The Hurlingham Club

It's nearly 20 years since as a guest I visited the Hurlingham Club but I am more confident that it won't have changed than I would be even of Lord's Cricket Ground. On a pleasant summer day, it was heaven on earth. Tennis in one area (Jason Connery playing against various Wimbledon superstars), Cricket in another (David Steele, the England Stalwart not the politician playing) and croquet lawns of course. Indoor swimming pools. Anyone can be a member, the Club Secretary said. Remind me, I said, what is the annual subscription. Even then it was more than an OAP pension for a year, and there was a joining fee. They were raising several million for a new pool and just levied the 7,000 or so membership the requisite £1,000 per head.

It is indeed heaven on earth, no roughs here by George, but the St.Peter here has different admission standards to the other Heaven.

truly stunning place, really large and lovely gardens
i photographed a wedding here and it really was a fairy tale wedding, lots of lovely locations for photographs

This is a wonderfully old-school and sophisicated London members club - perfect for a game of lawn tennis or just hanging out drinking tea and reading a book in one of the beautiful conservatories or on the terrace (I did the latter!) You can only get in here with a member - and most people are either married into or born into membership at Hurlingham because the wait is around 15 years - but luckily members can bring a bunch of people at a time.

The grounds are gorgeous and with a perfect weather weekend you can spend hours wandering around and taking in the beautiful scenery. If you decide to opt for a membership, by the time your name is at the top of the list 15 or so years down the track, you may just be about nearing the right age to fit in with the clientele here. Yes, I’m talking OAPs. This club is a million miles away from the media crowd you find in most well known members club, this really is a place for the old-school English gentleman in his suit - which gives it a special vibe.

Oh and don’t forget your crisp whites on the tennis courts, no other gear allowed here!

Well this place is very exclusive!You need to be friend’s with a member to go but if you are lucky enough to know someone to take you then go for it! It is so unique and it’s in the middle of London!It’s got outdoor tennis, mini golf, putting, 2 pools, squash etc. Any sport, you name it. The changing rooms are lush, all really clean with towels and soaps and haridryers etc. The staff are very friendly and helpful and it’s the place to be on a summer’s day when sitting outside on the grounds with a chilled Pimms is heaven!

The Hurlingham club is a real gem sandwiched between Hurlingham Park and Bishop’s Park. The club, founded in 1869, has an amazing Georgian clubhouse and is set in some 42 acres of grounds. Extraordinary to find something like this right in the middle of London. There were times over the weekend when i felt like i was in a Jane Austen novel or maybe in Kentucky in the 1800’s - sprawling lawns, old boy sipping G and T’s and enough croquet lawns and grass tennis courts to service half of Fulham. The facilities are what really makes the Hurlingham Club for me - indoor and outdoor pools, putting greens, bowls, 5 bars, card rooms, reading rooms, gyms, cricket pitch and much, much more.

The only reason i am giving the Hurlingham 4 out of 5 is at times i definitely felt WAY to young to be here. Certain corners of the Hurlingham do have a bit of an old people’s home vibe. Oh, and it goes without saying that this place is Toff heaven - I think it’s pretty safe to say that not a single glottal stop will be uttered at the Hurlingham and children that don’t say please and thank you will go without supper.

All in all a great place though. Particularly for tennis fanatics. Best fill out that membership form soon though, there’s a 15 year waiting list…. :)