The positive effects of swimming on physical and mental health make it difficult to beat as part of your routine. This is a fitness activity that is simple to do with little equipment required and a wealth of locations available to make it work for you on a regular basis. It offers a full-body workout of low-impact exercise that contributes to healthy cardiovascular function and can also assist with weight management.
It acts as a stress reliever too, with the repetitive and meditative strokes that propel you across the water promoting a calmer and more relaxed mind. Recently, there has been an exciting trend of wild and cold water swimming to encourage an exciting and modern version of this age-old aerobic workout. London is the ideal place for the swimmers amongst us. There are so many options for outdoor and indoor locations that range from luxury lidos to the perfect practice pool. Let’s dive in together and explore some of the very best.
Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens
This one might require a little bit of organisation and some friendly connections to get you inside, but we can guarantee that it will be very much worth the effort. The Sky Pool at Embassy Gardens is unlike any other swimming pool in the world with access limited to residents and their guests. It is part of London’s most exclusive rooftop with a crystal clear 25 metre swimming pool that spans across two buildings to provide a stunning view of the capital as you seemingly float through the air.
You will be swimming in heated luxury, 35 metres above a hub of activity in South West London for an out-of-this-world outdoor experience. When you decide to take a break from the water there is also a fully stocked bar, a relaxing spa, and an orangery to keep you occupied while you plan your next stroke. The Sky Pool is a swimming location that deserves its reputation as one of London’s most unique and invigorating ways to spend some leisure time.
The Laboratory Spa & Health Club
The Laboratory Spa & Health Club in Muswell Hill has an extraordinary swimming pool set in a tranquil and elegant space. What truly sets this place apart is the ultra-modern methods used to maintain the pool with UV Light treating the water for the ultimate in non-chemical cleaning. It provides a safe, hygienic, and wonderfully clear pool without the use of chlorine that can be an irritant for sensitive eyes and skin.
They also offer a range of adult swimming lessons for any level from absolute beginners to those looking to brush up on their perfect strokes. With Olympic medallists counted amongst their regular members here, you might just be brushing shoulders and making waves with world-famous athletes too. Mark Foster, the former Team GB swimmer describes the Lab Pool as “absolutely perfect”. High praise indeed from someone who has been in some of the greatest pools on the planet.
Hampton Pool
Hampton Pool is a swimmer’s paradise with a 36 metre open-air pool heated to an inviting 28 degrees centigrade all year round. It’s set amongst grassy banks, just perfect for sunbathing, next to Royal Bushy Park in Hampton, Middlesex. This was originally built over a hundred years ago and saved from closure in the 1980s by a group of local residents who wanted to see it become a real asset for the surrounding area for generations to come.
This history feeds into the vibrant community feel of Hampton Pool with regular BBQ evenings at poolside where all are welcome to join. Amongst the regular lane and free swim options, there are opportunities for moonlight dips to practise your butterfly stroke underneath the stars of a darker sky. With a calm and relaxing environment, it’s no wonder that The Sunday Times recently called this “one of Britain’s coolest, biggest, hippest pools”.
The London Aquatics Centre
The London Aquatics Centre is a truly iconic swimming pool that holds an incredibly proud place in the recent history of London. Designed by the celebrated Iraqi-British architect, artist, and designer, Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid for the 2012 Olympic Games, this remarkable and elegant building is housed in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. It was opened to the public in 2014 with three incredible pools that hold an astonishing 10 million litres of water and can be further engineered into four additional swimming areas.
London Aquatics Centre is a triumph of practical and world-beating leisure facilities surrounded by some of the best modern architecture in the city. Whether you are enjoying a refreshing dip, diving from the highest board, or working on a personal best for your sprint swim, there is something here for everyone to appreciate as they spend their time in the water.
Repton Park
The swimming pool at Repton Park is a genuinely heavenly experience for swimmers. This 25 metre pool lies underneath the majestic arches of a converted cathedral in Redbridge as part of the gated apartment community of Repton Park in Woodford Green. The ornate stained glass windows that once streamed coloured light down upon a congregation now offer a breath-taking view for the backstroke, with the pool replacing the pews decades ago.
There are also accompanying spa facilities amongst the remaining altars and architecture that lend an enigmatic ambience to the environment for a swimming experience that is difficult to match anywhere in London. Memberships are available here with one-to-one inductions for swimming that result in a tailor-made program designed to have you perfect your aquatic activity over time.
The swimming pools of London are a fantastic asset for the active and exercise-based facilities of the city. They represent a thrilling mix of history and modern living with different levels of fitness focus and relaxing rituals that ensure every level of activity is catered for. As we move towards the summer of 2024, there is no better time for residents of the capital to take the plunge and visit one.
