London is one of the world’ s most culturally diverse cities, yet the capital retains a myriad of traditional, exclusive gentlemen’ s clubs well into the twenty first century.

As of 2026, there are an estimated 68 private members’ clubs in London. Many were originally gentlemen’ s clubs which only men could join. Most now admit women as members. The most traditional clubs, such as Boodle’ s, Brooks’ s and Pratt’ s, have their roots in the aristocracy. Others, like the Carlton Club, National Liberal Club and Reform Club, developed political affiliations. Some were established to cater for specific interests, such as the military( Army and Navy Club), theatre( Garrick’ s) or sport( Hurlingham Club). Modern social clubs like Annabel’ s and Harry’ s Bar have their origins in the traditional social club for men.

Heritage

The traditional‘ clubland’ network is located around St James’ s, Pall Mall and Piccadilly. Many clubs were founded in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Such clubs are an integral part of London’ s heritage and provide

The East India Club

The Athenaeum Club

dining, libraries, elegant lounges and memberonly functions. Some also offer accommodation. They are renowned for their exclusivity, polished surroundings and timehonoured customs.

Gambling den

White’ s is the oldest London club, founded in Mayfair in 1693 by an Italian immigrant named Francesco Bianco as a hot chocolate shop named Mrs White’ s Chocolate House. By the early 1700s, it had become a gambling den that was both exclusive and rakish. White’ s moved to its current site at 37- 38 St James’ s Street in 1778. From 1783, it was the unofficial headquarters of the Tory Party. The current neo-Classical facade of the Grade I listed building was designed in 1852 by English architect James Lockyer.

Current and past members of White’ s include King Charles III and his son

William, Prince of Wales, nineteenth century prime minister George Canning and Arthur Wellesley, first duke of Wellington. White’ s is so exclusive that it has a waiting list for membership of up to 15 years and doesn’ t have

a website. Only men can join. In January 2018, a group of women calling themselves ' Women in Whites ' infiltrated the club to protest at its male-only policy. One entered by pretending to be a man but was ejected.

Dynamic and sociable

The East India Club advertises itself as“ A home from home for dynamic and sociable gentlemen.” It was established in 1849 for men involved with the East India Company. When the East India Company was dissolved in 1874, the club had to find new sources of members. Since its merger in 1972 with the Public Schools’ Club, it has become a club primarily for public school alumni. Only men aged 18 or over can join but women can be guests.

Located at 16 St James’ s Square, the club’ s facilities include the American Bar( named after the American officers who stayed there during World War II and financed the bar’ s restoration after the war) and the Smoking Room where smoking is no longer allowed! Current members include former athlete and politician Sebastian Coe, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP and Welsh

former cricketer Tony Lewis CBE.

Intellectual

One of the most splendid features of the Athenaeum Club at 107 Pall Mall is its Grand Staircase. Founded in 1824 by Anglo-Irish statesman and writer John Wilson Croker, the club was designed by English architect and landscaper Decimus Burton in neo- Classical style. It attracts intellectual types, including those with achievements in science, engineering, literature or the arts( although this is not a condition of membership). To date, 51 club members have won a Nobel prize.

The Athenaeum has been male-only for most of its existence. However, in 2002, the membership voted by a big majority to admit women as full members. Past and present members include English architect Sir Charles Barry who rebuilt the Palace of Westminster after the fire in 1834, Roger Bannister, who ran the first sub-four-minute mile in 1954, former prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip May, the club’ s current chairman.

In a world that is constantly evolving, it is good that some things never change.

Alexa Michael is information executive at LCCI

National Liberal Club