Lidos and outdoor swimming pools are a load of fun for all of 2 minutes in the summer, but as soon as the sun disappears back to Ibiza (where it belongs), us Londoners are left shivering, cold and full of regret. What we need is something reliable to dip our toes in, like the trusty indoor swimming pool. Ahhhhh! Just keep swimming.
1. Pools on the Park, Richmond
[Richmond.Org]As well as having a popular outdoor pool, Pools on the Park in Richmond also flaunts a large indoor pool and a children’s pool. Oh, and for those Will Young fanatics amongst you, you may well recognise the pool from his music video for Friday’s Child.
Price: £5.30 without Richmond member card
Old Deer Park, Twickenham Rd, Richmond TW9 2SF
2. The Berkeley
[The Berkeley]This rather swish rooftop pool is on the 7th floor of The Berkeley hotel. The serene atmosphere is created with a little help from the lavish white and gold mosaic tiles, the fantastic views over London and the retractable roof. Sadly, while the pool is available to hotel guests, membership to use the pool comes at a hefty cost. If you want to ‘enquire’ about a membership, head to the website.
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL
3. YMCA Club
[YMCA]It’s fun to swim at the Y.M.C.A! And it’s even more fun when it’s free… you can claim a free day pass here to give the facilities a go. The YMCA Club is a non-profit health centre, located near Tottenham Court Road station. Full memberships, which give you access to the gym, health facilities, sauna as well as the pool, is £59.95 per month.
YMCA Club, 112 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NQ
4. The Peak Health Club at Jumeirah Carlton Tower
[Jumeirah Carlton]This swanky 20m pool is located in another luxury London hotel, the Jumeirah Carlton Towers in Knightsbridge. As expected luxury floating doesn’t come cheap. The minimum spend on a voucher is £50 a day, but members and guests of the hotel get full access. We can only assume a membership is probably more than an average Londoner’s rent… Bur if you’re Mr/Miss BigBucks, you can enquire about this one here.
1 Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 9PY, UK
5. Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre
[Better]This large 25m indoor pool in North London has 8 lanes and allows guests to take part in whatever sort of swimming session they fancy, whether its for fitness, general swimming or aqua aerobics. Each lane is usually used for varying abilities and speeds, so you can go at your own pace. In comparison to many London prices, this leisure centre which is run by Better, is also lovely and cheap!
Cost: £5.50 for non-member adult swimming.
Adelaide Road, Camden London NW3 3NF
6. Repton Virgin Active
[Virgin Active]Forget the dream of walking down the aisle, we’re fantasising about swimming down the aisle in this beautiful converted church. Complete with a 25m swimming pool, you can have a leisurely paddle while you stare at the traditional stained glass windows and impressive wooden ceilings. You’ll quickly master the backstroke, that’s for sure. Membership for the Repton Park Virgin Active gym isn’t the exactly cheapest and, unless you live in Woodfood Green, probably not very convenient to get to, but hey – it’s nice to ogle at the venue.
Cost: Membership from £96 per month + £35 joining fee.
Repton Park, Manor Road, Woodford Green, IG8 8GN
7. Balham Leisure Centre
[Place For People Leisure]South West Londoners, you’ll be pleased to know that you can head to Balham for a £4 dip in the leisure centre’s 4 lane pool. OR even better, you can sign up here, to get a free 5 day pass, if you haven’t given it a go yet.
