ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB
Reciprocal Club: Royal Automobile Club
By Michelle Van Slack, Director Member Services
London takes the stage T
As the world focuses on the Olympics, consider your insider options in the city
he world spotlight is on London this month as it plays host to the XXX Olympiad. With 26 sports, 10,500 athletes and millions of spectators, it's the biggest sporting event on the planet. But the Olympians aren't the only ones with connections in London. With a WAC letter of introduction, you can visit any of our seven reciprocal clubs in London proper without even breaking a sweat.
Michelle Van Slack is Director Member Services. Send her feedback on your reciprocal club visits at mvanslack@wac.net
One jolly good choice for its location and stately accommodation is the Royal Automobile Club. Located across from St. James's Square in the West End area of Central London, the club is a short stroll from Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and the world-famous shops and salons of Mayfair. If you need a place to rest after all that shopping and sightseeing, you may choose to stay in one of the club's 106 lavishly appointed guest rooms. If the location of the Royal Automobile Club isn't enough to
89 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS P: 44 020 7930 2345
E: members@royalautomobileclub.co.uk royalautomobileclub.co.uk
ACCOMMODATIONS » 106 rooms
DINING
» You'll find an a la carte menu in the Great Gallery, a brasserie-style menu in the Brooklands Room, a traditional English bar and buffet in the Long Bar, sandwiches and tea in the Club Room, and canapés in the Cocktail Bar.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
» The club's new business center opened recently. Those needing to work while in London now have access to a range of meeting rooms, available by the hour, as well as 16 complimentary desks.
OTHER LONDON RECIPROCAL CLUBS
» The Sloane Club, sloaneclub.co.uk
impress, the opulent French Renaissance-style decor and stunningly grand rotunda should do the trick. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are rumored to have learned to swim in the club pool, where mosaic columns and bronze balconies flank Sicilian marble walls. In keeping with London's Olympic focus, professional sports photographer Leo Mason is using the Royal Automobile Club to showcase photographs taken at various Olympic Games. His show continues through August 19, and WAC members visiting before then can request a letter of introduction to pop in and see some of the most memorable Olympic moments ever photographed.
» Army & Navy Club (The Rag), therag.co.uk
» The Lansdowne Club, lansdowneclub.com
» The Eccentric Club, eccentricclub.co.uk
» St. James's Hotel and Club, stjamesclubandhotel.co.uk
» The In & Out Naval & Military Club, navalandmilitaryclub.co.uk
For reciprocal letters of introduction or more information, call Member Services at 206.464.3068 or email membership@wac.net.
10 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | AUGUST 2012
