London Members Clubs - Soho House, Home House, Lansdowne

[user1494871340]

Hi MNers, I'm a start-up entrepreneur from Dubai who travels to London for work regularly and I find the city quite lonely as I don't have many friends here. I've been thinking of getting an overseas membership at a members-only club so that I have somewhere to socialise and meet people. Are there any good clubs that don't require others members to propose you? (like I said, I don't have good friends in this city)

I'm a 28 year old woman who is a member of a few such clubs in Dubai and enjoys them immensely. I run a finance start-up, enjoy tennis and surfing and write a column for a woman's lifestyle magazine in Dubai but I'm afraid that I'm not particularly glamorous/ creative/ cool. Could you please help me and suggest a club that is a good fit for me? Thanks much!!

Not able to help as, living here, no need for such a club. I hope you find somewhere suitable, it sounds like a good idea. Hopefully someone will come along who knows more

I know a couple of people who are/have been members of the Landsdowne. But you do need a member to propose you. I think it might be worth asking your regular working contacts if they know anyone who would propose you.

If you do not need accommodation, then perhaps you could start by finding a sports club, attend when you can and keep your eye out for socials.

Sadly all of the ones that are similar that I know of you have to have current meme era propose your membership and most have long waiting lists.

Where do you tend to stay in london?

Meme era = member!!!

Have you thought of joining something like the WI instead? There are lots of young and dynamic WI groups in London specifically tailored for young business women.

Or maybe other focussed groups would be better, such as film groups, book clubs etc.

Or volunteering. Girlguiding is desperate for female adult volunteers and charities in general always need help. It's a great way to meet people and create yourself a social life outside of the volunteering too.

Hi, it's tricky, isn't it. A lot would depend on what you are looking to get out of the club membership. If it were business contacts, then I would encourage you to work your existing network to see whether anyone knows anyone who can introduce you. Other alternatives, would be to try your existing clubs and groups, maybe they have an existing agreement to offer reciprocal membership (til you get to know people) with a club in london, for example the travellers club, or the oversees club.

If you are looking for purely social contacts, then the WI, or volunteering as suggested by a PP may i deed be a good way forward. Or a sport..

The only person I knew, who used the Lansdown, did so mostly in order to use their rooms, when staying overnight in London. They require introductions from two existing members, so just knowing one person isn't enough. Good luck.

Finding out if there is a club in Dubai with a reciprocal arrangement could be a good starting point. Because joining there and using the reciprocity when here ought to work.

Thank you everybody! It does appear that I won't be able to join a club as I don't know anyone here well enough to ask them to propose me. I do have business contacts, but they are only a year or two old and are strictly professional for the most part. It looks like finding and joining a club with reciprocal arrangements in Dubai might be the way to go; thanks for that suggestion!

Sorry for my ignorance but is WI Woman's Institute? Would you know of any clubs that are centred around business and accept members based on their professional profile rather than personal contacts? Thank you very much!!

I stay usually at Renaissance Hotel St. Pancras. But since my visits to London are starting to become longer and more frequent, I will probably switch to more affordable serviced apartments or AirBnBs soon.

Have you looked at Meet Up? There's lots of different groups on there you could go to and potentially make friends or business contacts

A friend of DHs uses the St Barnabus club and highly recommends it. You do need to know members I think but perhaps if you phone them they'll figure out a way to solve that. St Barnabus

I'm a member of the Lansdowne (and could potentially propose you - PM me if you want to discuss further...)

It has a very active social scene, including an under 35s group which has a monthly calendar of activities/events

It has excellent sports/gym facilities, and they've just overhauled all the dining and bar areas. And the rooms are good value and lovely - about £120 a night, I think?

Downsides, it has a dress code and a 'no laptops or business papers' policy in a lot of bar areas, and phone calls are banned pretty much everywhere
Although others might see that as a bonus