From checkered tiles to a deliciously checkered past, these pools stand out as the height of glamour when London calls
Courtesy of Shangri-La
Every world traveler has a go-to jetlag cure, whether it’s a breakfast sandwich or an outdoor run. But for our money, swimming is the best way to wipe the slate clean after a long journey so you can get out and explore. In addition to the physical and mental health benefits you’d expect from any cardiovascular exercise, immersion in water has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain. Hotel pools get bonus points for beautiful design and gorgeous views or settings—we’re there to enjoy ourselves, after all. Around London, a paradise for luxury hotel lovers, we found no shortage of eye-catching (and yes, Instagrammable) options. These are some of the very finest places to dip a toe in.
Courtesy of Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge has hosted the likes of Princess Margaret and Paul McCartney, while Princess Diana was known to play tennis in the exclusive Cadogan Gardens downstairs. But after a multi-million-dollar renovation, the property is guaranteed to make you feel like a VIP, even if you’re not a royal or a rockstar. Fuel up with one of the health-conscious teas by Mariage Frères and the queen’s favorite Victoria Sponge at the world-class patisserie on the ground floor, then head to London’s largest hotel pool bathed in natural light. Its panoramic views of the city skyline are equally arresting at night and luckily it’s open late. Complete the experience with time in the jacuzzi, Himalayan salt sauna and steam room—it’s like being reborn.
Courtesy of 45 Park Lane
With a coveted Hyde Park address and over-the-top English charm, The Dorchester Hotel has been known as London’s “Mother” of hospitality for nearly a century. But its smaller younger sibling just across the way, 45 Park Lane, elevates service to another level. Rooms and suites come with your own butler to make sure you never have to endure an indignity like, say, drawing your own bath. The building’s prime location on the corner affords views overlooking Hyde Park and the whole of London, while inside, sleek modern décor and abstract art set a totally different tone than the Dorchester’s ornate splendor. Descend to the subterranean spa and you’ll find the longest swimming pool on Park Lane at 20 meters in length. Big-name designer Jouin Manku transformed the pool area into a jewel box with a mosaic of tiles made by artisans in Venice. The cascading lilies in shades of pale pink and celadon are moody, sexy and hard to do justice in pictures. But then again, discretion is the name of the game here.
By Maria Chevalet, Courtesy of Hotel Café Royal
Couretsy of Hotel Café Royal
Courtesy of Hotel Café Royal
Courtesy of Hotel Café Royal
Awarded England’s Best Hotel Spa at the 2023 World Spa Awards, the Akasha spa at Hotel Café Royal is worth a visit even if you’re not staying overnight. A day pass is the perfect way to experience an affordable taste of 5-star luxury here. Lighting, scents and a restorative playlist are specifically selected to boost your mood as you wander between the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and expansive 18-meter lap pool. A smaller private Watsu pool is also available for hydrotherapy treatments. Afterwards, get your skin as smooth as Michelangelo’s Pietà with an exfoliating scrub in the private hammam adorned with Carrara marble.
By The Wandering Dreamer, Courtesy of Shangri-La 
By KeiKei Travels, Courtesy of Shangri-La
An iconic piece of London’s skyline, “The Shard” is the tallest building in Western Europe. And the Shangri-La inside boasts a singular claim to fame: not just London’s highest infinity pool, but the highest hotel swimming pool in all of Western Europe. Up among the clouds on the 52nd floor (!!) you can get your laps (or your photos) taken care of, then recover in the Sky Sauna. It’s a true wellness oasis shimmering among the city lights, above the River Thames and landmarks like the Tate Modern and St. Paul’s cathedral down below. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, book a culinary walking tour with a hotel chef to take you around Borough Market, arguably the city’s finest food destination.
Courtesy of Beaverbrook
Courtesy of Beaverbrook
Londoners hop on the train to Surrey, just outside the city, for weekends at this magnificent 19th-century Victorian neoclassical mansion in the country. Once belonging to Lord Beaverbrook, who served as Winston Churchill’s Minister of Aircraft Production, it’s a grand estate on picturesque grounds. But a sense of whimsy keeps things playful, like the unique aquamarine checkerboard print in the hotel’s instantly recognizable outdoor pool. It’s a stunning scene to dive into, and your post-dip reward is right at hand when you’re ready: cocktails or a fizzy glass of Beaverbrook bubbles at The Pool Bar.
By Ken Rockwell, Courtesy of Cliveden House
By Ken Rockwell, Courtesy of Cliveden House
By Ken Rockwell, Courtesy of Cliveden House
Another gem worth leaving the city center for, Cliveden House is a historic National Trust and Relais & Châteaux country house that was originally built by the second Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress in 1666. Rows of lavender perfume the air where a walled garden reveals a pool guaranteed to make your jaw drop. It’s the perfect place to reset your body and mind—or maybe strike up conversation with a beautiful stranger. It was on a hot summer day at this very pool that a British Secretary of State met the teenage mistress of a suspected Russian spy during the Cold War, setting off one of the biggest scandals in British political history. That now-infamous incident began what’s known as the Profumo Affair. And the pool? It’s called the Profumo Pool, of course. Cliveden’s history offers more than three centuries of glamour and sexy intrigue; the rest is up to you.
Hotel Pools in and Around London That Swim Laps Around the Competition
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