Activities In London

The Whigs' Brooks's Club

Walking down St James’s you will first come across Brook’s on the corner of Park Place. Founded in 1764, it was renowned for gambling with high stakes. It was the leading club for Whigs sympathetic with the American revolution. The lead tubs outside are engraved with the dat ...

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St James’s Place

Note the fascinating selection of lighting equipment outside No. 28. At the end, on the left is Spencer House. Completed in 1766, it was the elegant London home of the Earl Spencer until 1927. Lady Diana Spencer of course, went on to become Princess of Wales.

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The Carlton Club

The Carlton Club, founded by the Duke of Wellington in 1832. It is not only reserved for its Members but also open for lunches, dinners, receptions, meetings and conferences.

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Cleveland Row

Russell Court is a cobbled mews, which still has its old gas lamps. At the end of Cleveland Row is Pall Mall. Walk along the south side. No 71 with huge Corinthian pillars outside is the United Oxford & Cambridge University Club, for members of those universities.

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No 83, No 89, No 104 and No 106

Opposite No 83 on the corner of St James’s Square is the Army & Navy Club. Known as ‘The Rag’ ever since a dissatisfied 19th Century member described his meagre meal there as ‘a rag and famish’ affair. No 89, the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), has its own squash courts, sw ...

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Waterloo Place

The Athenaeum at the corner of Waterloo Place is the leading club for politicians and academics. Its frieze is copied from the Parthenon. The Institute of Directors on the opposite corner was, until 1976, the United Services Club, the Duke of Wellington’s favourite club. Wal ...

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St James’s Square No 4

From Pall Mall cross-over to St James’s Square, walk up the right-hand side. No 4, the only original house, was built in 1676 and rebuilt by Hawksmoor in 1728. Lady Astor, Britain’s first woman MP lived here.

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16 Saint James's Square

No 16 is the East India, Devonshire, Sports & Public Schools Club.Founded in 1849 for officers who had served in India, it merged with the Sports Club and today, strongly features rugby and cricket.

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St James’s Street No 37

No 37 is White’s, London’s oldest Club, which began as a chocolate house in 1693. Pope, Swift, Steele and Gray were members. In its famous bow window, fashionable Beau Brummel and his set used to be seen.

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