Private clubs are all the rage these days, with young people flocking to London’s exclusive clubs to party, relax and work out behind closed doors and away from the masses.
In the past, Soho House was a hot spot for A-list celebrities, and while the lucky ones might still spot an influencer as they competed for a poolside lounger in one of the hippest neighborhoods of London, the days of spotting a Hollywood star are over. us by.
For this you need to go to one of London’s oldest private clubs, which costs a premium price of £565 per year and counts Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf and Stanley Kubrick among its former members.
This is the little-known London library. Founded in 1841, the leading literary institution ditches overpriced cocktails and farm retreats in favor of more than a million books, nestled in St James Square in Westminster.
Clearly the home of the capital’s creatives, the library contributes around £21.3 million to the UK economy through around 700 books and 460 screenplays produced by its members; It’s a feat so impressive that it’s attracted royalty, and the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hanks have stopped to take a stunned selfie outside the building.
Contrary to popular opinion, the private club that attracts the most celebrities, including Tom Hanks (pictured), may well be the London Library.
This could challenge the typical perception of a private club because, although coworking spaces have become part of modern clubs, they are the main attraction of the London Library.
With over a million works, ranging from books to television and theater scripts, the institution aims to inspire its members through the written word.
In the past, Charles Dickens and George Eliot were members. Today, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and Jessie Burton are known to use its facilities.
The exclusive club has the long-standing support of British royalty, with the late Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Consort Camilla, 76, both patrons of the library.
It also has an esteemed actress as its president – Helena Bonham-Carter. A member since 1986, the role that catapulted The Crown star to fame was A Room With A View, written by former library vice-president EM Forster.
Meanwhile, Bill Nighy was the surprise guest at the London Library’s annual Christmas party last year, hosted by Helena Bonham-Carter and with music by Natty Bo.
Last year, none other than Forest Gump star Tom Hanks stopped by for an “impromptu” visit and smiled for a photo outside the building to mark the occasion. “Tom was delighted to learn about our fascinating history and our long, illustrious list of former members,” the club wrote on Instagram.
He left a gift for the other members by signing his book, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, in the library’s collection and joked inside the cover: “Put me next to Kubrick?” No! Devil! No! Kubrick! »
It counts a high-profile celebrity as its president, Harry Potter actress Helena Bonham-Carter (pictured)
And famous actress Reese Witherspoon (pictured) made sure to stop by during her trip to London
The London Library Christmas party wasn’t without familiar faces, and Bill Nighy stopped by (photo with Helena Bonham-Carter)
Spread across seven buildings in Westminster, the library has more than a million books on its premises
Elsewhere, Reese Witherspoon went into tourist mode as she visited the club, looking stunned as she posed outside the building holding her London Library merchandise on her shoulder.
But famous names don’t represent all of the 7,500 members and, unlike most private clubs, its doors are open to anyone, regardless of age or background, as long as they can pay a hefty membership fee.
“On a daily basis, members of the public, authors, academics, students, researchers and people from a range of professional backgrounds share our facilities and their love of learning, creating a unique cultural institution in the heart of London” , we can read on its website. .
And according to the impact report produced for the Library, this is paying off. “The Library is extremely effective in stimulating and facilitating world-class creativity and is committed to making its collection, spaces and creative community as accessible as possible to other potential and existing creatives,” it reads.
The report further highlights instances where the library played a vital role in a writer’s success. He took inspiration from the example of creative mogul Deborah Davis, the mastermind behind the Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz-starring box office hit The Favorite.
Located in St James Square, the prestigious club (pictured) costs £565 a year to join.
Forest Gump star Tom Hanks stopped by last year, visiting the library and struggling with some of its contents
Tom Hanks also signed a copy of his book, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, during his visit.
In addition to its facilities, the Library also offers its members a multitude of daily activities, including quiz nights.
“Deborah could not have written The Favorite without her library membership. Although she did not write the screenplay at the library, it was an essential resource for the historical context of the story and screenplay.
“Indeed, she conducted virtually all of the research for the film at the library,” the report states.
Spread across seven buildings, the London Library offers its members a wealth of places to hone their writing skills, including The Reading Room, considered a favorite of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Art Room, The Bookstacks and The Times Room, which first launched to celebrate 200 years of the newspaper.
As well as its extensive facilities, the London Library adds a host of events, from quiz nights to writing sessions and theater performances.
This is an impressive private club that offers more than most, but like you might find at Annabelle’s or Soho House, it’s exorbitantly priced.
But for the next Dickens, Woolf or Kubrick, the £565 annual membership could be worth the expense.