Private members clubs London

[Felloffthehedonictreadmill]

Talk to me about private members clubs in London....

Do you or your spouse use one? I'd like to get my husband membership as he commutes three times a week and he'd be better off doing it twice and stopping over. I want it to enhance his wellbeing, not deplete it.

Im looking for something reasonably priced preferably with a gym but thats not essential. Somewhere he can take clients, sleep comfortably and get a meal.

Please give me advice....this is not my world at all!

TIA

Why would you do this rather than, say, going to a hotel and taking clients to a nice restaurant? AFAIK you have to pay to stay in the club on top of membership fees.

Anyway, here’s one example. The waiting list is more than a year

www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/membership/membership-fees-2025/

Sleep comfortably?

RAC is a good suggestion. Worth bearing in mind you need contacts who are current members who will be your advocate/ sponsor/recommender. Often you need to know 2 members to get an application approval

I suppose the Oxford club is an option. If he went to Oxford and has a couple of current members to vouch for him?

In London? With its huge selection of hotels with restaurants, gyms and bars?

There’s one in Chelsea my cousin used to belong to. Met him there for a lovely lunch, rooms that allowed their dogs, nice garden. I think it’s called The Sloane Club

Is your husband not an adult? Why does he need you to do this?

Maybe OP is planning a surprise ?

There are many here , who jump to attack the Man, no matter what !

Why is everyone so abrasive?! 🤣

Well, if it's a matter of having somewhere to entertain clients as well as sleep over, surely it's something he'd want to decide for himself, given that he will know best what he wants from a club?

I used to be a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Club because it was useful to have a London base when I needed to be there for work things but no longer lived there, and their rooms were comparatively cheap for central London, but I let my membership lapse years ago. You needed to have attended either university (they contacted your college to check) and to be proposed and seconded by existing members.

Well yes but I felt it might be more like a home from home. I'm aware of the RAC club but wondered about somewhere less prestigiou and possibly affordable.

I used to have membership of the Fox Club in Clarges St through work. Great for transport, lovely rooms and good food. No gym but our office had a gym.

Brilliant for me as I commuted to London weekly from Scotland. Such a treat! Pre covid - they probably just do Teams calls these days.

@GoneAd

Yes, 'sleep comfortably'. Sleep is so important for health and I want him to get good rest.

We have a disabled child who wakes through the night and needs tending to. I take the burden of this during the weekday nights and he takes the lions share of the weekend night wakings.

This is another reason why I'd like him having one guaranteed, uninterrupted night of sleep in a comfortable, clean room.

Thanks to those who have pointed out that you need people to vouch for you. I didn't realise that. He works with people who use the RAC club and others so I am sure he could find someone to sponsor him at those. He is not an Oxbridge graduate, no.

Also yes I suppose he would know best what he wants from it. I thought perhaps I could put a shortlist together for him to peruse.

To the PP who asked if he is an adult, yes he is. He is a high functioning adult whom I love very much. He is currently the sole breadwinner whilst I am a stay at home carer for a disabled teen. Our life is challenging and between work and home life he has very little time to do anything like sort out a club/regular accomodation in London. I thought I could help him by putting in the ground work of researching options. Another option is we may buy a small pied a terre in London for this purpose.

Thankyou @Cazziebo And @MaloryJones for your helpful/less angry responses.

Thanks @Davros too

Imo London clubs are infinitely superior to hotels. Far more comfortable, better value, unbeatable locations and superb breakfasts. There’s a huge choice to suit everyone, you just need to have someone to propose you.

We always stay in a club in London and are disappointed if they’re all full and have to make do with a hotel.

Agreed, and your husband is fortunate to have you. I think it depends on where you live and whether you want one closer to his office or en route to your home. They could be cheaper if they are not in Zone 1, but you still need to check the waiting list, etc. Good luck 😉

Genuinely - what is your idea of affordable?

Completely get him sleeping through the night - but the membership fees will cover several nights at perfectly comfortable hotels (Premier Inns have good beds)

The Oxford and Cambridge Club (if he went to uni at one of those) is about £2k p.a. and £2k joining fee, plus whatever rooms cost on top. Their website notes that this is lower than many such clubs.

I don't think any will be much less than this from the pure cost base of the model - maintaining a large building, food outlets, meeting rooms, library, gym etc

I’m a former member of one of these and the membership fees are upwards of 3k a year and you have to pay for rooms on top of this, it’s not free to stay there! You do also need current members to propose/vouch for you, the whole point of members clubs is they’re meant to be exclusive and don’t let just anyone join. It’s all hype and no substance imo. Just book a nice hotel.

Thanks @Buddhabuns & @AzurePanda

I'd also like to use the club at weekends for respite (for myself) two or three times a year as well. We used to live in London and no longer do...I like to dip in and out every now and then x

Only been to one and it was the stuffiest place! Food and drinks were average, service was poor, and everyone in there just seemed like a bit of a wanker. Not convinced they really have much value except for pretentious people to say they're a member of a club.

RAC, Pall Mall is lovely. Very comfortable rooms, a beautiful pool and surprisingly cheap for central London. There’s usually a waiting list.

Thanks for other perspectives @Ratisshortforratthew & @SheilaFentiman

I am just sad of seeing him book absolutely grotty hotels for himself. We can afford better.

An annual train ticket is c13k from where we live. The 4k/5k orlf joining fee and annual membership is not a hardship and can be budgeted for.

I would definitely have a good look at the rooms of wherever you’re thinking of. The couple of clubs I’ve been in were quite dated and the accommodation looked fairly basic.

Ideally you want one where you have some kind of way in. Is your husband member of a professional body that might have an intro to a club? If you google search "private clubs in London with accommodation" you will get loads coming up. It is then trying to find one where there might be a natural connection or is affordable without a waiting list a mile long.

I wonder why he is considering grotty hotels? That makes no sense. There are so many decent hotels in London that are perfectly affordable and if he stayed regularly would probably offer him preferential rates and a regular room too. Even Premier Inns these days have super comfortable beds, are very clean and generally in good locations all over London!