Best Private Family Members Clubs in London: What’s Worth It, What Isn’t, and What They Don’t Tell You Before You Join
- Shanti | The Kensington Diary
- Jan 2
- 16 min read
Updated: Jun 5
Updated in 2026: Now covering Soho House, RAC, Hurlingham and more.
The best private family members clubs in London reviewed honestly by a member.
When our son was a toddler we faced the same decision most London parents face. Nanny or nursery. independent classes or something more. We tried everything from baby sensory, music classes, playgroups and story time. We loved many of them. But there was something the independent class circuit could not give us, particularly as a family without extended family nearby in London. Community. Familiarity. A place that felt like ours.
That is what led us to London’s private family members clubs. And having been members of several over the years and attended parties and events across all of them, I can give you the most honest and up to date picture of what each one actually offers in 2026. Read my article, if you want to find out more about which London Memberships We Joined, Cancelled, and Still Use.
Contents
The New Breed of Private Family Members Clubs in London
The concept of family-oriented members clubs is not entirely new. Clubs such as Hurlingham have long provided recreational facilities for London families and remain some of the most sought-after memberships in the city today.
What has changed over the past decade, however, is the emergence of a new generation of clubs designed specifically around modern family life.
These clubs are often perceived as exclusive or unnecessarily expensive. Having visited and joined several over the years, I think that characterisation misses the point. Whilst the facilities are undoubtedly impressive, what many parents are really paying for is something much harder to find in a city as large and busy as London: community.
For families raising children without grandparents or extended family nearby, these clubs can provide a familiar environment where children build friendships, parents meet like-minded families and both have a place that feels a little like a home away from home. In many ways, they sit somewhere between a traditional members club, a children’s activity centre and a neighbourhood community.
Of course, not all family memberships are trying to achieve the same thing.
Some focus heavily on babies and toddlers. Others are built around sport, recreation and outdoor space. Some cater as much to adults as they do to children, whilst others place the child firmly at the centre of the experience.
Membership fees can range from approximately £1,500 to over £6,000 per year depending on the club, facilities and level of access. Whilst that is a significant investment, it is worth remembering that many London families are already spending substantial amounts on swimming lessons, music classes, sensory classes, holiday camps and children’s activities throughout the year.
Having been members of some clubs, attended events at many others and spoken to countless parents about their experiences, I have found that the “best” membership depends far less on reputation and far more on your child’s age, where you live and how realistically you expect to use the facilities.
Before diving into the individual reviews, here is my honest summary of who I think each membership is best suited to.
Purple Dragon & Nexus Club, Chelsea
Best Ages: 3-8 years
Best For: The most comprehensive child-and-parent club experience
Purple Dragon is the original private family members club in London and still the standard against which every other is measured. Founded in 2008 by Sharai Meyers, it was built on a simple and radical idea that children and adults could share a space without either having to compromise.
It has an international network hosting clubs from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, with London branches based in Chelsea and Putney. It offers a space where both children and adults can hang out, designed with children and adults in mind and underpinned by a culture of fun, happiness, community, respect and enrichment. The club is just lush with sleek, sophisticated and tasteful decor.
The Chelsea club offers access to a pool; play areas and dress up zones and a wide range of classes including cooking, ballet, sensory play and music. The club has multiple rooms each equipped with its own play buddy, which is a qualified staff member to lead the activity in each room. There's a music room where our son loved playing different instruments from drums to the guitar, a creative room for budding artists, and soft play area with ball pit. Whilst the club offers such a wide array of activities, my personal recommendation is that it suits ages 3-6 years of age best.
But the club is perfect for adults too, with a golf simulator, a library, and a wonderful restaurant to catch up with friends over lunch. Of course, you are also welcome to join in the fun with your little ones at their classes.
Purple Dragon has different levels of membership to suit your lifestyle including the the premier, early birds, night birds, or the out of towners. The prices from range upto £6000 per annum dependant on the type of membership you choose and how much time you wish to spend at the club each month. Pricing decreases for week days only and increases if you want weekends and afternoons/early evenings. It is the priciest option reviewed but certainly also has the most facilities, which is why I believe it's worth it with the range on offer for both children and parents.
Membership ranges from £2500 - £6500 per annum depending on membership tier.
Cloud Twelve, Notting Hill
Best Ages: 2-12 years
Best for: Wellness-focused families seeking flexibility and holistic servic
Cloud Twelve, located in Notting Hill, takes a slightly different approach, positioning itself as a family wellness club rather than a traditional children’s members club. Set within a converted townhouse, the space feels intimate yet carefully curated, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing for both children and parents.
The children’s area includes a beautifully designed indoor play space, alongside rooms for structured classes such as sensory play, music, art and other developmental activities. Much like other clubs, there is a strong schedule of classes available, but the overall environment feels calmer and more wellness-led rather than purely activity-driven.
What truly differentiates Cloud Twelve is its holistic offering. The club includes a spa and wellness centre, offering treatments for both adults and children, alongside more advanced wellness concepts including biohacking and longevity-focused therapies. There is also a salon on site, allowing parents to incorporate personal care into their visit, making it a genuinely multifunctional space.
The café area is thoughtfully integrated, creating a relaxed environment where parents can spend time while children are engaged in activities or childcare sessions. The club also hosts events, parties and even “after dark” experiences, reinforcing its positioning as a lifestyle and wellness destination rather than purely a childcare solution.
In terms of age range, I would say Cloud Twelve works well for children roughly between 2 and 12 years old, with enough flexibility to appeal to a slightly broader age group depending on the child’s interests.
Overall, Cloud Twelve feels less like a traditional members club and more like a refined wellness space that happens to cater exceptionally well to families — making it an ideal option for parents who are looking to balance childcare with time for themselves in a more considered, wellbeing-focused environment.
Membership: Ranges between £2650 - £5,500 per annum depending on level of access.
Jesse's House, Parson's Green
Best Ages: 2-6 years
Best for: Swimming, childcare, activities and parent fitness
Jesse’s House, located in Parsons Green, is a beautifully designed family members club that blends childcare, activities and lifestyle seamlessly under one roof. Both Jaego’s House in Kensal Rise and Jesse’s House in Parsons Green are sister clubs from the same founder, Charlie Gardiner, and part of the OurHouse Group. Having attended parties and events at both, I can tell you the ethos is consistent across each one: genuinely joyful spaces where children are allowed to be children and parents are equally catered for.
The club offers both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, with structured swimming lessons available, as well as a small outdoor football pitch and indoor and outdoor playground space that adds a welcome balance of outdoor activity in a central London setting.
Inside, there are dedicated activity rooms where children can be dropped off (booking in advance is required), with a varied and well-curated schedule including cooking, baking, ballet, sensory play, games room (for older kids), music and art classes. The sessions are run by OFSTED-registered staff, which provides an added level of reassurance for parents looking for structured, high-quality childcare within a members club environment.
For parents, the offering is equally considered. There is a well-equipped gym alongside Pilates and reformer Pilates classes, making it possible to incorporate a workout into your visit, as well as a large restaurant and café serving fresh, healthy food — something that genuinely elevates the overall experience and makes it easy to spend extended time there.
In terms of age range, whilst the club caters up to around 8 years old, I personally found it best suited to children aged approximately 2 to 6. We visited when my son was slightly older, and whilst he still enjoyed aspects of it, it felt more aligned with younger children unless they are particularly happy in a more playful, less structured environment.
One practical consideration is parking, which can be challenging in this area, so it is worth factoring this into your planning. That said, Jesse’s House stands out as a thoughtfully designed, high-quality option for families looking for a combination of childcare, activities and lifestyle in one place.
Membership: Ranges from £2400 - £4800 per annum depending on membership type and usage.
Jaego's House, Kensal Rise
Best Ages: 0-7 years
Best for: Soft play, crèche, nursery integration and all-weather play
Jaego’s House, located in Kensal Rise at The White Building on Harrow Road, is a beautifully designed private family members club that blends childcare, activities and lifestyle seamlessly under one roof. Spanning over 20,000 square feet, this is one of the largest family members clubs in London and the original club from the OurHouse Group, founded in 2022 by Charlie Gardiner.
The centrepiece for children is the Jungle Gym and Soft Play separated into two areas, one for under threes with a jungle gym, ball blowers, small slides, dress up and sensory play, and a larger section for children up to age 9 with bigger slides and climbing frames. There is also a Kids Cinema showing children’s films throughout the day, an outdoor playground, and a crèche and Kids Club run by experienced childminders with a background in theatre bringing imagination and storytelling to every session. Children can be dropped off in the crèche, giving parents genuine time to themselves.
For parents, the offering is equally well considered. A well-equipped gym, fitness studio, Pilates classes and a co-working Study space make it possible to be productive or active during your visit. The restaurant and café serve a fresh, healthy all-day menu with a Kids Eat Free offer on weekday lunches and weekend afternoons something that genuinely makes extended visits easy and affordable.
The club also has a nursery on site, Kensal House Nursery, operating within the same building and giving nursery children exclusive access to the Jungle Gym and Soft Play facilities.
In terms of age range, Jaego’s House works well for children from babies through to approximately age 9, though the soft play and jungle gym are the real draw for the under 6s. The club is currently full with a waitlist, which tells you everything about its popularity among West London families.
Membership: Available through the OurHouse platform and ranges from approximately £90 per adult and £50 per child per month depending on the package and classes chosen.
Soho House, White City House and Beyond
Best Ages: 3-10 years
Best for: Existing Soho House members wanting pools, culture and family access
Most parents don’t realise that Soho House offers child membership alongside its adult offering. If you or your partner are already Soho House members, this is worth knowing about for families in London.
Child membership gives access to the swimming pool at various London Soho Houses and to the Teeny Barn at Soho Farmhouse, the dedicated children’s space with structured activities available for a set number of hours per day.
Children’s swimming hours across the Houses are Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 11.30am and 3.30pm to 6pm. Child swimming is permitted at weekends until 12 pm. Children are permitted in the Houses until 9pm, though adults-only spaces including most bars remain off limits at all times.
Soho House is not a dedicated private family members club in the way that Purple Dragon or Jaego’s House is. It is an adult members club that accommodates children in specific ways at specific times.
Membership: For families who already hold adult Soho House membership (£1950 for a single house, rising to £3800 for Every House) and want to extend access to their children without joining a separate club, it is a genuinely useful addition at £50+ per month, subject to waitlist, reviewed by a committee on a first come, first served basis.
Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall
Best Ages: 7+ at Pall Mall, 2+ at Woodcote Park
Best for: Sport, golf, swimming and traditional club life
The Royal Automobile Club is one of London’s most impressive private members clubs in purely physical terms. The Pall Mall clubhouse is remarkable, featuring its iconic marble swimming pool, Turkish baths, squash courts, gym, treatment rooms, elegant dining spaces and over one hundred bedrooms. Few clubs in London can match it for grandeur.
From a family perspective, however, it is important to understand that Pall Mall is primarily designed as an adult club. Children over the age of seven are permitted at specific times and for selected activities, but access is more restricted than at dedicated family-focused clubs and the atmosphere remains noticeably more formal.
What makes the membership particularly interesting for families is the second clubhouse at Woodcote Park in Surrey. Here, the experience becomes far more family-oriented, with golf, tennis, extensive outdoor space and dedicated junior membership options. The Walled Garden is especially popular, offering an indoor children’s pool, soft play facilities, outdoor games areas and a junior lounge designed specifically for younger members.
The Royal Automobile Club therefore occupies a unique position. It is not a children’s members club in the way that Purple Dragon or Jesse’s House are. Instead, it offers families access to one of London’s most prestigious private clubs while also providing substantial sporting and recreational facilities outside the city.
For Kensington and Chelsea families, the practical consideration is location. Pall Mall is a destination rather than a neighbourhood club, which inevitably affects how frequently it becomes part of everyday family life. Nevertheless, for families seeking a combination of tradition, sport and leisure, it remains a compelling option.
Membership: Approximately £2,000–£3,500 per annum plus joining fees depending on category and access.
Hurlingham Club, Fulham
Best Ages: 4+
Best for: Outdoor sport, swimming, tennis and long-term family membership
The Hurlingham Club is probably the London membership I would most like to have, and the reason we do not is simple: the waiting list is now measured in decades rather than years.
For families in West and Central London, Hurlingham occupies a category of its own. Unlike the newer family members clubs that focus on classes, soft play and childcare, Hurlingham is built around sport, outdoor recreation and family life. Set across 42 acres on the banks of the Thames, it offers something that is surprisingly difficult to find in London: genuine outdoor space combined with exceptional sporting facilities.
The facilities include tennis, cricket, football, squash, fitness facilities, swimming pools and extensive lawns that make the club feel more like a private country estate than a London membership. The children’s playground is legendary amongst local families and becomes one of the club’s biggest draws during the warmer months. Children also benefit from dedicated access hours to both the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, while family dining is well catered for throughout the club.
What appeals to me most is that Hurlingham evolves with your family. Unlike many family clubs that are strongest during the toddler years, Hurlingham remains relevant as children become teenagers and eventually young adults. It is less a children’s club and more a family institution.
Membership costs are relatively modest compared to some of London’s newer family clubs, but the challenge is access rather than affordability. For families seeking outdoor sport, community and long-term value, it remains one of London’s most coveted memberships.
Membership: Approximately £1,500–£2,000 per annum plus joining fees, subject to category and waiting list.
Maggie and Rose, Kensington (Temporarily Closed)
Best Ages: 0-6 years
Best For: Classes, soft play, sensory play, community and the early years
Maggie & Rose, dubbed the Soho-House for children, is London' first family members club with two outposts, one in Kensington and the other in Chiswick. It was brainstormed by Maggie Bolgor and Rose Astor, to provide a beautiful creative space for children in surroundings that appealed to adults too, pretty much a home away from home.
The Kensington club hosts a vast array of classes for babies, toddlers and children (up to 7 years of age), each in different rooms with amazing set ups. You can choose from cooking, dancing, singing, gardening, art & craft, make believe, sensory play, music and dress up classes, which makes being a child so much fun! There is also a baby room with a ball pit and lots of sensory stimulation; a huge amazing soft play room for toddlers which our son absolutely loved; and a quiet room with vintage cars, books and toys to keep your little ones occupied. Outside, there is a small garden to allow for your little one to run around.
A shabby chic restaurant on site caters simple food without sacrificing quality or taste, and without added salt or refined sugar, just good healthy ingredients. There is also a cinema on site to catch a movie with your little one!
The Kensington club is the original Maggie and Rose club and it prides itself on hosting incredible social events, parties and holiday clubs for older kids. You can see how the social benefits are immense!
The group also have their own nursery, for an additional cost, offering full or part time care for your little ones from 1.5 to 2.5 years of age.
Maggie and Rose membership ranges from £150 - £300 a month, dependant on the type of membership you get and how many classes you sign up for per month. Overall, we found facilities for children to be incredible, there was just so much to do! It was evident that the children all loved their time there. It did have slightly less facilities for adults compared to Purple Dragon Play. However, this is reflected in the middle of the mark price range compared to other member's clubs reviewed. Furthermore it is regarded as an institution with an amazing reputation, and it is clear why the members love it!
Membership: Ranges from £1800 - £3600 per annum depending on usage and classes.
Cupcake (Now Closed)
Cupcake, based in Parson's Green, offers a a social & recreational for the family, fitness space for mummies, and a development space for your child.
There's a creche open Monday to Friday from 8.30-1.30 pm where you can utilise the time to catch up on what you need to. For the mummies, there are four mummy and baby fitness classes per week including carrifit, yoga, barre and pilates. For your baby, toddler or child, there are 60 classes a week. These include art and craft, cooking, sensory play, soft play, toddler football & basketball, play songs, and music. There is also the cupcake academy for 3-5 years olds, for after school art, drama, cooking, ballet, football and tennis. Looking at the schedule, the downside is there aren't many options for Dads and not many classes for babies and toddlers take place on the weekend.
Cupcake membership for the whole family starts at £150 up to £200 per month, dependant on how many credits you sign up for. Cupcake had the most limited facilities, but I believe that this reflected in the price which makes it a cost effective option. We didn't visit the club as it did not offer what we personally were looking for. However, it certainly has met the task of creating a neighbourhood feel in a members club we have heard, and families who are members do love it!
Membership ranges from £1800 - £2400 per annum depending on membership tier.
Are Independent Classes Not the Same, But With More Versatility?
During my maternity leave, I visited many independent classes in London ranging from baby sensory, play groups, story time, music, baby massage, and fitness. My son and I both enjoyed the classes immensely and you are able to sign up for these on the day via the Hoop App or Website, or book a 3 month session with the vendor directly. The great thing is that you can get a discounted fee if you book a few sessions in advance, and you also not tied into a long term contract, so you can try many classes to find the right fit. The flexibility is a big plus especially if your child might be unwell or sleepy on a particular day. The standard of the classes are great and the range available s so wide, we had so much to chose from, which is definitely a perk.
On the downside, the classes in the Central London area had one thing in common: a large proportion of nannies attending with the little ones. It was thus rare to meet other parents to share a bond and develop a parent network, a very different experience than I would have imagined, I have to admit. The social aspect as a new parent should not be underestimated and the private family members clubs can provide a wealth of opportunity for this. Additionally, the independent classes are very child centric, as they should be, but it means that recreation for the parent isn't really an option during this time, as an adult needs to accompany the child. This might work if you have a part-time nanny, au pair or family to help during these times of course. Most of the independent classes take place during the week, which can make it tough for working parents to participate in.
In most parts of West and Central London, playgroups and story time are free of charge but other baby and toddler classes come at a cost, where the charges range from anywhere between £10 to £25 per class. This can add up and on many months we could easily spend £300-£400 per month if we signed up for swimming, and 2-4 additional classes per week.
At a Glance: Which London Family Members Club Is Right for You?
If you are short on time, this is my honest summary after visiting or being a member of many of London’s best-known family clubs.
For babies and toddlers (0–3 years): Maggie & Rose remained one of the strongest options thanks to its extensive classes, sensory activities, soft play and community feel for new parents. It is particularly well suited to families looking for structured activities during the early years. However, it is now temporarily closed
For preschool and early primary years (3–6 years): Purple Dragon is arguably the most comprehensive offering, combining classes, play spaces, swimming, dining and facilities that appeal to both children and adults. Jesse’s House is another excellent choice, particularly for families seeking a balance between childcare, swimming, fitness and lifestyle. I would opt for either of these for babies too due to Maggie & Rose closure.
For a wider age range (2–12 years): Cloud Twelve works well for families who place a high value on wellness and flexibility, while Jaego’s House offers one of the broadest age ranges and some of the best soft play facilities reviewed.
For existing Soho House members: Adding child membership is often more cost-effective than joining a separate family club, particularly if your primary goal is swimming, occasional activities and access to Soho Farmhouse.
For long-term family membership: The Hurlingham Club sits in a category of its own. It is less a children’s club and more a family institution that evolves alongside your children over many years.
Have you tried any of these options? I would welcome your thoughts on the experience.
Much Love
Shanti
The Kensington Diary
xxx
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