Won’t you take a wander with me as I seek out the best British places to stay? Today, we find out what’s to like and love if you stay at one of London’s top private clubs. 

True to our word, we have returned twice to the Lansdowne Club since this was written, and each time, we are impressed with seeing different areas that we missed on the first occasion. As we walk in through the door, there is now a familiarity that members must feel. It truly is like coming to our London Home – well, like the London home we would love to have!    [Please scroll to the end for 2023 updates]

A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB

London’s private members’ clubs are generally just that, quite private, discrete, and difficult to garner information on. So this is a hotel stay with a difference. My stay is offered through a reciprocal arrangement from our Thailand sports club, and I am intrigued by what it will be like and who I might meet. I doubt I’m going to be bumping into the A-list celebrities like in my recent stay at The Corinthia, London, so who does stay there?

The club is in the fabulous Mayfair location, and those few reviews I did find commend it as a friendly club with pleasant and helpful staff and an atmosphere that was ‘not at all stuffy’.

AMBIANCE & GREETING 8/10

ARRIVAL

My husband and I arrived by taxi from Paddington Station, a 15-minute drive. Too easy!

We had booked three rooms and invited family members as our guests. Those arriving by car got to know the Berkeley Square area well before finding parking. There is no car park, nor is valet parking offered.

Note to drivers: Come by train or bring the Fiat 500 next time!

Initial impressions:

My initial impressions were of a lovely building with fresh flowers, great artwork, and something of interest at every turn. However, an issue with the dress code, a waitress calling me ‘my lady’, and some inconsiderate members spewing cigar smoke our way meant we did not get off to the best of starts.

Beware of the Dress Code

Everyone knows when you stay in a London Club that you need to read and follow the dress regulations. 

We were aware conventional smart dress and a jacket were required in the dining room. But were flawed by whether men could wear shorts in the Courtyard Brasserie on one of the hottest days this century?

It turns out our men were not alone in shorts. The official answer was possibly ‘just the once, but don’t make a habit of it…’ Happily, the staff were understanding, given the heat that day. Extra points for customer service and being welcoming!

I never mind a dress code; it’s like dressing up for Christmas or the theatre. For me, it’s part of the experience. I’m not one to insist on wearing my jeans everywhere either, so this was soon forgotten.

CHECK-IN 9/10

The check-in was professionally handled, and we were soon on our way to rooms after a tour of the facilities. The club is a rabbit warren of interconnecting buildings and floors, so this was a fabulous and much-appreciated introduction.

STYLE 9/10

From the moment we were welcomed inside the big oak doors you could tell this was a building that had a bit of history.  In 1782, the Treaty of Paris that concluded the American War of Independence was drafted in the Round Room cocktail bar, and Charles Dickens was a visitor. In the 1920s the American owner of Selfridges department store moved in for a while. Such are the stories these pretty walls could tell.

The Lansdowne Club’s LinkedIn page says of the place:

‘This noble Mayfair club is not merely a haven of civilised calm, but an architectural gem, rich in nearly 250 years of history.’

A haven of civilised calm

LOCATION: 10/10

Faultless. We walked out to the Royal Academy of Arts for their Summer Exhibition, past the Ritz and Fortum & Mason, both excellent choices for Afternoon Tea in London.

We were a stone’s throw from the West End and it was a short walk to a myriad of theatres. We wandered up to two West End shows, Moulin Rouge and the Bob Marley musical ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ with last-minute tickets for both.

Green Park Tube station is just around the corner.

London is always a good idea

SERVICE: 9/10

Generally, the service was impeccable. They are after a ‘Just like home‘ feeling, haha it’s not quite like my home, but maybe there’s a clue in that about their membership.

I did raise an imperfectly shaped eyebrow at the waitress calling me  ‘My Lady’ every time she poured me a cuppa when we arrived and thought to myself “I ain’t a Lady” but I won’t make a fuss.

The other staff were, umm, how do I say it, more natural with their greetings… or maybe better trained to spot a Lady! 

Breakfast is served

FACILITIES 8/10

The Club is well regarded for its leisure facilities and offers members the option of inviting guests to eat, stay or attend business meetings. We were told the Club is busier during the week, especially mid-week.

Sports Facilities

We paid a GBP 20 facilities fee per person per day, but we certainly did not maximise our benefit. As you will see below, there were limited sports on offer that were of interest. This meant that technically, we paid eighty quid for a cold swim!

Free Weights Gym overlooking Squash Courts

Gym: 

There was a fully equipped cardio, resistant, and free weights gym, which I didn’t use. Personal training sessions can be booked for an extra charge.

I was disappointed that they did not offer any fitness classes during my weekend stay. There was a virtual pilates class on Monday morning with an extra charge of 6 GBP. However, on a later stay in December 2022, I attended a fabulous early morning yoga class.

However, the sporty amongst us were up and off for a run around the nearby royal parks of Green Park, St James’ Park, and Hyde Park. By all accounts, a lovely way to start the day.

Yoga at 7.30 am – great class

3 Squash courts

We tried to use the squash courts but were informed that 24-hour notice of booking was required. Why?

Art Deco indoor swimming pool

Swimming pool

We did use the pool, as one must; it really is an experience. The 25-yard indoor Art-Deco swimming pool is as dramatic a setting as you will find. However, I have to say it was freezing cold, so be warned. Luckily, there is a steam room to warm up afterwards.

Fencing Salle

If you are after a fencing tutorial, then you are in the right club. They say this is one of the very few places in London for fencing these days and is formally the training centre for the British Olympic team. I don’t feel this is going to have mass appeal, but it does have novelty value, so touché to them for this!

Golf

The Lansdowne Club offers golf at Bowood Golf Resort, one of Wiltshire’s premier golf courses (but not exactly down the road)

Skiing, Snooker, Bridge evenings, and Clay Pigeon Shooting

These are also on offer.

Thirties Room and Billiards Room 

The classical Art Deco Thirties Room is a quiet haven for reading and relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of central London. This was one of my favourite spaces at the Club. The snooker table can be booked at the Sports Reception, where you will be given cues and balls.

Thirties Room and Billard Room

STANDARD GUEST ROOM 7/10

There are 73 suites and rooms; you can choose from suites and junior suites, double, twin, standard, and single rooms.

Everything was fully booked except the Standard rooms. Beware: The double beds in the standard rooms are mostly used for single occupancy and are snug for a couple, well at least for this couple who are used to a king-size bed. I do admit to a John McEnroe-esque outburst and ‘you can not be serious’ exclamation when we saw the bed size. We would give a tin of sardines a run for their money… However, we did actually sleep well.

The staff did say that generally, this is a normal reaction and where they can, they prefer not to sell a standard room for double occupancy.

Standard Room Number 313 was a compact, no-frills room, enhanced by lavish gold wallpaper and a reminder that you are, in fact, in an upmarket London Club with the smart His and Hers Lansdowne bathrobes.

The room has a small Samsung TV, Desk, and Tea and coffee-making facilities. The air conditioning unit, which was much appreciated in the London heatwave, gets top marks.

The bathroom with shower is basic and graced by Pecksniff’s Mood Therapy toiletries and named towels.

There was nothing special to report about the city building view, except the other side of the corridor looks into the Courtyard Brasserie and might be considered the better pick. For those who never spend their waking hours in their London hotel rooms, for the price, it is not a bad option.  It did us fine.

OTHER GUEST ROOMS

Double Room

I did ask to see other rooms before we left which would have scored higher from me for the size and the enhanced decor.

The Lansdowne Club Suite room

FOOD & DRINK 8/10

Breakfast

A complimentary full English breakfast is included with your stay. We enjoyed the breakfast as much for the service and the setting, as for the food, although an honorable mention is given to the sausages! Sunday morning was a buffet breakfast, by Monday we did learn that eggs of choice are available on request as are a Latte and a Cappucino (at a small additional charge.)

Newspapers were available to read and it is a highlight to enjoy a lazy, lingering breakfast in this dining room.

Courtyard Brasserie 

This is a bright inner courtyard area and great for lunch, drinks, and afternoon tea.

Smoking policy – yes, the Courtyard area is a smoking area! So it was totally within club reason for two not-so gentlemen with large fat cigars to belch great clouds of smoke our way and all over our afternoon tea.  Wot, no cigar lounge here?

Art Deco Dining Room

Dining Room Gourmet Dining

The restaurant is closed on the weekends, but judging from the menu, there is the choice of both A La Carte Dining and a two or three-course set menu. You will find modern British cuisine with a twist such as Balmoral Venison to Pear and Raspberry Crumble Trifle. A two-course meal starts from 29 GBP per person.

They also offer a club table for those dining alone and wishing to meet fellow members, which I thought was a lovely idea.

Art Deco Piano Bar

Piano Bar

The elegant Art Deco Piano Bar is described as a haven of comfort and relaxation for pre- and post-dinner drinks and a glass of club champagne. It was closed during our visit, but we did find people using it to have a coffee and read the papers in the morning.

VALUE FOR MONEY 9/10

Members and reciprocal members pay different rates. We paid 260 pounds, including a 40-pound Facilities Fee and breakfast. In addition, during a stay, food and drinks are offered at Club prices and are good value for London.

OVERALL 8.5/10

I love finding unusual and different places to stay. The club boasts 18th-century grandeur and stylish Art Deco décor, with a choice of rooms to suit all needs. I can see why people become members just for the accommodation.

The Details:

To stay, you need to be either a member or the guest of a member (or have a reciprocal member invite)

How do I get a membership of the Lansdowne Club?

You need to apply and be sponsored by existing members. Once you have been approved, there is an annual fee.

Final Thoughts:

After an interesting start, It doth surprise me to announce that by the end of our stay, I’d gotten over my initial doubts and I absolutely fell in love with the place!  

In fact, we loved it so much that we extended it for an extra night (in the same room). We found The Lansdowne Club was very liveable, and the other guests (I never saw the cigar-loving chaps again) were very pleasant although the weekend crowd although not especially chatty. 

The staff were great and offered impeccable services in a polite and very down-to-earth way, first greeting aside!

What an absolute privilege to have stayed here and taken a wander through the historical rooms dating back to 1761. Thank you so much to the Lansdowne Club; we loved our stay. We will be back next time to enjoy some of your other rooms.   [July 2022]

Suite room

Updates Dec 2022 & March 2023

True to our word, we have returned twice to the Lansdowne Club and are impressed with seeing different areas that we missed on the first occasion. As we walk in through the door, there is now a familiarity that members must feel. It truly is like coming to our London Home—well, like the London home we would love to have!

The Suite rooms

We like the extra space that the Suite rooms offer; these are our rooms of choice when staying at the Lansdowne Club.

There are plans afoot to upgrade some of the rooms and they are going to be fabulous. Taking inspiration from the Art Deco history, these will be the rooms to have!

I loved the yoga!

The yoga is fabulous I finally made it to a class that I so missed on the first occasion. There is a lot more to the sports facilities than we ever get to benefit from. There is just so much to do and see in London whilst staying in this superb location.

What’s new in dining

The biggest wow from our recent stays was my birthday dinner at the restaurant. The food was incredible. So much so that we are still talking about it. Check out the Apple Surprise!

The Courtyard dining in winter is enclosed, it’s a tad chilly but they manage well with additional heaters and blankets on each chair. The good British food was great for casual dining, from healthy salads, shepherd’s pie, or fish and chips.

Happy Birthday thanks

It says it all to say that this was the best birthday stay to celebrate a significant birthday. Thank you so much to all the staff for another wonderful time at The Lansdowne Club.

Overall Score 9.25/10!