London's most exclusive members' clubs

Across the British capital, behind closed doors, there are countless private clubs that you’ve never even heard of — hotspots, haunts and hideaways that count the great and the good as members. And these exclusive spots, whether decades-old or brand new, are strongholds of silver-plattered, hedonistic hospitality.

Some stand by their enduring traditions; others are constantly innovating and expanding. But each and every club in London does best by its own bunch of distinctive, discerning members. So, whether you’re looking for a place to sip your wine in plushly-upholstered peace, a club that offers Britain’s most sumptuous spa treatments or need a power lunch menu that’ll impress even the most finicky financier, here are our most opulent options…

After glamorously opening its Knightsbridge flagship in 2021, Pavilion has sprung up two further outposts across the capital (one in the City, one in Kensington). With an all-day menu showcasing the best of British produce, a tree-top terrace and stylish communal workspaces, it’s the ideal luxurious haunt for any men-about-town; ideal for darting into for a quick Zoom call and even quicker ‘Pavilion Sour’ (a citrus-suffused delight of a drink).

Best for: Itinerant Londoners

Best feature: The individual, train-like ‘booths’ for private calls

Membership: £250 per month (+ £1000 one-off joining fee)

Established in the mid-Eighties, The Groucho Club was opened in order to provide a refreshing alternative to the more pretentious gentlemen’s clubs of the time. As a result, it’s made a name as the original private hub for the arts and media circles, and today it still continues to usher in the upper echelon of the UK’s creative industry.

Best for: The literary set

Best feature: Members must have achieved ‘something significant’ in the arts

Membership: £950 per year (+ £250 joining fee)

Recently renovated, this world-renowned institution occupies five historic Georgian townhouses, with an outdoor courtyard, roof deck, bar, restaurant and club rooms. And, for that added touch of stylish heritage, it’s the first Soho House — a real piece of clubland history.

Best for: International travellers

Best feature: Its private space seating 12 for sit-down dinners

Membership: £1,800 per year (+ £550 registration fee)

Known as a refuge for those in the world of art, architecture, fashion, film, literature, music and theatre, The Art’s Club – with its perfectly-curated body of permanent, historic and temporary collections – certainly lives up to its moniker. Look out for live music, from Sam Smith and Mark Ronson to Idris Elba.

Best for: Bringing creatives and financiers together

Best feature: Lanserhof, a leading private wellness clinic on-site

Membership: £2,800 per year (+ £2,000 joining fee)

No list of London’s private members' clubs would be complete without the inclusion of Annabel’s. The iconic institution serves as a playground for the rich and famous, with its multiple bars, restaurants and infamous nightclub. Following a major design-led refurbishment in 2018, the Berkeley Square stalwart is one of the capital’s most lavish addresses.

Best for: Those who want to see and be seen

Best feature: Over four million pieces of mosaic glass adorn the walls, floors and ceilings of both the men's and women's bathrooms – dashing to the loo has never been so glamorous

Membership: £3,750 (+ £1,850 joining fee)

What do George and Amal Clooney, Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio all have in common? 5 Hertford Street as a stomping ground, that’s what. Perched on the corner of Shepherd’s Market in Mayfair, this is one of the most secretive clubs in London, frequented by royals, billionaires, and A-listers alike.

Best for: Those who value their privacy

Best feature: It’s a toss-up: the cigar room or the cinema

Membership: £1,800 per year

This striking club used to be Hambros Bank, and the building still has the original bank vaults in its cellars — including the Chatworth invincible safe. That’s just part of the quirky money decor — which also includes notes from other banks pinned on the the wall.

Best for: Those who appreciate heritage

Best feature: You can store up to 36 bottles of your own wine in the club

Membership: £2,500, (+ £1,750 joining fee)

Mark’s Club is an elegant and traditional private members’ club, situated in a beautiful townhouse in Mayfair. Ask for Massimo Torchiarella if you need help with cigar recommendations, after indulging in a belt-loosening bite of the club’s famous Limousin veal chop — or, of course, the renowned (and seriously fluffy) cheese soufflé.

Best for: When you don’t want a club in St James’s

Best feature: The covered terrace, the perfect place for that cigar

Membership: £2,000 per year (+ £1,000 joining fee)

Housed in the former home of Karl Marx, Quo Vadis is a historic Soho restaurant and private members' club that oozes old-school glamour. As well as an exclusive members restaurant and bar on the first floor, other members-only perks include regular events – from the legendary annual Burns Night party (featuring bagpipes and haggis, of course) to inspiring guest speaker events with the likes of actor Hugh Bonneville and journalist Fay Maschler.

Best for: Dedicated foodies

Best feature: A seasonally-led menu conjured up by Chef Proprietor Jeremy Lee

Membership: £600 per year

Named after owner Robin Birley’s grandfather, Oswald’s is a club for both men and women — with a huge focus on wine. Arguably one step up in luxury from Birley’s 5 Hertford Street, members can either cellar their own wine here, or buy in house and then enjoy them in the ground floor restaurant or on the small rear terrace.

Best for: Wine connoisseurs

Best feature: The cupola, a domed ceiling that leads to a cigar terrace

Membership: £POA

One of the newest additions to London’s private members' club scene, Shoreditch Arts Club is fast becoming a go-to destination for artistic collaboration between artists, curators, collectors and gallerists. Members have access to an extensive events programme, as well as a 24-seat cinema, a sustainably-led kitchen and a cocktail bar serving up inventive tipples.

Best for: East End arty types

Best feature: Three projection walls on the first floor host a moving image art programme curated around a rotating series of artworks

Membership: £500 per year

On Old Church Street, Chelsea Arts Club has a membership of almost 4,000 — each and every one more artistic than the last. It’s an inspiring atmosphere (go for the garden alone) but the best perk is surely the twice yearly Chelsea Art fancy dress balls — a cultural phenomenon since 1908.

Best for: Simple artistic fun

Best feature: The exhibitions, showing members’ works (and only open to members)

Membership: From £276 (for under 28s) to £754 (for those living in London) per year

Founded in 2001 — and recently reopened after undergoing a momentous refurbishment — George is a contemporary private members’ club with restaurant and bar, complete with canopied decking outside, overlooking Mount Street. A perfect vantage point for people watching, the menu features classic brasserie dishes with both British and international influences and the club’s walls are hung with works by David Hockney.

Best for: Gastronomes

Best feature: A new (George’s first ever) private dining room

Membership: £2000 per year (+ £1,250 joining fee)

The Hurlingham Club is the closest thing London has to a good old fashioned country club. Bordering the Thames in Fulham and set on 42 acres of manicured grounds, it boasts croquet and tennis lawns, botanical gardens and a stately Georgian Clubhouse – regarded as the birthplace of polo. The Hurlingham’s 30-year waiting list is currently closed, so don’t hold your breath.

Best for: A spot of royal-watching (the Princess of Wales is a notable member)

Best feature: The excellent sporting facilities

Membership: £1,400 per year (+ a fee to get on the waiting list)

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