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The Best Hotels With Pools to Book in London

Enjoy a swim and a cocktail at the Haymarket, one of the best hotels with a pool in London
Enjoy a swim and a cocktail at the Haymarket, one of the best hotels with a pool in London | Courtesy of the Haymarket Hotel / Booking.com

Whether you’re looking for an antidote to those fog-filled winter mornings or somewhere to cool down on a scorching summer’s afternoon, there are plenty of London hotels with pools. From a party-ready rooftop pool with cocktails on tap to a sporty two-lane waterway with a lap timer to boot, don your favourite swimsuit and dive into the smartest places to stay with pools in the British capital – all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Landmark London, for Victorian charm

Hotel

Spectacular multi-storey atrium with palm trees and dining space on lower level at the Landmark London
Courtesy of the Landmark London / Expedia

Although its grand exterior hasn’t changed since the first guests arrived in 1899, the Landmark is packed with modern five-star facilities, chief amongst them a heated, no-chlorine pool flanked by leather loungers and a separate jacuzzi. Revel in the building’s heritage as a luxury railway hotel by booking the smart, purple-and-beige Grand Central Suite, decorated with antique furniture and Victorian suitcases. In the glass-ceilinged atrium, enjoy one of the best afternoon teas in London amongst towering palms.

One Aldwych, for a tranquil retreat

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

One Aldwych exterior with Lyceum theatre in the background, London
Courtesy of One Aldwych / Booking.com

You’ll totally forget that Covent Garden is next door in this hotel’s blue-lit spa, where sealife projections play over the surface of a chlorine-free pool enlivened with underwater music. After a few laps, unwind with a massage, a steam in the sauna or a workout on the latest Technogym gadgetry. Splash out on the blue-washed Dome Suite for a circular living room inside the building’s copper cupola, warmed by an electric fireplace and equipped with a free mini bar.

The Ned, for VIP access

Luxury

Stylish bar space with green columns, built-in retro barstools and chequered floor at the Ned, London
Courtesy of the Ned / Booking.com

Soho House and the Sydell Group are behind this behemoth hotel and members’ club in the City of London, housed in an enormous former bank. Slip off down to the Neoclassical spa to use the 20m (66ft) pool, Moroccan hammam and steam rooms. Afterwards, take your pick from one of the seven restaurants in the food hall, or head to the top floor, where there’s a rooftop pool that surveys St Paul’s Cathedral, although you do need to be a full member to use it.

Mondrian London Shoreditch, for rooftop panoramas

Luxury

Outdoor pool flanked by daybeds and dining space with string lights at Mondrian London Shoreditch
Courtesy of Mondrian London Shoreditch / Booking.com

The rooftop pool at hipster haven the Mondrian is a year-round destination – it’s refreshing in summer and heated in winter, plus there’s a retractable glass roof for when the weather is being especially British. It’s even open late, so you can paddle after dark under the twinkling lights. Don’t expect to swim laps, though; this is a place to see and be seen, or just dangle your feet in. Afterwards, take a seat at the Lido rooftop bar for bubbles, burgers and light bites.

The Corinthia, for serious spa treatments

Hotel

Sleek indoor pool with black stone walls, white-cushioned seating and white sculpture at the Corinthia, London
Courtesy of the Corinthia / Booking.com

There are four entire floors dedicated to wellness at the Corinthia Hotel on the Thames Embankment. Come here for everything from personal training sessions to pedicures and laps in the swimming pool. Don’t hurry back to reality too soon – you could spend an entire afternoon on the other-worldly thermal floor, home to a tension-busting hot tub, ice fountain, sauna, heated loungers and private sleep pods.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, for fitness fanatics

Spa Hotel

Luxury king room with plush, rose-coloured rug, vanity, violet couch and chandelier at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park / Booking.com
Gym junkie? The East Asian-inspired spa at the Mandarin Oriental is made for you. There’s an 18m (60ft) twin-lane indoor pool (plus a lap timer so you can beat your personal best), a state-of-the-art gym and a private reformer pilates studio for stretching out afterwards. Recover in style in the soothing vitality pool, the amethyst crystal steam room or the very Zen relaxation area.

The Haymarket, for designer interiors

Chain Hotel, Luxury

Stylish lounge with designer furniture, pale wood floors, blue-patterned wallpaper and artwork at the Haymarket, London
Courtesy of the Haymarket / Booking.com

St James’s can be stuffy, but the Haymarket Hotel feels distinctly down to earth, thanks to designer Kit Kemp’s coordinating clash of bright fabrics. Downstairs, the 18m (60ft) heated indoor pool doesn’t take itself too seriously, either, since it’s housed in a hedonistic grotto with a colourful light installation and a cocktail bar to one side. Rent the whole space for a private pool party of epic proportions.

Shangri-La at the Shard, for a hotel pool with a view

Hotel

Indoor infinity pool with spectacular panoramic views over London at Shangri-La at the Shard
Courtesy of Shangri-La at the Shard / Booking.com

The Sky Pool at Shangri-La at the Shard looks down on London’s landmarks from 52 storeys up. Officially the highest pool in Western Europe, there’s almost a cinematic feeling to swimming here, which is apt, considering it’s more of a photo opportunity than a place to properly practise your breaststroke. If you can’t take your eyes off the view, get a glass of bubbles at the adjacent Gong Bar and watch the city put on a show at sunset.

St Pancras Renaissance, for vintage glamour

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel, Business Hotel, Hotel

Moroccan-inspired spa with pool, zellige-tile patterns on the walls and potted palms at St Pancras Renaissance, London
Courtesy of St Pancras Renaissance / Expedia
A grand Victorian-era railway hotel, the St Pancras Renaissance fell into disrepair and languished for decades, before a multimillion-pound makeover restored it to its former neo-Gothic glory. You can still access the station from downstairs, so it’s perfect for a pre- or post-Eurostar pitstop – though once you’ve seen the Moroccan-inspired spa with pool, zellige-tile patterns on the walls and potted ferns, you may want to stay put.

The Connaught, for unparalleled luxury

Spa Hotel

Elegant dining room with curved wall of windows with stained-glass details at the Connaught in London
Courtesy of the Connaught / Booking.com

Expect nothing less than all-out glamour from this classic Mayfair hotel with ornate ceilings, wood panelling and oh-so sumptuous upholstery. Downstairs, at the Aman Spa, the jet set wash away their sins in an enormous black granite swimming pool and a delightfully scented steam room infused with essential oils. Once you’re feeling pure of mind and body, it’s time for a re-tox in the award-winning Connaught Bar – don’t miss the martini trolley, of which Mr Bond would definitely approve.

The Bulgari, for a glitzy stay

Spa Hotel

Sleek indoor pool space with four-poster lounger platforms and rough stone wall at the Bulgari, London
Courtesy of the Bulgari / Booking.com

Sleek beyond measure, the spa space at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge is dominated by a 25m (82ft) colonnaded swimming pool made of Italian limestone. It’s surrounded by loungers and cabanas cast in creamy drapes that speak to the calm and collected. This being Bulgari, there’s a blingtastic vitality pool, too, tiled in gold and equipped with powerful massage jets ready to make light of niggles and knots.

Mark Nayler contributed additional reporting to this article.

Heading to West London? Discover our guide to the best hotels in the area and book now on Culture Trip.

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