Welcome to the NLC
Occupying a historic building overlooking the Thames, the National Liberal Club offers its members and guests an oasis of calm, comfort and elegance in the heart of Westminster.
Imagine the Natural History Museum, only grander, more elegant and more intimate. Designed by the same architect but for a very different purpose, the National Liberal Club was created as a place for people to relax, unwind and socialise – not just some of the world’s most eminent statesmen but also others from different backgrounds and ethnicities who were embraced by Britain’s 19th-century liberal culture just as they are today. From the moment you walk through the revolving doors into the high-ceilinged hall, with its spectacular staircase immediately in front of you, you feel yourself simultaneously transported into history yet connected to the best of contemporary multicultural London.
Make your way up Europe’s largest unsupported marble staircase, spiralling towards an ornate stained-glass ceiling. When you reach the landing, you can turn left into the Club’s magnificent Dining Room, the perfect venue for a delicious lunch or dinner – complete with tall Corinthian pillars and impressive views through the huge windows towards the Thames. Or turn right and make your way to the Smoking Room, the largest room in the building, framed by more glazed pillars with cosy alcoves with bookcases and fireplaces at each end – the ideal location for some quiet contemplation, a tasty afternoon tea or a convivial fireside chat with friends.
Founded in 1882, the National Liberal Club built what was at the time of construction London’s largest purpose-built clubhouse. It has been a bastion for broadly Liberal values ever since, with an ethnically and socially diverse membership since its launch in the 1880s, and being the first of London’s major ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ to admit women.
The Club remains liberal in the broadest sense. As befitting ‘the most inclusive club in London’, we have an LGBT+ group and business forum along with various cultural and sporting circles. Alongside British traditions like Burns Night, we also celebrate festivals from around the globe, like Diwali and Chinese New Year. Alone among established London clubs, our membership has risen by more than fifty per cent over the past five years and continues to increase year on year.
Our Philosophy
The National Liberal Club occupies a clubhouse of breathtaking grandeur, but its proudest boast is to be ‘the most inclusive club in London’. Wherever you’re from, whatever your skin colour, gender or sexuality, you can be yourself at the NLC, provided only that you respect the right of others to do the same. We believe in celebrating difference and enjoying life.
Apply today
The National Liberal Club is an open and diverse family welcoming people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Apply to join our historic club today and become part of a liberal tradition that spans two centuries.