The National Liberal Club is a London private members' club, open to both men and women. It was established by William Ewart Gladstone in 1882 to provide club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners among the newly enlarged electorate following the Third Reform Act in 1884, and was envisioned as a more accessible version of a traditional London club.
The club's elegant Italianate building on the Embankment of the river Thames is the second-largest club-house built in London. (It was the largest ever at the time, but was superseded by the later Royal Automobile Club building completed in 1911.) Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, it was completed in 1887.
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.
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