Reciprocal Clubs
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 – In and Out 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
- 9-5-2025 Went there for dinner and had excellent service and food. Ate in the grill area, because the dinning room full. The price for dinner was about 100 US for 2. Yes I would recommend it.
- 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
- Over the years, my wife and I have visited the Royal Air Force Club in London at least 5 time as Reciprocal Club (Marines Memorial Club - San Francisco) guests. EACH visit was OUTSTANDING. The club is perfectly located on Piccadilly at the edge of Mayfair so EASY walking to parks (Green, Hyde), Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, most Theaters, Harrods, Oxford and Regent Streets, etc., etc. The accommodations are clean, and well appointed. The dining room is outstanding for both breakfast and dinner where the menus are full, food excellently prepared, and reasonably priced. Perhaps the most important "Kudo" is the staff, who are courteous, welcoming, and efficient. What else can I say??? A true "gem" in the heart of London! My wife and I are both really looking forward to our next visit in June of this year. Fred Smith, Jr. CAPT USN Retired
- 9-4-25 Had dinner at this club that was excellent. A little pricy for 2, at 160 US. But the club by far is the most exquisite of the military clubs I visited in London. Beautiful stain glass and pictures. Semi formal when eating dinner. Well worth a visit.
- 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
London – Sloane Club
http://sloaneclub.co.uk52 Lower Sloane
London SW1W 8BS
Tel: 44-(20) 7730-9131
Fax: 44-(20) 7730-6145
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Posted on October 9, 2017 at 12:57 am - "My wife and I spent a long weekend at the Club in late September. Our room was small but probably average size by European standards. It was quiet. Jackets required at dinner but no tie. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for London. An excellent Continental breakfast was included daily in the price of the room. We very much enjoyed afternoon tea. The Front Desk was always very helpful. Tipping optional and can be left on the bill at final checkout. Tips are split among employees. Great location in Chelsea. We used Uber to get around although this was a big news story while we were there since the City of London cancelled the Uber license and that was being appealed. The subway is only a block away but we avoided that for security reasons and used Uber instead. Overall, a pleasant experience and we would definitely stay there again." - Joe Pascuzzo
- We initially considered the Sloane Club because we wanted a nice location, and we knew the Chelsea area fit that description. After checking their website, we chose the Sloane Apartments because we were going to be in town for nine nights, and that seemed a bit long for a hotel stay. We were there in mid-July 2014. The Apartments are one block away from the Sloane Club. Both are in an area that reminded me of Georgetown, with well-maintained older buildings on leafy streets. It combines modern buildings with historical houses. On our first walk around, we saw signs that said "Bram Stoker lived here” and "Oscar Wilde lived here.” The Tube station is less than one block away, at Sloane Square. From there you can walk in most any direction and find nice pubs, commercial activity, and well-maintained parks. We were taken aback at the number of high-end cars in the area, best illustrated when we saw a Ferrari racing a Maserati on city streets. I kid you not. We appreciated being allowed to check-in an hour earlier than planned. The desk clerk then escorted us to our apartment, a short and pleasant block away. The Apartments are newly renovated rooms in older buildings, as shown on the web site. The quality of furnishings and appliances was high; most everything appeared to be quite new. From what little we saw of the Club itself, it was old in comparison. We guessed there were three or four other apartments in our building, but seldom saw the other guests. However, the building showed its age when we could clearly hear a child bouncing around in the room above us late at night. After two nights of this, a call to the front desk put a stop to that. We had a studio apartment that featured an "open plan bedroom/sitting area that leads to a split-level designer kitchen and bathroom arrangement.” For the most part, that was manageable for the two of us. The main room and bathroom were big enough, but the kitchen was tiny — maybe 30 square feet. That meant there was no room for a table, so after preparing a meal, we had to take it down a short flight of narrow stairs to a small table in the bedroom. This may be common in Europe, but for a first-time visitor to London, it was a bit of an adjustment. The front desk was quick to respond to other questions, similar to the service we’ve received at other reciprocal clubs. For example, when we had difficulty operating the combination washer/dryer, they sent someone right away to help us sort it out. That said, it would have helped to have printed instructions for that machine, in addition to the sketchy material provided on the room TV. We were pleased with the front desk’s quick response to most of our inquiries. But we were disappointed to discover that some of their policies differed from what we are accustomed to at the Marine Memorial Club. For example, there were fees for weekend housecleaning, late checkout/luggage storage, and the Club breakfast. After checking the fine print, it was apparent that had been stated up front, but that didn’t diminish our disappointment. Charging for the breakfast only made us go elsewhere, leading us to feel disconnected from the Club, which was odd, given our experience with the MMC. One final quibble. Before making a local phone call, I called the desk to ask if there would be any charges, and the response was “no." I made three calls over the next few days. At checkout, I learned I had been charged for those calls. I spoke to the manager, who explained there is a charge for outgoing calls but not for incoming calls. I asked for an adjustment, but she very politely declined. There wasn’t much money involved - about $5 - but since I was paying about $530/night for nine nights, I thought they could have relented when it was clear to me the error was theirs. We would stay at the Sloane Apartments again, primarily for its terrific location and the wonderful ambience of the neighborhood. But we won’t expect to be part of their Club, as we do when staying at the MMC.
- While I was stationed in the UK, I used this club for setting up a women's association series of meetings abut 3 times a year. In addition, I used it for holiday trips to London and it is wonderful. The place is full of chintz so has a more feminine feel to it than what many military men might expect. The big exception to that is the wonderful wood paneled bar. They were very accommodating for the meetings and food and planning that needed to go happen. Pricing for meetings was excellent. Service for the hotel side of things was good but not excellent. It is a nice place to base yourself near Sloane Square.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – St. James Club
http://www.stjameshotelandclub.com7-8 Park Place
St. James’s
London SW1A 1LP
Tel: 44 (0)20 7629 7688
Fax: 44 (0)20 7491 0987
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- Spent 7 nights at this very chic, quiet location. Green Park is the nearest tube station, loads of shops & restaurants, keeping in mind London is very very expensive! Rooms are well appointed, on the small size but in keeping with European sizes. It is fully air conditioned, a big plus if you happen to have hot muggy days! Service was top notch, couple of glitches handled well... Bit disappointed with the food...breakfast buffet ok, did not vary for 7 mornings..bistro food was only just so so...tho service excellent, location can' t be beat....we will say again!
- We stayed two nights last year. It is pricy but first class. Rooms are small but very well appointed . OK if you do not have to much luggage. Great location. Near The Blue Post pup one of London's best.
- My wife and I just spent four nights at the St. James Club in London. I cannot recommend them high enough. The rooms were small but in excellent condition with great beds. The amenities in the room were also very good. The food in the dinning area, both breakfast and dinner, were of a very high quality. We even indulged in breakfast in bed one morning and it arrived on time, hot and tasty .The staff is friendly and very accommodating. We will certainly return to the St James Club the next time we are in London.
Request Letter
of Introduction
London – Union Jack Club
http://ujclub.co.ukSandell Street, Waterloo
London SE1 8UJ
Tel: (44) 207-928-4814
Fax: (44) 207-620-0565
Overnight Accommodations: Yes
Email
The Club
- 9-7-25 I can't view this club because they would not let me enter even with a reciprocal club membership, because I was not staying there. It is across from the train station, and area was a little dirty.
- Posted 3/22/24-- Our family stayed at the Union Jack Club earlier this month, and found it to be both a good value and an excellent location for touring London. It is literally right across the street from Waterloo Station, from which you can access three separate tube lines to various sites in the city. (From Heathrow, we jumped on the Elizabeth Line to the Bond Street Station, transferred to the Jubilee Line to Waterloo Station, and walked outside and across the street. Couldn't be easier.) Additionally, from the same station, you can catch a very comfortable South Western Railway train that goes directly to Windsor/Eton in about 50 minutes to tour Windsor Palace. The location can't be beat. We stayed in a family room, which has 2 rooms with a closing door between. It was a great setup for 2 adults and 2 kids. The rooms are pretty basic and none too large (the kids' room with the bunk bed was literally like a walk-in closet) but housekeeping kept them spotless, and we all slept surprisingly well. I will note there's no A/C, but that wasn't an issue in March. We enjoyed having windows that opened. We ate both lunch and dinner in the dining room, and found it to be a quite decent and enjoyable option, though nothing extraordinary. The prices were very fair for the quality. We picked up breakfast items when out and about (there are a couple mini-grocery stores inside Waterloo Station that were convenient for grabbing essentials) so we didn't try out the breakfast buffet, which also looked pretty good. We found the club staff friendly and helpful, and enjoyed our interactions with fellow guests, all of whom were serving or retired enlisted British military folks. As others have commented, the atmosphere is friendly and decidedly non-pretentious. For value received and for great location, we felt the Union Jack was hard to beat. We would definitely recommend, and would be happy to stay here again (with the possible exception of the hot summer months where lack of A/C might be an issue).
- My wife and I stayed at the Union Jack Club in September 2023. We found the experience very travel friendly and accommodating. I would say the service and amenities are on the same level as Marines Memorial. The club members are serving members of the UK military or veterans of the same. Food was excellent, rooms fine. The UJC is located just south of the Thames River on a bend that allows easy access to London-across-the-river especially the theater district. It is immediately next to the Waterloo train station and Tube connections making easy access to greater London. On our scale it was 4 out of 5 stars.
- Stayed at the Union Jack Club in October, 2023. I give it 5/5 across all categories: location, facilities, food, accommodations, staff, prices, value. I was traveling alone so I took a single room ensuite (with bathroom) for £82 per night. The full English breakfast was another £12. That totaled £94 per night - all taxes and fees included. The location is very good. It is directly across the street from Waterloo Underground and Train Station. The Union Jack Club is an enlisted club for active and retired British military forces. If you are expecting to see the retired British First Sea Lord in the reading room behind a copy of the London Times, you will be disappointed. This is not a Mayfair Club, and the only officers will be those from the EU or USA using reciprocal benefits. I enjoyed my stay and would return. I ate breakfast daily and had dinner one night. The evening meal and bar prices were excellent and the food was decent. Overall, a great place to stay.
- Our stay at the Union Jack Club in London was a most pleasant experience. We found the facilities and staff to be on par with a 3 or 4 Star Hotel. The club is a warm and accepting facility; it is lacking in any degree of pretentiousness, and we felt comfortable interacting with staff and other occupants. The club's location is adjacent to Waterloo Station, making travel to and from Heathrow Airport very easy and inexpensive. All major tourist sites were accessible by subway, bus, or for the hardy on foot. We weren't aware that air conditioning isn't common in UK hotels, so the use of the provided fan was a must with open windows in July. I would have booked a larger room had I realized they were an option, but our double with an ensuite met our needs. The dining room served a good breakfast buffet, the lunch and dinner selections were excellent. Don't forget to bring extra USB chargers, preferably with multiple ports and UK electrical outlet adapters. I look forward to future stays at this club and heartily recommend it to others.
- We stayed at the Union Jack Club last year and it was fantastic. The proximity to the Waterloo Station alone makes it the place to stay in London. We had a large suite on the top floor and the suite was large, well-appointed, and well-maintained. The staff was friendly and it was a lot of fun meeting and conversing with military personnel from the United Kingdom.
- Myself and five of my family stayed at the Union Jack Club in London, England. We stayed in a suite on the 6th or 7th floors in early February 2016. The suite had three smallish bedrooms that each slept two, with a nicely equipped kitchen and a living room and one bath. The rooms were clean and tended to daily. The price for downtown London was very reasonable. As described in previous comments, the Union Jack Club is 100 yards from Waterloo combined train and underground station, which makes arriving from Heathrow Airport a piece of cake. There is also a nice restaurant and bar, again, with very reasonable prices especially for London. While it is not a 'five star hotel' ,but for its value it will be hard to beat. We look forward to staying there again.
- The Union Jack Club (www.ujclub.co.uk, email: abo@ujclub.co.uk) is located in Sandell Street, opposite Waterloo Station, on the south side of the River Thames. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the London Eye and the tour boat dock, and about the same distance in the downriver direction to the Tate Modern art museum. It’s a longer walk or a short cab ride to the Westminster area, or to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Across Sandell Street is a good pub, The Wellington, and a block farther along Waterloo Road is an excellent Italian restaurant. In the opposite direction on Waterloo is a Sainsbury’s grocery store. Around the corner, on Cornwall Road, is an excellent bakery. The club is a block from the Old Vic Theatre. The square across from the Old Vic has a number of restaurants to choose from, as do other streets opening off the square. This was our first stay at the UJC (1-7 Sept 2014, and again on 16 Sept 2014), and we learned that it has two towers, an old one overlooking Waterloo Station, and a new one overlooking a bus yard. The club has double and single rooms, but the single rooms are very small, with just enough room for a single bed – very much like a military barracks room – but OK for a child, since there’s a connecting door to the double room. The hotel is renovating the rooms, and although none are air conditioned, the windows open to catch a breeze. We first were assigned a double room in the old section, but after a couple of nights of constant noise from the trains, we requested a change. The front desk was nice enough to give us a room in the new tower. This room, despite the bus yard, was quieter – except for the occasional police sirens in the night. The room was a good size, and the bed was OK. The bathroom in the double room has a combination English (high off the floor, narrow and deep) bathtub/shower. The single room given our son had a shower. Recommendation: ask for a renovated room in the new tower. Double rooms rented to reciprocating club members go for £126 per night, a real bargain in London, while single rooms rent for £72 per night. The club also has flats, suites, etc. for higher rates. We found all the staff to be very accommodating and pleasant to deal with. The club is very proud of its breakfast menu, offering two options – a full English breakfast or a “Continental” breakfast, although there’s hardly any difference between the two. The English breakfast menu includes a selection of hot items (eggs, meats, etc.), while the “Continental” has cold items such as cereals, meats, cheeses, yogurt, fruit, breads, etc. You can pay for the breakfast in advance and receive chits for each day, or you can pay by the meal, about £12.50 each. The club’s lunch and dinner selections are quite good, and the quality is very good. You pay by the meal. The club also has an excellent bar just off the lobby. Because a major rail station is across the street, it’s easy to flag down a taxi. In the lobby of the club, there’s a white phone directly connected to a car service. You can order a car for the next day, or they can provide one within 15-20 minutes. We used this service to take two people and three bags to Heathrow and, at £45 for the ride, found it to be cheaper than a taxi. It’s about an hour’s ride to Heathrow, depending on time of day and traffic. The Union Jack Club is a century old and prides itself on its heritage – as depicted in the many portraits of Victoria Cross winners, service plaques, and battle scenes on the walls. Compared to some more pricey and upscale military clubs elsewhere in London, it’s has a casual atmosphere – reflecting its origins as a club for enlisted service members. It’s a pleasant place to stay, and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again when we visit London.
- My wife and I stayed here 22 - 25 June 2014; Checking in and while staying the staff was helpful and cheerful this is not the first time I've stayed here. One of the best deals in London for a hotel although not ultra fancy or modern the 2 person ensuite rooms are good for the price. The only issue was at check-out, we checked out around 6:00 AM and the desk clerk on duty acted as if we were imposing on her to do her job. She was very surely when we said we needed a taxi. She did not explain where the direct line phone was just said over there and walked away. May not stay here again because of the attitude of this clerk.
- We stayed at the Union Jack Hotel in early October 2013. The best thing about the hotel was the location. Close to so many wonderful places. The stay at the hotel was not very good. We travel a lot and have stayed at many small European hotels that are very old. The room that we were given needed a face lift. They do not have air condition and no way to regulate the temperature in the room. We had wonderful weather and I realized that we would need a fan during the night. They only have a few fans but we were told if we went to the luggage room we could leave a deposit and then they would be happy to let us use their fan. When I asked about the deposit they told me that they have many drunk military that stay there so they have to make sure we give the fan back. We had a door alarm right below our window that would go off at least once and hour or more all night long. When I complained they treated us as if we were just imagining it. Very condescending. The front desk was not helpful with directions or any other tourist information as they made it clear that really wasn't their job. In other words "look it up yourself on the computer". I talked to manager as we left and she was an outstanding manager trying to help us understand the difficulty of having all of these military people that stay there. I told her she should come and see the Marine Memorial to see how wonderful it was run. I told her maybe she could get a free trip to San Francisco. We had a good laugh as we left. I would never stay there again. Our rate was not that good either..
- Very good club overall. The price is GREAT for London. The service is outstanding. The food is very good and the Pub is friendly. The club is across the street from the Waterloo train/tube station, one of the main stations in London, this provides easy access to all transportation. Trains, underground, surface trams, bus lines, cabs and mini cabs are all there. The rooms are a bit on the small size, we had double (en suite bathroom), but as we were gone all day all we did was come in to sleep then out again in the morning. The beds need help, old wire spring type. Our stay was for six days and we did enjoy it and would (will) use the Union Jack Club again. Overall I would rate the club to be very good to excellent all factors taken into consideration.
Request Letter
of Introduction
