London’s hotel scene is a veritable Olympics of fabulous pads — the capital has the UK’s highest towers, most sought-after restaurants, most atmospheric bars and smoothest service. But the ultimate luxury — and rarity — in a dense, urban setting like this has to be a swimming pool, especially when the temperatures sizzle into the mid and high 20s. The Met Office is flagging a bona fide heatwave this month, with temperatures expected to edge close to 30C — and in weather like this, there’s nothing better than getting back to base after a day’s sightseeing, dining and shopping, kicking off your shoes and plunging into cool waters. These serene city stays have the oases you need to cool off, from sun-drenched outdoor pools to sultry indoor numbers with views of the skyline. Here’s where to spend the summer in your swimmers.
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
1. The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
£££ | SPA | Best for views of Hyde Park
Rooftop pools are a rare phenomenon in London so to have one that’s so centrally located — with views of Hyde Park, no less — is a real treat. The Berkeley’s 17m pool, heated to a pleasant 30C, is open year-round and accessible only to hotel guests from 7am to 7pm each day, with dedicated family pool time twice a day. There’s no changing room, so throw on those fluffy robes and come ready for a dip. While you relax, the rooftop bar is ready to serve up snacks and cocktails, and once the pool closes the space opens to the public for poolside drinks.The Surrenne spa, shared with the Emory, brings another 22m swimming pool into the mix, with a gold-leaf ceiling and underwater speakers.
2. Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch
££ | Best for a pool party atmosphere
Not only is this east London pad (formerly the Mondrian hotel) right at the edge of Shoreditch, one of London’s best eating and drinking neighbourhoods, it also has a petite rooftop pool, a spin-off of Ibiza’s Blue Marlin beach club. The venue is technically a members’ club, but if you’re a guest of the hotel, you can still swim, lounge and order from its Mediterranean rooftop menu (hello padron peppers and burrata). Families with children under 18 can swim until midday — after that, it’s a strictly adults-only zone. Note that there isn’t a huge amount of lounging space around the pool, just a handful offirst-come, first-served cushioned seats, so after a dip you might want to head inside to the thrumming cantina for cocktails and bites.
3. Shoreditch House, east London
££ | SPA | Best for celeb-spotting
Most Soho House city pads have hotel rooms these days and there are 26 bright-boho units at the capital’s most sceney club, Shoreditch House. Here you’ll be staying in youthful, foodie east London, in the industrial-cool surroundings of a converted warehouse — but also within a few floors of one of London’s original party pools. Hotel guests can access the rooftop, which is spacious and comfy for heatwave days, with long rows of plump, cushioned loungers, the typical hipster Soho House playlists, DJ sets and even the odd celeb trying to stay incognito behind their sunglasses. Other perks of this place include a Cowshed spa, a Japanese izakaya restaurant and drop-in fitness classes. Non-Soho House members can book a room, but a “Soho Friends” mini-membership of £100 will be payable.
• Discover our full guide to London
Times Holidays
4. art’otel London Battersea Power Station, Battersea
££ | SPA | Best for landmark views
If it’s a competition for pools in London with the best view of landmarks, it’s pretty hard to beat the one from the 12.5m infinity pool on the 16th floor of the art’otel London Battersea Power Station. It’s open all year from 8am to 8pm and heated to a pleasing 29C; guests are treated to rooftop views of the Thames, north London and the top of Battersea Power Station. For sizzling hot days, you might just want to order one of the boozy and excellent cocktails from the rooftop bar to help you kick back.
Read our full review of art’otel London Battersea Power Station
5. White City House, west London
££ | Best for retro glamour
There’s a strong Swinging Sixties feel to this London building, formerly part of the BBC’s Television Centre, which opened in 1960. That extends to the spacious outdoor rooftop pool, with busy floral prints, fringed parasols and foliage that feel like St Tropez in its heyday (with the right British weather). Though the property is first and foremost a members’ club, its 45 bedrooms mean it is often easier to book into than some of the smaller-scale Soho House hotels. Spacious from top to bottom, White City also has its own cinema, gym with sauna and steam room, co-working space and — for when the weather turns — a basement-level indoor pool. As at Shoreditch House, an annual “Soho Friends” mini-membership of £100 is added to bookings.
6. Shangri-La The Shard, Southwark
£££ | Best for sky-high views
Towering above the rest of London on the 52nd floor of Shangri-La The Shard, the infinity pool here is aptly named the Sky Pool. It’s not only the highest pool in London, but also the highest in western Europe. For that, you sacrifice a bit of length — the pool is only 10m; it’s not an ideal length for a lap pool, but it is long enough to squeeze in a decent swim between the hours of 6am and 6pm each day, with two family swim sessions within this. Capacity limits mean you’ll also need to book a slot, which includes the use of the Sky Sauna. The state-of-the-art gym, equipped with Technogym gear, and Gong bar are on the same floor.
7. Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge
£££ | SPA | Best for a chlorine-free swim
Part of the Peak Fitness Club & Spa on the second floor of the Carlton Tower Jumeirah, this indoor swimming pool is among the largest in London at 20m. But it’s much more than that: a curved glass ceiling allows natural light to flood the space, creating a lido effect complemented by the fact that the water is organically treated and free of chlorine — a huge boon for those with sensitive skin or who are pregnant. Open on weekdays from 6.15am to 10pm, and from 7am to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays, the pool also has a steam room and sauna. For families, there are two swim sessions each day.
8. Raffles London at the OWO, Whitehall
£££ | SPA | Best for a sense of history
Now a marker for serious luxury in the heart of Whitehall, the Old War Office building once saw generals and spies stroll through the entrance. Today, its basement hides one of London’s most luxurious wellness areas. Covering 2,500 sq m, there’s a 20m swimming pool at its heart, which has morning and afternoon family swim times. Surrounded by a water-pumping vitality pool, the area also includes a Guerlain spa and a recovery area with physiotherapy. Upstairs, around the OWO’s exceedingly grand main entrance, you’ll find bars and restaurants for every mood; with a knowing nod to the building’s most famous fictional inhabitant, the Spy Bar, with its “007” plate on the door, allows guests to imbibe the building’s history.
9. Bulgari Hotel London, Knightsbridge
£££ | SPA | Best for serious swimmers
If you’re serious about getting some lengths in during your stay, the 25m subterranean pool inside the Bulgari Hotel London will tick a lot of boxes. The three-lane lap pool is open daily from 7.30am to 8pm, with two family swim sessions during the day for those with children in tow. Privacy is available for those who want it by way of poolside cabanas with curtains, tucked between Greek-style columns, while the adjacent vitality pool with massaging jets will help coax away any tension and improve circulation after a workout.
Read our full review of Bulgari Hotel London
10. The Landmark London, Marylebone
££ | SPA | Best for relaxation
Integrated into the hotel’s spa facilities, the 15m, chlorine-free pool at the Landmark London is a great option for those intent on maximising relaxation. Adjacent to the pool is a spacious sanarium, which combines the circulation-boosting benefits of a sauna and a steam room. Guests can also hop into the Jacuzzi and use the powerful jets to massage out any muscle tension and there are separate steam rooms in the changing areas — perfect for post-workout relaxing. The pool is open daily from 7am to 8pm, with family swim sessions twice a day.
• Things to do in London when it’s hot
• Best affordable hotels in London
11. One Aldwych, Covent Garden
£££ | SPA | Best for immersive swims
Located on the edge of Covent Garden, One Aldwych is well placed for sightseeing and theatreland action. But away from the bustle is the hotel’s subterranean health club, featuring an 18m, chlorine-free lap pool at its core. This is one to enjoy as a sanctuary — an underwater sound system plays music and projections cover the walls with graphics while you swim. Afterwards, unwind in the steam room and sauna, or the relaxation room stocked with magazines and fresh fruit. More active guests will love the state-of-the-art gym featuring Technogym equipment and a Peloton bike. Opening hours are 6.30am to 9pm from Monday to Friday, and 8am to 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays; there are two family swim sessions a day too.
12. Corinthia London, Whitehall
£££ | SPA | Best for spa aficionados
It’s an understatement to say Corinthia London takes the spa experience seriously — after all, this already beyond-opulent hotel has a four-floor Espa-operated wellness space. The 9m pool is located on the Thermal Floor, where you’ll also find the vitality pool, amphitheatre sauna, ice fountain, heated marble loungers and private sleep pods. All of this is open to hotel guests daily from 7am to 9pm, with two family swim sessions each day. On other floors, you’ll find 17 intimate treatment rooms, a private spa suite, a well-equipped gym offering body sculpting fitness classes in partnership with Amp fitness, and the Daniel Galvin hair salon.
13. The Connaught, Mayfair
£££ | SPA | Best for tranquillity
Chic black granite and a cascading waterfall set the scene at the Connaught’s softly lit pool, which is cocooned within its Aman-operated spa — the first outside of Aman resorts. Peace and quiet is high on the agenda here, though there are family-friendly swim sessions twice a day for younger hotel guests. The pool measures 10m by 6m, so you can just about squeeze in some decent laps between 7am and 9pm each day. Afterwards, enjoy some time out in the crystal steam room, where the scent of eucalyptus promotes deeper relaxation.
14. Pan Pacific London, City of London
££ | SPA | Best for a DIY health retreat
Pan Pacific London has a dedicated Sensory Wellbeing floor with an indoor pool, spa and gym (equipped with Life Fitness gear), as well as studio space providing yoga and sound therapy sessions. With the exception of the 24-hour gym, the floor is accessible daily from 6.30am to 9pm. The infinity pool is a lappable 18.5m, overlooking Bishopsgate Plaza. Twice a day, there are dedicated family swim sessions; you can also book aqua fitness classes. Separate steam rooms and saunas can be found in both the male and female changing rooms.
15. The Dilly, St James’s
££ | SPA | Best for a break from sightseeing
A short stroll from Soho, Covent Garden, Mayfair and St James’s, the Dilly’s enviable location off Piccadilly Circus means you’re right in the heart of the action, whether you’re in town to shop, go out or enjoy West End musicals. Activities available at the hotel are as numerous as those outside. The pool here — sizeable because of its near-square frame, measuring 11.5m by 12.75m — is only a small part of a much bigger health club that includes a full-size gym, squash courts and even an indoor golf simulator. Swimming lessons are also on offer.
Read our full review of the Dilly
16. Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge
£££ | SPA | Best for exclusive use
At 14m, the pool here is impressive in size. But with a separate vitality pool that’s about the same size, you may well find yourself enjoying the massaging jets there instead, or relaxing inside the steam room or sauna. Unusually for a hotel pool, it’s possible to rent out the entire space for a small group for two hours, with the experience also including champagne and light bites. Otherwise hotel guests can enjoy the space daily between 6.30am and 8pm, during which there are also two family swim sessions.
17. Hotel Café Royal, Soho
£££ | SPA | Best for alternative therapy
Part of the Akasha spa, the pool at Hotel Café Royal is a lappable 18m and your swim here is enhanced with the addition of mood lighting and calming sounds. The sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi all make nice extras but the reason to come here is to enjoy the alternative therapies: you’ll find a Watsu pool, where a therapist slowly moves your body in 35C waters to help alleviate any tension and aches in your body. Or try a traditional hammam experience using Moroccan black soap or argan oil. The pool is open daily from 7.15am to 9pm, with two family swim sessions a day.
18. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Knightsbridge
£££ | SPA | Best for fitness enthusiasts
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park might be best known for its two-Michelin-starred restaurant Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, but the two-lane, family-friendly pool inside its award-winning spa is a sight to behold. All sleek grey with mood lighting, the 17m pool is ideal for laps, opening daily from 6.30am to 9.30pm, and guests of all ages can book one-on-one sessions with a coach to improve their swimming technique. Next door is a fitness centre with Technogym equipment, where personalised classes are available. The only downside is that the spa facilities are only open to those with a treatment booked.
• Best brunch in London
• Best boutique hotels in London
