List of gentlemen's clubs in London
This is a list of gentlemen's clubs in London, United Kingdom, including those that no longer exist or merged, with an additional section on those that appear in fiction. Many of these clubs are no longer exclusively male.
Extant clubs
Name | Est. | Location | Located Since | Affiliation | Year Women Admitted as Full Members |
67 Pall Mall | 2015 | 67 Pall Mall | 2015 | Wine and food | 2015 |
Alpine Club | 1857 | 8 St Martin's Place, near Trafalgar Square ; 23 Savile Row, Mayfair ; 74 South Audley Street, Mayfair ; 118 Eaton Square, Belgravia ; 55–56 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch | 1991 | Mountaineering | 1975 |
Army and Navy Club | 1837 | 36–39 Pall Mall | 1963 | Army and Navy officers | 1995 |
Arts Club | 1863 | 17 Hanover Square ; 40 Dover Street | 1896 | The Arts, Literature, Science | 1946 |
The Athenaeum | 1824 | 107 Pall Mall | 1830 | The Sciences, Law, Medicine, Arts, Literature, and the Church | 2002 |
Authors' Club | 1891 | Whitehall Court, ; 1 Whitehall Place, sharing the premises of the National Liberal Club ; 40 Dover Street, sharing the premises of the Arts Club ; 47 Dean Street, sharing the premises of Black's ; 1 Whitehall Place, sharing the current premises of the National Liberal Club | 2014 | Literature | 1971 |
Beefsteak Club | 1876 | 9 Irving Street, near Leicester Square | 1876 | Social | No women members or visitors |
Boodle's | 1762 | 28 St James's Street | 1782 | Aristocratic; Tory | No women 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 | Charles II Street, near St James's Square ; 33 St James's Square ; 9 Halkin Street, Belgravia | 1946 | Scottish | 2011 |
Canning Club | 1911 | 4 St James's Square | 1999 | Social; Latin America, Spain, Portugal | ? |
Carlton Club | 1832 | Carlton House Terrace, 94 Pall Mall ; 69 St James's Street | 1943 | Political; Tory, latterly Conservative | 2008 |
Cavalry and Guards Club | 1810 ; 1890 ; 1976 | 127 Piccadilly | 1908 | Cavalry and Guards, latterly officers of other British Army regiments | ? |
Chelsea Arts Club | 1891 | 143 Old Church Street, Chelsea | 1990 | The Arts | 1976 |
City Livery Club | 1914 | Victoria Embankment ; Bow Lane, Cheapside, ; The Chapter House, St Paul's Churchyard ; Butchers' Hall, Bartholomew's Close ; Sion House, Victoria Embankment ; Insurance Hall, Aldermanbury ; 38 St Mary Axe ; Bell Wharf Lane, Upper Thames Street | 2010 | The City | ? |
City of London Club | 1832 | 19 Old Broad Street, London | 1834 | City professions | 2011 |
City University Club | 1895 | 50 Cornhill until end of 2017, moved to 42 Crutched Friars in January 2018 after merger with Lloyd's Club | 1895 | The City, Oxbridge graduates | 1994? |
East India 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 | 1781 ; refounded in 1858, 1890, and 2008 | Ryder Street, 69 Brook Street | 2009 | Social; eccentricity and philanthropy | 1984 |
Farmers Club | 1842 | 3 Whitehall Court | 1942 | Agriculture and landowning | 1842 |
Flyfishers' Club | 1884 | 69 Brook Street | 1995 | Flyfishing | No women members |
Garrick Club | 1831 | 35 King Street, Covent Garden ; 15 Garrick Street, Covent Garden | 1864 | The Arts and Theatre | No women members |
Groucho Club | 1985 | 45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB | Media | ? | |
Hurlingham Club | 1869 | Ranelagh Gardens, Fulham | 1869 | Sports; tennis and crocquet | ? |
Lansdowne Club | 1935 | 9 Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square | 1935 | Social | 1935 |
London Sketch Club | 1898 | 7 Dilke Street, Chelsea | 1957 | Sketch artists | No women members |
Marylebone Cricket Club | 1787 | Lord's, St John's Wood | 1814 | Cricket and Real tennis; formerly headquarters of ICC | 1998 |
National Liberal Club | 1882 | Northumberland Avenue ; 1 Whitehall Place | 1887 | Political; Liberal | 1976 |
Naval Club Club, RNVR Club''' ) | 1919 | 38 Hill Street, Mayfair | 1946 | Royal Navy reservists, and later all RN officers | ? |
Naval and Military Club | 1862 | 94 Piccadilly ; 4 St James's Square | 1999 | Originally officers in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the British Army | 1966 |
Den Norske Klub | 1887 | 4 St James's Square | 1999 | Norway | 1982 |
Oriental Club | 1824 | 18 Hanover Square ; Stratford House, Stratford Place | 1962 | Founded for members of the East India Company; now social | 2010 |
Oxford and Cambridge Club | 1821 ; 1830 ; 1971 | 71–76 Pall Mall | 1837 | Members of Oxford and Cambridge Universities | 1996 |
Portland Club | 1815 | 94 Piccadilly ; 69 Brook Street sharing the premises of the Savile Club; | 1990s | Cards | No women members |
Pratt's | 1857 | 14 Park Place, St James's | 1857 | Aristocratic | No women members |
Queen's Club | 1886 | Palliser Road, West Kensington | 1892 | Sports | ? |
Reform Club | 1836 | 103–105 Pall Mall | 1841 | Originally political, now social. Members still sign a declaration agreeing to the principles of the 1832 Reform Act. | 1981 |
Roehampton Club | 1901 | Roehampton Lane, Roehampton | 1901 ; 1960s | Sports | ? |
Royal Air Force Club | 1918 | 128 Piccadilly | 1922 | RAF officers | ? |
Royal Automobile Club | 1897 | 89–91 Pall Mall | 1911 | Social and automobile enthusiasts | ? |
Royal Ocean Racing Club | 1925 | 20 St James's Place, St James's Street | 1942 | Yachting enthusiasts | ? |
Royal Over-Seas League | 1910 | 4 Park Place, St James's | 1921 | Commonwealth citizens, affiliate membership available for other nationalities; Music and the Arts; Travellers. | 1910 |
Royal Society of Medicine | 1805 | 1 Wimpole Street | 1910 | Medical practitioners | ?? |
Royal Thames Yacht Club | 1775 | 7 Albemarle Street ; 60 Knightsbridge | 1952 | Yachting enthusiasts | ? |
Savage Club | 1857 | Crown Tavern, Vinegar Yard, Drury Lane ; Nell Gwynne Tavern, Bull Inn Court, Strand ; Catherine Street, Covent Garden ; Lyceum Tavern, 354 Strand ; Gordon Hotel, Covent Garden ; Ashley's Hotel, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden ; Gordon Hotel, Covent Garden ; Evans's Hotel, Covent Garden ; Haxell's Hotel, Strand ; Caledonian Hotel, Robert Street, Adelphi ; Lancaster House, Savoy ; 6–7 Adelphi Terrace ; 1 Carlton House Terrace ; 1 Whitehall Place ; 37 King Street, Covent Garden ; 86 St. James's Street ; 9 Fitzmaurice Place ; 1 Whitehall Place | 1990 | The Arts, Science and The Law | No women members |
Savile Club | 1868 | 9 Spring Gardens ; 12 Savile Row ; 107 Piccadilly ; 69 Brook Street | 1927 | Conviviality, from the Arts to the Sciences | No women members |
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 | 1945 |
Travellers Club | 1819 | 12 Waterloo Place, near Pall Mall ; 49 Pall Mall ; 106 Pall Mall | 1827 | Diplomats, social and business travellers – members must have travelled more than 500 miles distant from London in a direct line | No women members |
Turf Club | 1861 | Bennett Street, Piccadilly, 5 Carlton House Terrace | 1965 | Aristocratic; social, equestrianism, sports & cards | – |
University Women's Club | 1887 | 31 New Bond Street ; 34 George Street, near Hanover Square; South Audley Street, Mayfair; 2 Audley Square, Mayfair | 1921 | University graduates | No male members |
Victory Services Club | 1907 | 63–79 Seymour Street, Marylebone | 1948 | All NATO Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force personnel | Yes |
The Walbrook Club | 2000 | 37a Walbrook EC4N 8BS | 2000 | City professions | 2000 |
White's Club | 1693 | 37 St James's Street | 1778 | Aristocratic; Tory | No women members or visitors |
Defunct or merged clubs
Name | Established | Clubhouse location | Affiliation | Status |
1920 Club | 1920 | 2 Whitehall Court | Political; Liberal | Closed in 1923 |
Albemarle Club | 1874 | 13 Albemarle Street ; 37 Dover Street ; 21 Curzon Street | Social | Closed in 1941 |
Almack's Club | 1765 | King Street, St James's | 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. |
Bachelors' Club | c.1881 | 106 Piccadilly | Bachelors | Closed in the late 1940s |
Badminton Club | 1875 | 100 Piccadilly | Sports; driving | 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 ; 74 St James's Street ; 43 Brook Street | Sports; the club offered a swimming pool | 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 | 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 ; 17 Savile Row | 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 ; 74 St James's Street | 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 ; 40 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the Junior Carton Club ; 116 Pall Mall, sharing the premises of the United Service Club ; St. James's Street | 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 | Social | Closed on 25 March 1854 |
Crockford's | 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, 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 | 1781 | Various addresses around Covent Garden | Social | Closed in 1846 |
Eccentric Society Club | 1858 | Leicester Square | Social | Closed in 1881 |
Eccentric Club | 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 |
Green Room Club | 1877 | 10 Adelphi Terrace ; 22 King Street, Covent Garden ; 20 Bedford Street, near Strand ; 46 Leicester Square ; Whitcomb Street, near Leicester Square ; 8–9 Adam Street, near Strand | The Arts and theatre | Closed in 2000 |
Gresham Club | 1843 | 1 King William Street ; Gresham Place ; 15 Abchurch Lane, near King William Street, | The City; Merchants and bankers | Closed in 1991; members accepted into the City University Club |
Guards' Club | 1810 | 49 St. James's Street ; 106 Pall Mall ; 49 St James's Street ; 70 Pall Mall | 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 ; 94 Pall Mall | 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 ; 66–68 Pall Mall | 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 | No. 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. |
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. |
National Sporting Club | 1891 | 43 King Street, Covent Garden | Sports; Boxing | Closed |
National Union | 1887 | ? | Political; Unionist | Closed in the 1890s |
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 | ? | 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, 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 |
Primrose Club | 1886 | 4&5 Park Place, St James's Street | Political; Conservative | Closed in the 1910s |
Prince's Club | 1853 | Hans Place ; 197 Knightsbridge | Sports | Closed in the 1940s |
Public Schools Club | 1909–1915; 1918–1972 | 134 Albermarle Street ; 19 Berkeley Street ; Curzon Street ; 100 Piccadilly | 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 | 119 Piccadilly ; 9 Fitzmaurice Place ; 94 Pall Mall ; 116 Pall Mall | "the encouragement of aero-automobilism and ballooning as a sport" | Merged into the British Gliding Association in 1977 – no longer provides club facilities. |
Royal Anglo-Belgian Club | 1942 | 6 Belgrave Square ; 60 Knightsbridge ; 8 Northumberland Avenue | Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands | Closed in 2012. |
South African & Rhodesian Officers Club | WW1 to 1920s | 48 Grosvenor Sq | ? | ? |
St James's Club | 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 | 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 ; 34 Queen Anne's Gate, near St James's Park | 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 | 1815 | 116 Pall Mall | Senior officers 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 | 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 | Social | Closed 26 June 2016 |
Windham Club | 1828 | 106 Pall Mall ; 10 St James's Square ; 13 St James's Square | ? | Merged with Marlborough and closed |
York Club | Mid/late 19th century | 8 St James's Square | ? | Closed. Building later acquired by the Junior Travellers' Club, then the Sports Club. |
Fictional clubs
- Bagatelle Card Club – One of Colonel Sebastian Moran's clubs in the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Empty House.
- Beargarden Club – A St James's club in Trollope's Palliser novels
- Bellona Club – Lord Peter Wimsey's club and location of a murder in Dorothy L. Sayers novel The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
- Billiards Club – Setting for the improbably tall tales of Jorkens, by Lord Dunsany
- Black's Club – Jack Aubrey's, Stephen Maturin's, and Sir Joseph Blaine's club in Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series. O'Brian also makes Prince William, Duke of Clarence a member.
- Blades Club – M's club in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming
- Bratt's Club – John Beaver's club in A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
- Centaur Club – Francis Blake's club in Blake and Mortimer by Edgar P.Jacobs
- Craven’s - a gaming club founded by the enigmatic Derek Craven, brought to life by author Lisa Kleypas, destroyed by fire in its prime
- Diogenes Club – Mycroft Holmes's club in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
- Drones Club – Bertie Wooster's club in P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories; and is also the club of several other Wodehouse characters, including Bingo Little, Gussie Fink-Nottle, Psmith, and Freddie Threepwood.
- Etheric Explorers Club – a society featured in a series of short stories and novels by Paul Marlowe.
- Egotist's Club – Lord Peter Wimsey's club in the Dorothy L. Sayers novels and short stories.
- Ffeatherstonehaugh's Club – a corrupt and hedonistic establishment commemorating the libertine values of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, featured in the crime novel Clubbed to Death by Ruth Dudley Edwards.
- Hotch Potch Club – featured in John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga.
- Imperial Club – from the 1960s UK television comedy series Bootsie and Snudge, starring Alfie Bass and Bill Fraser.
- Iseeum Club – another featured in John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga.
- Jenner’s - a gaming club founded by the rough boxer Ivo Jenner, mentioned in the works of author Lisa Kleypas, later managed by the devilish Lord St. Vincent!
- Junior Ganymede Club – Jeeves's club in P G Wodehouse's Jeeves stories.
- Junior Greys, Pall Mall – one of Albert Campion's clubs in Margery Allingham's detective stories.
- Marine Commando Club, Paddington – frequented by Julian and Sandy from the BBC radio comedy Round the Horne. Note that Kenneth Horne's radio alter ego, a member of the Athenaeum, described it as "not my sort of club".
- Old Bohemian Club – "Bunny" and Raffles' club in E. W. Hornung's Raffles stories.
- Progress Club – a club that "...intended to do great things for Liberal Party... and had in truth done little or nothing." in The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope.
- Puffin's – one of Albert Campion's clubs in Margery Allingham's detective stories.
- Senior Conservative Club – features in P.G. Wodehouse's novel Psmith in the City. Although fictional, the description of a large, Conservative-aligned club in Northumberland Avenue tallies perfectly with the real-life Constitutional Club at No.28 and Nevill's Turkish Baths at No.25, "twenty yards from the club's front door".
- The Seraphim Club – A private club featured in Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell.
- Stoics' Club – George Pendyce's club in The Country House by John Galsworthy.
- The Survivor's Club – featured in the novel The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes.
- The Tankerville Club – Featured in two Sherlock Holmes stories.
- Thackeray Club – club in the movie Top Hat from 1935 with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
- Tweedles Club – club in the movie You Must be Joking 1965, American Films Limited, starring Terry Thomas, Michael Callan, Lionel Jefferies, Denholm Elliott, Wilfrid Hyde White and Bernard Cribbins.
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