Bars
The 6 Best Private Members Clubs in London
Six of London's notable private members clubs, from Annabel's to 5 Hertford Street, with honest notes on what each is for and how membership actually works.
In short: our top picks are 5 Hertford Street, Annabel's and The Arts Club. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A private members club is, in the end, a door you can’t open on a whim, and that’s rather the point. The London ones worth knowing tend to be quiet about themselves: no signage to speak of, a proposer and seconder, a waiting list measured in years rather than weeks. What you’re paying for isn’t really the cocktails, good as they are. It’s the certainty that the room will hold its nerve, that nobody’s filming, that a Tuesday can pass without incident. We’ve left out the chains and the co-working sort, mostly, and kept to the discreet upmarket end. A fair warning before we start: none of these will let you in just because you’d like to come. Most run by invitation, and we’ve said so plainly where that’s the case.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Hertford Street | Mayfair | ££££ |
| Annabel's | Mayfair | ££££ |
| The Arts Club | Mayfair | ££££ |
| Maison Estelle | Mayfair | ££££ |
| Home House | Marylebone | ££££ |
| Soho House 76 Dean Street | Soho | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
5 Hertford Street
Why we pick itRobin Birley's townhouse off Shepherd Market is about as discreet as London gets, with phones discouraged and no photography anywhere. Downstairs sits Loulou's, the basement nightclub that has kept its grip on a certain crowd since 2012.
Private members club
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Annabel's
Why we pick itSince moving to No. 46 in 2018, Annabel's has become a five-floor spectacle of flowers, marble and that famous loo, more theatrical than its old basement self. Membership is by invitation with a proposer and seconder, and the waiting list runs into the thousands.
Private members club
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The Arts Club
Why we pick itFounded in 1863 by Dickens and Trollope among others, it still leans on the arts: gallery walls worth a slow look, a serious music programme, dining that holds up. The crowd skews creative and properly international rather than purely moneyed.
Private members club
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Maison Estelle
Why we pick itOpened in 2023 in a Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse, this is the newest name here and possibly the most secretive. Members put a sticker over their phone camera on arrival, which tells you most of what you need to know about the place.
Private members club
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Home House
Why we pick itA Robert Adam townhouse from the 1770s, less stiff than its grand bones suggest, with a courtyard that earns its keep in summer and a spa downstairs. Membership is more attainable here than at the Mayfair set, which is part of its appeal.
Private members club
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Soho House 76 Dean Street
Why we pick itOne of the oldest townhouses in Westminster, restored after a 2009 fire, with a 43-seat screening room and a courtyard that hums most nights. The most accessible name on this list, and a useful one if your work sits anywhere near the creative trades.
Private members club
Before you book
Almost all of these run by invitation or require an existing member to propose you, so the realistic route is knowing someone already inside. Joining fees sit on top of annual subscriptions, and waiting lists at Annabel’s and 5 Hertford Street stretch for years. If you’re a guest rather than a member, dress properly, leave the phone in your pocket, and let your host lead.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
5 Hertford Street is our editor's choice: Robin Birley's townhouse off Shepherd Market is about as discreet as London gets, with phones discouraged and no photography anywhere. Downstairs sits Loulou's, the basement nightclub that has kept its grip on a certain crowd since 2012. 5 Hertford Street, Annabel's and The Arts Club lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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