 | |
|---|---|
 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 |
| East end | Haymarket |
| West end | St James's Street |
| Construction | |
| Commissioned | July 1661 |
| Inauguration | September 1661 |
| Other | |
| Known for | |
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.