Clubland Tour: A Guide to the Fashionable St James District

St James has humble origins. It first began as a leper colony in the 1100s and, by the 1600s it had developed into a playground for London‘s wealthy upper class. On this walking tour, I‘ll tell you how the area transformed over the years, point out where some of its more notable residents lived, show you a few interesting stores, and reveal the fashionable district‘s darker side.

Starting outside Piccadilly Circus, you‘ll duck in and out of Jermyn Street as you make your way to St James‘ Square, where seven dukes and seven earls once resided, and Pall Mall where you‘ll find two private member clubs, The Reform Club and The Athenaeum Club. I‘ll tell you how the development of these private Gentlemen’s Clubs earned the area the nickname ‘Clubland’ in the 1900s. You‘ll also see where Sir Isaac Newton and Napoléon III (the son of Napoleon Bonaparte‘s brother Louis) once lived. Down Crown Passage, I‘ll show you The Red Lion, a pub that claims to be both London‘s second-oldest licensed premise and one of Elizabeth the Queen Mother‘s haunts when she stayed at nearby St James Palace. Before ending the tour at Green Park, you‘ll pass by the Dukes Hotel where author Ian Fleming decided that James Bond‘s drink of choice would be a Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred.

On this 75-minute London walk, you‘ll:

• Trace the development of the area‘s streets, squares and houses
• Stroll down Jermyn Street street, known worldwide for its high-class tailoring
• Meet the couple that would be every landlord’s nightmare, who found a novel (and illegal) way of boosting their household income
• Walk along St James’ Place which has been home to Oscar Wilde, Randolph Churchill (father of Winston), and many politicians
• Listen to the tragic tale of Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher who was killed while on duty
• Hear about George Bryan “Beau” Brummell, the local dandy, and his rise and fall in Georgian society
• See where Christies‘ Auction Rooms, owned by the world-famous auctioneer, was once located
• Pop into the world‘s oldest wine merchant, Berry Brothers & Rudd

Join me on this walk around London‘s fashionable and historical St James‘ district!