment and Police Special Constabulary of the same name
The House of KOKO[6] 202274 Crowndale Road, Camden2022Music; art
Hurlingham Club1869Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham1869Sports; tennis and crocquet
Ivy Club20089 West Street, WC2H 9NE2008Social, Theatre, Arts
Lansdowne Club19359 Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square1935Social
Little Ship Club1926Bell Wharf Lane, London EC4R 3TB1962Yachting
London Sketch Club18987 Dilke Street, Chelsea1957Sketch artists
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)1787Lord's, St John's Wood1814Cricket and Real tennis; formerly headquarters of ICC
National Liberal Club (NLC)18821 Whitehall Place1887Political; Liberal
18624 St James's Square1999Originally officers in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the British Army
Den Norske Klub18874 St James's Square, sharing the premises of the Naval and Military Club1999Norway
Oriental Club1824Stratford House, Stratford Place1962Founded for members of the East India Company; now social
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 Mall1837Members of Oxford and Cambridge Universities
Portland Club (formerly the Stratford Club until 1825)1815 (circa)36–39 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the Army & Navy Club1990sCards
Pratt's185714 Park Place, St James's1857Aristocratic
Queen's Club1886Palliser Road, West Kensington1892Sports
Reform Club1836103–105 Pall Mall1841Originally political (Liberal), now social. Members still sign a declaration agreeing to the principles of the 1832 Reform Act.
Roehampton Club1901Roehampton Lane, Roehampton1901 (site); 1960s (buildings)Sports
Royal Air Force Club1918128 Piccadilly1922RAF officers
Royal Automobile Club189789–91 Pall Mall1911Social and automobile enthusiasts
Royal Ocean Racing Club192520 St James's Place, St James's Street1942Yachting enthusiasts
Royal Over-Seas League (formerly the Over-Seas Club)19104 Park Place, St James's1921Commonwealth citizens, affiliate membership available for other nationalities; music and the arts; travellers.
Royal Society of Medicine18051 Wimpole Street1910Medical practitioners
Royal Thames Yacht Club17757 Albemarle Street (19th century); 60 Knightsbridge1952Yachting enthusiasts
Savage Club1857Currently seeking new premisesThe arts, science and the law
Savile Club186869 Brook Street1927Conviviality, from the arts to the sciences
The Sloane Club1922 (Initially as the Service Women’s Club, then The Helena Club)52 Lower Sloane St, Chelsea1922Social
Special Forces Club19458 Herbert Crescent, Knightsbridge1945Members of Special Operations Executive, British intelligence and UK Special Forces; foreign special forces, intelligence agencies and senior military officers
Travellers Club1819106 Pall Mall1827Diplomats, social and business travellers
Turf Club18615 Carlton House Terrace1965Aristocratic; social, equestrianism, sports & cards
Union Jack Club1904Sandell Street, Waterloo, SE1 8UJ1907Serving or veteran enlisted HM Armed Forces personnel
University Women's Club (originally the University Club for Ladies)18872 Audley Square, Mayfair1921University graduates
Victory Services Club190763–79 Seymour Street, Marylebone1948All NATO Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force personnel
The Walbrook Club200037a Walbrook EC4N 8BS2000City professions
White's169337 St James's Street1778Aristocratic; Tory
Winchester House Club189210 Lower Richmond Road, Putney1892Social

Defunct or merged clubs

Name Established Clubhouse location (s) Affiliation Status
1920 Club19202 Whitehall CourtPolitical; LiberalClosed in 1923
Albemarle Club (Ladies and Gentlemen)187413 Albemarle Street (from 1874); 37 Dover Street (by the 1910s); 21 Curzon Street (by the 1940s)SocialClosed in 1941
Almack's Club (Ladies and Gentlemen)1765King Street, St James's (1765–1867)Social; especially card gamesClosed in 1867; a 'refounded' Almack's operated from 1908 to 1961
American Club191995 PiccadillyAmericanClosed in the 1980s
Argentine Club19101 Hamilton Place, near PiccadillySocialLater became the present-day Canning Club
Arthur's182769 St James's StreetSocial; non-politicalClosed in 1940. Building later taken over by the Carlton Club; ironic, given its avowedly non-political membership.
Arundel Yacht Club1838Coal Hole Tavern, StrandYachting enthusiastsRenamed London Yacht Club 1845. Moved to Cowes, Isle of Wight 1882.[7]
Bachelors' Clubc.1881106 PiccadillyBachelorsClosed in the late 1940s
Badminton Club1875100 PiccadillySports; 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 Club189434 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 Club188066–68 Pall Mall (1880–1887)Political; ConservativeClosed circa 1887/1888; Clubhouse taken over by the Unionist Club
Beefsteak Club1705Imperial Phiz public house, Old JewrySocial; Whigclosed 1712; current premises near Leicester Square
Blenheim Club190912 St James's Square, later King Street
British Empire Club191012 St James's SquareFacilities for Temporary Honorary Members of Visitors to the United Kingdom
Burlington Fine Arts Club1866177 Piccadilly (1866–1869); 17 Savile Row (1869–1952)The artsClosed in 1952
Cavalry Club1890127 PiccadillyCavalry officersMerged with the Guards' Club in 1976 to form the present Cavalry and Guards Club
Cobden Club1866Political; Free Trade doctrineClosed in the 1970s
Cocoa Tree Club1746 St James's StTory. Members inc Byron & Gibbonclosed 1932
Commonwealth Club186825 Northumberland Avenueformerly headquarters of the Royal Commonwealth SocietyClosed June 2013. The RCS still exists as a charity.
Conservative Club184088 St James's Street (1841–1845); 74 St James's Street (1841–1950)Political; ConservativeMerged with the Bath Club in 1950, taking on the name of the Bath Club, but moving to the Conservative Club's premises.
Constitutional Club188328 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; ConservativeClosed in 1979; membership merged with the St. Stephen's Club
Cosmopolitan Club185230 Charles Street, Berkeley SquareSocialClosed in 1902
Coventry House Club1846 106 Piccadilly (1846–1854)SocialClosed on 25 March 1854
Crockford's (officially known as the St James's Club)182350 St James's StreetSocial; especially card gamesClosed 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 Club187450 St James's StreetPolitical; initially Liberal but later largely apoliticalClosed in 1976; membership merged with the present East India Club
Eccentric Society Club (1)1781Various addresses around Covent GardenSocialClosed in 1846
Eccentric Society Club (2)1858Leicester SquareSocialClosed in 1881
Eccentric Club (3)18909 Ryder Street, St James'sSocialClosed 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 http://www.eccentricclub.co.uk/
Eighty Club1880Political; LiberalClosed in the 1900s
Goodenough Club200123 Mecklenburgh SquareFaculty club for Goodenough College (est. 1930)
Grace Belgravia[8] 2012BelgraviaFemale-only wellnessClosed in 2019[9]
Green Room Club187710 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 theatreClosed in 2000 https://web.archive.org/web/20090410030446/http://www.grclondon.co.uk/
Gresham Club18431 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' Club181049 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 ClubLate 19th century?Pigeon huntersClosed
Hogarth Club185884 Charlotte Street, FitzroviaArtistsClosed in 1861
Irish Club1952Eaton Square, and latterly BlackfriarsClosed in 2012
Isthmian Club1882105 PiccadillyRowing, cricket
Jockey Club1750Pall MallHorse racing; primarily for racehorse ownersStill exists today, but has moved out of London to Newmarket
Junior Athenaeum1864116 PiccadillyThe arts, science, or the clergyClosed
Junior Carlton Club186630 Pall Mall (1868–1968); 94 Pall Mall (1968–1977)Political; ConservativeClosed in 1977; membership merged with the present Carlton Club
Junior Constitutional Club1887101 PiccadillyPolitical; ConservativeClosed
Junior Naval and Military Club187019 Dover Street (1870–1875); 66–68 Pall Mall (1875–1979)Army and Navy officersThe 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 Club187329a Pall MallDog loversStill exists today as a society, but no longer provides club facilities.
King of Clubs1798- ?1830Crown & Anchor; Freemasons' Tavern; Grillions; Clarendon HotelHigh Whig
Marlborough Club1868–194552 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.[10]
Military, Naval and County Service ClubNov. 184850 St James's Streetactive & 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 Club1844Northumberland Street and then 5 Henrietta Street, Covent GardenLiteraryDissolved 1849 and replaced with "Hooks and Eyes" and "Our Club"
National Sporting Club189143 King Street, Covent GardenSports; BoxingClosed
National Union1887Political; UnionistClosed in the 1890s
Naval Club (formerly RNVR (Auxiliary Patrol) Club (1919–1946), RNVR Club (1946–1969)191938 Hill Street MayfairRoyal Navy reservists, and later all RN officersClosed 2021
New Cavendish Club192044 Great Cumberland PlaceSocialClosed in 2014
New University Club186457 St James's Street; later 6 St James's StreetGraduates of Oxford and CambridgeMerged with the United University Club in 1938, which then merged with the Oxford and Cambridge Club in 1971.
Nimrod1890s12 St James's Sq predated the Blenheim Club at this addressLiquidated 1919
Palace Club1882Political; ConservativeClosed in the 1900s
Pembridge ClubMid/late 19th century?1, St. Stephen's Square (renamed St. Stephen's Gardens in 1938), Westbourne Grove, BayswaterThe arts
Portland Clubc1815 as the Stratford Club; renamed 1825.Originally, 1 Stratford Place, then 9 St James's Square 1890–1943Card-playing game club
Press Club1882Wine Office Court, near Fleet StreetJournalismClubhouse closed in 1986. Press Club still exists today as a society, but no longer offers club facilities http://www.londonpressclub.co.uk/
Primrose Club18864&5 Park Place, St James's Street[11] Political; ConservativeClosed in the 1910s
Prince's Club1853Hans Place (1853–1886); 197 Knightsbridge (1888–1940s)SportsClosed in the 1940s
Public Schools Club1863–1868; 17 St James Place; 1909–1915; 1918–197213 Albemarle Street (1909–1913); 19 Berkeley Street (1913–1915); Curzon Street (1920–1938); 100 Piccadilly (1938–1972)Alumni of the British public schoolsMerged with the present East India Club on 1 May 1972, now providing the bulk of their membership
Raleigh ClubLate 19th century?Regent StreetMembers had to have served a year in the armed forces, or be an existing member of another clubClosed
Road ClubLate 19th century?4 Park Place, St James'sEnthusiasts for the revival of coachingClosed
Royal Aero Club, formerly the Aero Club (1901–1909)1901119 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 Club19426 Belgrave Square (1942–1978); 60 Knightsbridge (sharing premises of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 1978–2010); 8 Northumberland Avenue (2010–2012)Belgium, Luxembourg, NetherlandsClosed in 2012.
South African & Rhodesian Officers ClubWW1 to 1920s48 Grosvenor Sq
St James's Club (Crockford's) (1)182350 St James's StreetClosed on 1 January 1846, late the Military, Naval and County Service Club, formerly the Military and County Service Club.
St James's Club (2)1857106 PiccadillyMembers of the British diplomatic service, and foreign diplomats in BritainClosed in 1978, and membership merged with Brooks' .
St Stephen's Club1870Bridge Street, Westminster (19th century); 34 Queen Anne's Gate, near St James's Park (1962–2013)Political; ConservativeClosed 31 December 2012
Sports Club18938 St James's SquareSportsMerged with the present East India Club in 1938
Thatched House186585 St James Street?Originally c19th Tory coffee house, later taken over by Civil Service Club
Union Club1800Trafalgar SquareSocialClosed in 1949, was then at 86 St James's Street until 1960s merging with the United Service Club; clubhouse is now Canada House
Unionist Club188666–68 Pall MallPolitical; Liberal UnionistClosed in 1892; clubhouse acquired by the New Oxford and Cambridge Club
United ClubLate 19th century?Charles Street, near Berkeley SquareLinked to the United Hotel, with additional facilities for membersClosed
United Empire Club1904101 PiccadillyGlobal Reform;Closed
United Service Club("The Senior")1815116 Pall MallSenior officers (Major/Commander and above) in the army and navyClosed in 1978; former clubhouse is now occupied by the Institute of Directors
United University Club18211 Suffolk Street, near Pall Mall (1826–1971)Graduates of Oxford and CambridgeMerged with the present Oxford and Cambridge Club in 1971. Clubhouse is now the London centre of the University of Notre Dame
Watier's81 PiccadillyClosed
Wellington ClubOct 18321 Grosvenor Place; 116a Knightsbridge (1932–2016)SocialClosed 26 June 2016
West Indian Club1898Howard Hotel, Norfolk Street; 4 Whitehall Court;SocialClosed March 1971
Windham Club1828106 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 https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols29-30/pt1/pp136-139
The Wing[12] 201914 Great Portland Street, FitzroviaSocial2020
York ClubMid/late 19th century8 St James's Square (1886–88)Closed. Building later acquired by the Junior Travellers' Club, then the Sports Club.

Fictional clubs

See also

General references

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Women-Only Member's Clubs: Sexist And Elitist Or A Way For Women To Get Ahead? . Kyra . Hanson . 2018-04-25 . Londonist . 2024-03-22 . 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. News: Women-only clubs: the future is female . Anna . Hart . 2019-02-26 . 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. News: Barber . Sonya . 2020-02-26 . The best female-only spaces in London . 2024-03-24 . Condé Nast Traveller . 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. Web site: London's Best Women's Members' Clubs To Join This year . Ellie . Smith . 2024 . Country & Town House . 2024-03-24 . 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. Web site: Elitist or Empowering? Inside the Women-Only Private Members' Clubs . Florence . Derrick . 2019-07-30 . Florence Derrick . 2024-03-24 .
  6. Web site: Coke . Hope . 2022-03-17 . The House of KOKO: London’s most thrilling new members’ club is finally unveiled . 2024-08-07 . Tatler . en-GB.
  7. Web site: The Club History : Royal London Yacht Club .
  8. Web site: London's first female-only club . Malika . Dalamal . 2013-04-03 . BBC . 2024-03-24 . 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. .
  9. Web site: Health club where royalty and A-list celebs were members shuts down amid Brexit fears . Jonathan . Prynn . 2019-02-19 . Standard . 2024-03-24 . I regret to advise the Grace Belgravia has ceased operations and the Club has closed. .
  10. Web site: Pall Mall, North Side, Existing Buildings British History Online. www.british-history.ac.uk. 27 August 2019.
  11. London Street Directory for 1902
  12. News: The Londoner: Scandal-hit women's club The Wing closes . 2020-08-24 . Standard . 2024-03-24 . Women-only club The Wing is shutting down its London location for good after being hit by accusations of racism and bullying. .
  13. Web site: Anthony Trollope: TV and Radio: Television: The Pallisers: Episodes 13–19. 29 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035307/http://www.anthonytrollope.com/tvandradio/television/the_pallisers/episodes_13_19/?sr=yes . 29 November 2014 .