Photo: Embassy Gardens
Summer is now in full-swing, and that usually means as soon as the temperatures skyrocket, us Londoners are searching for the nearest bit of water to cool off in. Now you know how much we love an outdoor lido here at Secret London – and come to mention it rooftop bars and restaurants too – so you can tell that we are pretty ecstatic about a rooftop swimming pool. So get your towel and your togs and slap on the suncream! Here’s our roundup of the best rooftop pools in London:
1. art’otel London Battersea Power Station
Perched atop the 16th floor of art’otel London Battersea Power Station is a heated rooftop pool, overlooking the iconic Battersea Power Station chimneys. A luxe infinity pool, this one is great for the old ‘gram, and there’s also a fantastic terrace here for you to do some sun-worshipping too. Don’t miss the chance to come here at sunset when the views over the Thames are pretty much to die for. There’s also a bar up here – perfect for a good old nightcap!
📍You’ll find art’otel London Battersea Power Station at 1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London, SW11 8BJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Battersea Power Station.
2. Shoreditch House
Next up on this roundup of the best rooftop swimming pools in London is the one at Shoreditch House – a bougie member’s club house in East London’s historic Tea Building. 16 metres long and surrounded by red and white-striped sun loungers, it’s always pretty busy here – especially when the sun’s out – and there’s a bar here too so you can whet your whistle in between dips. It’s only open to members though, so you’ll need to apply if you don’t have a membership!
📍You’ll find Shoreditch House at Ebor Street, London, E1 6AW.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
3. Mondrian Shoreditch
Another Shoreditch spot here, the Mondrian is a trendy, five-star spot with a fantastic rooftop terrace which has a pool with a retractable glass roof, a bar and a restaurant too. Called Laurel’s on the Roof, it’s inspired by 1970’s LA and the glitzy pool parties of the Hollywood Hills, it’s easy to while away the hours here – particularly when you’re sipping on some frozen margs – and DJs spin the decks throughout the day and into the night. What better spot for a rooftop party then hey?!
📍You’ll find the Mondrian Shoreditch at 45 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3PT.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
4. The Berkeley
Offering panoramic views over Hyde Park and Central London, the rooftop pool at The Berkeley is one of the capital’s best-kept secrets. Exclusive to hotel guests, it’s open from 7am to 5pm all year round, and it’s perfect for leisurely poolside days. There’s a great pool bar here which whips up some excellent smoothies and seasonal spritzes too – and there’s a plethora of small plates on the bill too.
📍You’ll find The Berkley at Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RL.
🚇 Nearest stations are Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge.
5. The Ned
Another member’s club here, The Ned is a rooftop spot with a heated pool, a restaurant, two converted domes and a spacious outdoor terrace which is ideal for eating and drinking. The best part of all here is the fact that you’ve got incredible views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s major landmarks, and there’s a fab bar up here too which has some of the best cocktails in town.
📍You’ll find The Ned at 27 Poultry, London, EC2R 8AJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Bank.
6. 180 House
Set in a Brutalist building a stone’s throw from Somerset House, the latest outpost of Soho House has certainly made waves since it first opened its doors. There’s loads to chat about here, but arguably the standout is the rooftop pool here, which commands incredible panoramic vistas over the Thames and the City too. As with other Soho Houses, you’ll need to be a member to get in here – but the view is well worth it trust us!
📍You’ll find 180 House at 180 Strand, Temple, London, WC2R 1EA.
🚇 Nearest station is Temple.
7. White City House
Another Soho House entry here, the White City outlet opened its doors back in 2018 as the West London equivalent to the Shoreditch branch – and thank heaven’s that it did. It’s incredibly popular and is decked out in plenty of 1960’s decor – good luck getting a seat – though if you do manage to nab one, you can easily spend all day here sipping away on cocktails!
📍You’ll find White City House at 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FR.
🚇 Nearest stations are Wood Lane and White City.
Now we couldn’t finish up this roundup of the best rooftop pools in London without mentioning this one. There was a hell of a lot of fanfare around the globe when this one opened in May of last year. And for good reason – it’s the world’s first ‘floating’ swimming pool, and bridges a gap between two high-rise apartment buildings in Nine Elms. It’s 35 metres tall so the views down below will no doubt be incredible, but unfortunately is only accessible to members of the EG:le Club for residents at Embassy Gardens, so you’ll need to befriend someone who lives here – or try and fork out for an apartment!
📍You’ll find Embassy Gardens at 3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, London, SW11 7AY.
🚇 Nearest station is Nine Elms.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best rooftop pools in London. So when the weather’s playing ball this Summer, then you know where to head for a cool off!
https://secretldn.com/rooftop-pools-in-london/
