Reciprocal Clubs
London – City University Club
http://cityuniversityclub.co.uk50 Cornhill
London, EC3V 3PD
Tel: 0114402076268571
Overnight Accommodations: No
London – East India Club
http://eastindiaclub.co.uk16 St. James’ Square
London SW1Y 4LH
Tel: 44-020-7930-1000
Fax: 44-020-7321-0217
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- I stayed here for the second time two weeks ago. The single rooms are rather small but adequate. What I liked most about this club is the dining and, as a cigar smoker, the smoking lounge. The dining room has a "club table" where guests and solo diners can enjoy an excellent meal and get to meet interesting people from all over the world. The cigar lounge is also a great place to socialize and partake in enjoyable and interesting conversation. Good location near Picadilly and a one hour ride on the Picadilly underground line to Heathrow. Jacket and tie are required when dining, breakfast also, except on weekends when casual attire is acceptable.
- I spent five nights at the East India Club in early 2023 and couldn't have been more satisfied. The place is old, but clean, and it feels like a living museum of British colonial history. If you don't have your wife with you (or even if you do), make sure you dine at the "Member's Table," where unaccompanied members and guests eat, drink, and get acquainted. Those dinners were the highlight of my trip. One bit of advice that others have mentioned: The dress code is serious. I wore a blazer, tie, and wool trousers, which seemed fine, but most of the members are in suits. Price is right, food is great, service is Brit-reserved and professional. Frankly, I can't believe that an all-male club named after the East India Company is allowed to exist these days. God Bless them!
- I spent three nights at the club and couldn't be more pleased with my choice. I'm a solo traveler with a small but comfortable room. The location is excellent within walking distance of many popular attractions. The dining is superb, a jacket and tie is required for all meals except weekend breakfast. Solo guests can elect to sit at the club table for meals providing an opportunity for pleasant conversation with a wide variety of interesting, enjoyable people. That was the highlight of my trip. For those who enjoy a cigar there is a smoking lounge with more opportunity for enjoyable conversation. Having to dress for breakfast was a slight pain in the neck but the food was worth it. Five stars!
- I have stayed at The East India Club about 10 times over the last 4 years as I have frequent business meetings and conferences in and about London. It is a clean safe place where I have grown to feel as home as I do it our building in San Francisco. The staff is excellent and the dining room which serves a traditional English breakfast each morning is a great combination of traditional English with an ever changing offering of far eastern cuisine. The wine steward is very knowledgeable and their collection is excellent and very fairly priced. The location, explained by the prior comment, is also a short walk from the West End theatrical area as well as Pall Mall. I have never asked them to handle any bookings but I do not believe they offer that service. Booking in London is quite simple. One nearby restaurant worth mentioning is Avenue and you are also only a few blocks from China Town. The only downside is that they are sold out for events from time to time so I suggest booking early. You will enjoy.
- Bottom Line: I stayed at the EIC in March 2011. This was a great experience; the EIC is a reasonably-priced club with a friendly membership and helpful staff. My single en suite room rate, which included a full English breakfast, was ~110 pounds (~$180) per night, much less expensive than equivalent hotels. The room was small and old fashioned but perfectly adequate for a solo traveler. About EIC: Originally started in the mid-nineteenth century as a London haven for East India Company officers and staff, the EIC’s current membership is male-only and largely drawn from graduates of British private high schools (“public schools”). The EIC is a classic, traditional gentleman’s club, with the cheapest bar prices in the area. Location: The EIC is conveniently located off St. James Square, within walking distance of the Piccadilly tube station. Nearby attractions, within a short walk, include the “In and Out” Club, which is another reciprocal, and the many haberdasheries and shops on Jermyn Street. The nearby Red Lion Pub is also worth a visit. Note: The EIC has a strict dress code. The American Bar serves snacks but meals are taken in the impressive dining room on the main floor or light meals in the upstairs drawing room. EIC Military Trivia: During World War 2, General Eisenhower’s headquarters at "Norfolk House" was located on St. James Square across from the EIC. The club billeted American and Canadian military officers. The EIC suffered bomb damage from a German air raid. As a gesture of appreciation, the American and Canadian military officers donated funds to help repair the club. As a result, the EIC has an impressive “American Bar” and “Canadian Room” named in their honor.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Lansdowne Club
http://lansdowneclub.com9 Fitzmaurice Place
London W1J 5JD
Tel: 011-44-207-629 7200
Fax: 011-44-207-318-6170
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Highly recommended! My wife and I spent two weeks here during July 2022. The Landsdowne provides superior service and facilities (including elevators) with modern amenities and comfortably-sized suites. The included breakfast is excellent. The Club's location in Mayfair makes everything convenient for tourists in London. The staff is exceptionally knowledgeable and made restaurant reservations for us all over town. They hailed taxis, carried luggage, and always went the extra mile.
- Great 2 night stay at the Lansdown Club in Aug. very good staff..lovely courtyard for lunch & light dinner, music on the patio on Friday night the formal restaurant on 2 is very cool Art Deco style and the food is incredible, piano music in the bar, service as was excellent It was a private residence at one time so steps up to the elevator…we had a jr. Suite with all our luggage was cramped. In door large pool, workout facilities plus a bar in the spa area!!! And a beautiful bar outside the formal dining room…great location near the Green Park Tube station an Piccadilly. Can’t go wrong…we loved the Lansdown !
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Lensbury Club
http://www.lensbury.comBroom Road
West London TW11 9NU
Tel: 44 208 614 6402
Fax:
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted 12/15/2019 - My wife and I spent 3 nights at the RAF Club after arriving in country and another night just before flying back to the US. I cannot praise this place too highly. As a former USAF officer, it was a memorable. experience to be surrounded by all of the RAF memorabilia and artwork--really more than can be taken in during a short stay. When staying here, keep in mind that this is London, where space is at a premium and prices are high. If you want American sized hotel rooms and bathrooms, just don't go to London at all, or be prepared to pay dearly for it. Everything at the RAF Club is tasteful and understated, older but impeccably maintained. The dining room and common halls are elegant and striking, but again in a tasteful and understated way. A double room wasn't available for our first stay when we booked, so we took two singles, which ended up being perfect for us as we recovered from jet lag, allowing each of us to sleep and wake on our own schedules. These little single rooms might look like a monk's cell at first glance, but they were well-designed wonders of efficiency, perfectly appointed, complete with ironing board and iron and a nice desk to work at. We stayed in a double twin room on our way back out, which had a more spacious bathroom and was likewise perfectly appointed. The Running Horse Tavern in the basement has a classic English pub feel with great barmen and tasty food if you don't want to do the dining room. We went there every night for a drink before going to the dining room, and ate there once. The food and service in the dining room were fantastic, and prices were good. Concierge service was attentive to detail and unfailingly gave excellent recommendations. We used their preferred car service getting to and from Paddington and when going to the races in Sandown, and the service and prices were superb. Do read the dress code carefully, and when in doubt, err on the more formal side. Granted, it was December, meaning lots of private black-tie. events were going on every night we were at the Club, but we would have felt out of place even in the pub or at breakfast had I not at least worn a jacket (and usually I also wore a tie) and had my wife not worn her trusty all-purpose black travel dresses everywhere we went. As far as I could tell, we were the only Americans there, and it was all their own regular club members. I never once saw a T-shirt or pair of jeans, only once saw a polo-type shirt, never saw a pair of sneakers--even in those just coming and going. Again, it was December, not summer-time, so take that for what it is worth. Only at a Saturday morning breakfast were there as many men simply in proper trousers and collared shirts as there were in jackets. Be prepared and be respectful of the atmosphere. I doubt we will ever stay anywhere else on future visits to London. Delightful in every way. - Bradley W. Anderson
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Naval & Military Club
http://navalandmilitaryclub.co.ukNo. 4 St. James’s Square
London SW1 T4JU
Tel: (44) 20-7827-5757
Fax: (44) 20-7827-5758
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted on 1/1/20 - My wife and I stayed here the first week of November, 2019. What a wonderful club! The breakfast area is amazing, as is The Goat. Our room was small, but serviceable. Definitely not for folks with mobility problems. The club is a short walk to Picadilly Circus, where we caught the Underground for getting around London. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The club does have a bit of a reserved, formal atmosphere, even in the casual areas, so if you don't enjoy that, it might not be the place for you. My wife and I would stay there again in a heartbeat. - James Benson
- Posted on 6/27/19 - My wife and I stayed overnight in June, 2019. The Club is well situated on St. James’s Square with easy access to many points of interest in London. Our accommodations were a bit on the compact and warm side (no air conditioning and temperatures in London unusually high at the time), but staff was helpful; we especially appreciated the quick tour of public spaces by a staff member on Sunday evening when we arrived. Note that the Club’s dress code (coat and tie most times in the public spaces) is strictly enforced. A continental breakfast in the restaurant overlooking St. James’s Square is included with the room, and “smart casual” dress is required. - Will Melton
- All construction has now been completed and the Club has returned to its peaceful setting.
- My wife and I stayed here last Dec. The club is very well located. We stayed in a Directors Suite. The room was large with a newly decorated bath. During our stay there was construction next store. We cut our stay short and moved to the Stafford close by. The location, rooms and price make the Naval and Military Club a good place to stay. If one is thinking of staying any time soon inquire about the construction
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Royal Air Force Club
http://rafclub.org.uk128 Piccadilly
London W1V 7PY
Tel: (44) 0207-399-1000
Fax: (44) 0207-355-1516
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted 3/22/24-- Our family stopped in for afternoon tea at the RAF Club on a recent visit to London and enjoyed it tremendously. (It is also a relative bargain compared to many of the afternoon tea services offered by nearby hotels and department stores.) I would highly encourage members to check out the club if for no other reason than to enjoy the superb collection of aviation art displayed throughout. Their dress code calls for coat and tie after 1800 in the main dining room, but business casual was fine during the day. An extremely nice club that we look forward to returning to in the future both for lodging and dining.
- My wife and I stayed in the RAF club during summer 2022. 1. Rooms have air conditioning. This was critical since London reached 40C that summer. 2. Excellent breakfast in the morning. 3. A truly first class collection of aviation art, especially original oil paintings. Even if you don’t stay at the club, you owe it to yourself to check out this reciprocal club’s art collection and have a pint or two of Spitfire ale in the pub downstairs.
- Posted 10/3/19 - I thought the rate was a good value for the room and services, especially given the location, and prices at hotels in the area. I didn't mention this in the review, but I collect Hard Rock tee shirts from cities I visit, and the London Hard Rock is around the corner from the Club. An added bonus for me. - Rich Williams
- Posted on August 25, 2018 - My wife and I stayed at the RAF Club for two nights in June, 2018. The room was small but well appointed; the bathroom was fine. The personnel were very helpful and accommodating. The Club is well located on Piccadilly, with a bus stop outside the door of the Club that will take you to Piccadilly Circus or Trafalgar Square. Hyde Park is walking distance the other way. The restaurant was good and reasonably priced. High recommendation overall. - Jack Hug
- Posted on August 9, 2018: The RAF Club is an excellent choice for any stay in London. Superb location in Mayfair, one of London's most upscale neighborhoods, and within walking distance of many of the most visited sites. Two very-near Underground stations (Hyde Park Corner and Green Park), as well a many bus connections at the Hyde Park Corner station, put everything else within easy reach. Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, and Green Park are just steps away; the beautiful WWII Bomber Crews Memorial is across the street. The club itself is beautifully appointed, with RAF heritage and memorabilia lining the walls, not unlike the MMC in San Francisco. The formal dining room provided superb food food, impeccable service, and an elegant setting. The pub was everything it ought to be, and it too served great food. The rooms are small by US standards, which is of course common in Europe. That said, the beds and bedding were comfortable, and the bathrooms just fine. The rooms have excellent air conditioning, which is NOT common in London. We were grateful for it as the London summers seem to be getting hotter every year. Finally, every single employee we encountered, from the front desk, to housekeepers, to waiters and waitresses, to bartenders, were exceedingly courteous, friendly, professional, and competent. I would absolutely and strongly recommend the RAF Club to anyone visiting London. - Colonel Dan Koslov (USAF, Ret)
- Posted on May 1, 2015: Terrific location and excellent breakfast. Rooms and bathrooms not so good-very small and plain. Certainly not up to a modern deluxe standard. I probably would not stay here again for the price because of the rooms. It’s unfortunate because the location is so good. - Martha Quinton
- Posted on May 1, 2015: My husband, daughter, and I stayed here for several days while visiting London. The location cannot be beat, adjacent to Hyde Park Corner, and across the street from Green Park with views of Buckingham Palace from our window. All of London is right at your fingertips, and we walked everywhere. Their “family room” was perfect–it had a small main bedroom for my husband and I, with an adjoining room with bunk bed for our daughter. There was a bathroom with large bathtub/shower, with every amenity one could hope for. The rooms are not large, but they are spacious enough and you are staying in central London, after all. The staff was incredibly accommodating, and even had an activity pack for our 4 year old upon arrival. The included breakfast was fantastic, and the dining room for breakfast was lovely, with lots of natural light, and beautifully set tables. I highly recommend the Royal Air Force Club for any visit to London. - Sarah Weiss
- Posted on November 22, 2014: I was a guest of the RAF Club in May 2014. The club is located across from Green Park and minutes from Buckingham Palace, Picadilly Circus, Wellington Arch, Hyde Park, and the Bomber Command Memorial to name just a few sites of interest. I had a Single en suite room and was very comfortable. I found the services offered by the club excellent and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I’ll be returning to London in March 2015 and have a confirmed reservation at the club. Looking forward to my return trip to London and stay at the RAF Club. - Joseph M. Sherman, Captain USAFR (Ret.)
- Posted on July 23, 2014: We could not say enough about the hotel, room, staff, food, and location. Everything worked out perfect. Thanking all the staff that help make it such a hit for us. - Lewis Hanson
- Posted on July 16, 2014: My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the RAF Club. Great location, comfortable rooms, very tasty and filling breakfast, friendly and helpful staff, lots of living history, … Everything that you would hope for in a residential club, the RAF Club provides. My wife was especially impressed when the staff looked after a travel weary and sleep deprived American family come stumbling into the lobby. We had our luggage stored, then were whisked off to breakfast and filled with all sorts of good things instead of being shooed out the door until check in time. First rate! Thank you. I would happily stay here again and would recommend it to all. Especially any aviators that want to see how our RAF colleagues honor their history. Peter Pate, Lieutenant Commander USNR (Ret.)
- Posted on June 4, 2014: Spent four nights here in early May. This is a GREAT club! Very helpful staff, great rooms and superb food. We ate most of our meals here because the food was one of the best values we found while in London. I would not think twice about staying here on a future visit to London. When we got back to the US, I got an email from the Club asking for comments. I told them what a great job they had done. The next day I got another email thanking me for taking the time to comment. You don’t see that anywhere in the US. - Stephen Markley
- Posted on July 5, 2013 - Had a great Sunday brunch. Would highly recommend. Selection was outstanding! Kenneth Henn
- Posted on February 12, 2013: What a privilege it was to stay at the RAF Club the week of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, September, 2010. As the only American staying there, I was able to mingle with those Englishmen who had gathered to commemorate the anniversary: I would see them at breakfast and then again on TV at night as they were being interviewed by the BBC….. In addition to this excitement was added the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman, the reason I was in England. Nearby Hyde Park was preparing for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI while I was there. All in all, lots of people watching at the RAF Club! The club itself is superb, better than the Naval Club where my husband and I had stayed in the past. Lots of memorabilia on the walls, a huge upstairs sitting room for tea or drinks. As I was hosting some English friends that week, this was a marvelous place to enjoy long hours of quiet (very RAF, that) conversation. Yes, the bedroom was small, but the bathroom was commodious, allowing for putting all sorts of shampoos, cosmetics, etc. on the counters. The main restaurant offered excellent meals as well as the usual classic English breakfast. Lots of newspapers. The pub offered adequate food, a special RAF ale and all without having to go outdoors in search of a simple bite. I look forward to returning. - Sherry Tyree
- Posted on July 19, 2012: I along with my other family members recently stayed at the Royal Air force Club in London. We completely enjoyed our stay. The property is elegant, historic and the location across from Green Park is excellent. The rooms were well appointed and very comfortable. The staff treated us wonderfully and made us all feel welcome. The Running Horse Pub was a special place to hang out. I would highly recommend the RAF Club to all members should they be in London. The only regret we had was to leave before seeing the new memorial to the WWII RAF Bomber Crews, honoring their gallant service and sacrifices. Jack D. Herritt Lt. Col. USAF (Retired)
- Posted on February 11, 2011: We had the pleasure of staying here for a few days while on a visit to family in the UK. The club is in a great location near the Wellington Memorial and Constitution Hill with a spectacular view of Buckingham Palace. We were fortunate enough to come out at exactly the time the Queen’s Royal Horseguards were on their way to the barracks at Knightsbridge. What a spectacular sight to see those magnificent soldiers on perfectly matched horses with armour sparkling in the morning sun. The club offered small but adequate accommodations, friendly and courteous staff in a historic setting with a formal dining room. We would definitely stay there again - NickyB
Request Letter
of Introduction