Private members’ clubs, explained
Plain-English answers to the questions people ask most about private members’ clubs — what they are, what they cost, and how to get in.
- What is a private members' club?
- A private members' club is a members-only establishment — typically offering dining, bars, lounges, event spaces and sometimes bedrooms — that admits people by application, nomination or election rather than being open to the public. They range from historic gentlemen's clubs to modern social clubs, golf & country clubs and yacht clubs.
- How much does it cost to join a private members' club?
- Membership costs vary widely. Traditional clubs may charge from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds a year, usually plus a one-off joining fee; the most exclusive modern clubs can run to tens of thousands. Some clubs deliberately do not publish their fees.
- How do you become a member of a private members' club?
- Most established clubs require nomination by an existing member — usually a proposer and a seconder — followed by a waiting list and approval by a membership committee. Some newer clubs accept direct applications, and many vet for fit rather than wealth alone.
- What is the oldest private members' club in the world?
- White's, founded in London in 1693, is generally regarded as the oldest private members' club in the world. It began as a chocolate house and has occupied its clubhouse on St James's Street since 1778.
- What is the difference between a private members' club and a country club?
- A country club is a type of private members' club centred on sport and recreation — typically golf, tennis, swimming and dining — usually set on its own grounds outside a city. The broader term 'private members' club' also covers city social clubs focused on dining, networking and culture.
- Do private members' clubs admit women?
- Historically many clubs were men-only, but most now admit women. The Reform Club changed its rules to admit women on equal terms in 1981, and the Garrick Club voted to admit women in 2024. A small number of clubs remain single-sex.
- Which are the most prestigious yacht clubs?
- By institutional recognition and regatta history, the most prestigious yacht clubs include the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, the New York Yacht Club, the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The One Club publishes a ranked Top 100 Yacht Clubs.
- How many private members' clubs are there?
- The One Club lists more than 1,190 private members', golf, yacht and country clubs across 62 countries, each with its location, founding year where verified, membership type and official website.
Explore the full directory or the Top 100 Yacht Clubs.