Pall Mall, London

Pall Mall

Pall Mall in 2009
Location within Central London
Length	0.4 mi (0.64 km)[1]
Location	Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Postal code	SW1
Nearest train station	Charing Cross Charing Cross
Coordinates	51°30′25″N 0°07′59″W / 51.506944°N 0.133056°W / 51.506944; -0.133056
East end	Haymarket
West end	St James's Street
Construction
Commissioned	July 1661
Inauguration	September 1661
Other
Known for	Reform Club Athenaeum Club Travellers Club Royal Automobile Club

Pall Mall /ˌpæl ˈmæl/ ^ⓘ is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, Central London. It connects St James's Street to Trafalgar Square and is a section of the regional A4 road. The street's name is derived from pall-mall, a ball game played there during the 17th century, which in turn is derived from the Italian pallamaglio, literally "ball-mallet".

The area was built up during the reign of Charles II with fashionable London residences. It is known for high-class shopping in the 18th century until the present, and gentlemen's clubs in the 19th. The Reform, Athenaeum and Travellers Clubs have survived to the 21st century. The War Office was based on Pall Mall during the second half of the 19th century, and the Royal Automobile Club's headquarters have been on the street since 1908.