A Visit to the National Liberal Club

The Club was established by W.E. Gladstone in 1882 for the purpose of providing club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners. The architect was Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) who used a neo-Gothic style similar to that of the Natural History Museum for the building which was completed in 1887. Its facilities included a dining room a bar, function rooms, a billiards room, a smoking room and reading room, as well as an outdoor riverside terrace.

At the time of its construction the Club was the largest clubhouse ever built; only the Royal Automobile Club of 1910 was larger. It was the first London Club to incorporate a lift and the first to be entirely lit throughout with electric lighting. We will be given a tour of the extremely fine interiors of this Grade I-listed building, followed by a fabulous afternoon tea.

Please not that there is a strict dress code – jacket and tie for men, skirt or dress for women, no jeans, no trainers, no tee shirts.