London

London hotels with rooftop pools for a luxurious stay in the capital

Dotted around the busy boroughs of London are hidden gems of serenity.

Escape the city for a while and unwind at one of these luxurious hotels with private outdoor rooftop pools. While you relax and rejuvenate in the calm waters, soak in panoramic views across the city.

Swim in the highest pool in London on the 52nd floor, or sit underneath the stars in the centre of trendy Shoreditch. Accompanying their elevated pools, hotels also offer deluxe treatments and revitalising therapies in their in-house spas a few steps away.

Lounge by this London hotel’s rooftop swimming pool and garden

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Nestled between Knightsbridge and Belgravia, the five-star luxury of The Berkeley is just waiting to be discovered. On the seventh floor, take a dip in the open-air pool lined in white and gold tiles and marvel at the London skyline through arched windows. The hotel’s Bamford Haybarn Spa is a serene haven, designed with rustic materials to create a sense of the peaceful English countryside. Unwind with a signature massage, facial and body wrap, or book a waxing treatment. All products applied at the spa – infused with natural extracts to tap into the healing power of nature – are made in Britain by Bamford and Oskia London.

Continue to relax in your sumptuous room with refined décor and furnishings. Featuring tactile fabrics and individually selected artwork, they also boast polished marble bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. For the utmost decadence, stay in a suite and drink in the city views from your private terrace or balcony.

Sample a fashion-inspired Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea with desserts that are redesigned biannually to mirror the latest trends on the catwalk, or sip a cocktail in the Blue Bar. At dinner, take a seat at the Chef’s table or dine à la carte in the Michelin-starred Marcus restaurant – one of only a handful in London with two of the prestigious stars. Specialising in modern British cuisine, it uses produce from across the country including Galloway beef and halibut from the small Scottish isle of Gigha.

Hotel The Berkeley

Top rated
London
9.1 Excellent (628 reviews)

Take a dip in this London hotel’s rooftop swimming pool by the River Thames

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Surrounded by the historic wharves of the Thames, the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel is a contemporary haven of tranquillity. Across the courtyard from the main hotel is an exquisite covered pool surrounded by wooden decked flooring. Its glass walls provide 360-degree views of the city while you swim. Detox with heat therapy and unwind in the waters of the spa, with its Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and therapeutic pools. Treat yourself to a signature massage with Organic Pharmacy products, a facial or a manicure while looking out over the river.

During your stay, make the most of the location with generously-sized rooms that frame the panoramic view. Recline on the cushioned window seat while admiring the cityscape and river in comfort. The sleek furniture is crafted from American black walnut. Make your stay extra special in a suite with separate living and dining areas as well as exquisite bathrooms. With both a bath and walk-in Grohe shower, they are the ideal spot for a pamper session with luxe L’Occitane toiletries.

In the evening, wander down to the Quadrato Bar & Lounge for a classic cocktail in the sophisticated restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows. On warmer days, sip your drink al-fresco on a terrace with vistas of the gardens and pool. The restaurant also offers a dinner menu of seasonal dishes.

Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel

Top rated
London
8.9 Excellent (690 reviews)

Float above London in a rooftop swimming pool on the 52nd floor

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The Shangri-La Hotel towers above the capital on the 34th to 52nd floors of the iconic Shard. You’ll be welcomed with a cup of Chinese tea before being met by the incredible views across the city as far as the eye can see. On floor 52 you’ll find the hotel’s Skypool – western Europe’s highest swimming pool. Take a dip and experience the unique sensation of floating high above the capital as you swim past walls made entirely of glass. Around the pool, lounge on comfy day beds and take in the urban vistas.

Rooms are decorated with East Asian touches like Chinese tea sets, alongside soft silks and rich cotton linens. You won’t be able to tear your gaze away from the views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Soak in the tub with L’Occitane or Acqua Di Parma toiletries in your spa-like bathroom with heated flooring, or relax under a rainfall shower.

When it comes to dining, start your evening with sunset cocktails in GŎNG on level 52. The highest bar in Western Europe serves signature cocktails to enjoy while taking in the unforgettable views. Shangri-La’s opulent restaurant Ting on level 35 is the place to visit for a decadent afternoon tea with a view. Its dinner menu focuses on classic British dishes with an Asian influence, made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Shangri-La The Shard, London

Top rated
London
9.4 Excellent (2430 reviews)

Swim in a hotel rooftop pool in London’s elegant Knightsbridge

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In the stylish district of Knightsbridge, find a haven of relaxation above the hustle and bustle in the Jumeirah Carlton Tower spa. Take a lift to the ninth floor where you’ll find a serene oasis at The Peak Health Club & Spa, with an arched glass ceiling that gives guests the illusion of floating in the clouds. Take a calming swim in the spa’s pool, sit in the massaging bubbles of the Jacuzzi or benefit from the detoxifying heat in the sauna and steam rooms. Other options include booking facials, massages, body scrubs and wraps or specialist SKEYNDOR Mesoscience treatments for non-invasive skin regeneration.

Make the most of the hotel’s towering height by staying in a room with views over Kensington’s rooftops or the elegant private gardens below, which guests are welcome to visit. These contemporary rooms feature custom-made furnishings and finishing touches including Geneva sound systems, iPhone docking stations and Nespresso coffee machines. For an extra-special experience, upgrade to a luxury suite with a plush bathroom. Soak in your own Jacuzzi bathtub and look out the floor-to-ceiling windows over Sloane Square below.

If you feel peckish, The Club Room serves light meals with inspiring views across the city’s skyline in a stylish setting. In the Chinoiserie restaurant, indulge in afternoon tea while listening to the hotel’s resident harpist. For a sophisticated dinner, take a seat in The Rib Room Bar and Restaurant, which offers a selection of British dishes including the restaurant’s renowned rib of beef – on the menu since 1961 – Dover sole and a set Sunday roast lunch.

The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

Top rated
London
9.4 Excellent (118 reviews)

Detox at the spa of this London hotel with a rooftop swimming pool

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Housed in a hundred-year-old Grade-I listed former Midland Bank building, The Ned is a grand hotel in the centre of London’s financial district. The exquisite Ned’s Club Spa is centred around a 20 metre indoor pool. Have a swim before feeling the health benefits of the sauna, steam room and traditional Moroccan hammam. On sunny days, cool off in the stone-walled rooftop pool with views out across the rooftops of the City. De-stress in one of the seven Cowshed therapy rooms with a massage and facial, or arrange manicures, pedicures and waxing. Alternative therapies including reflexology and vitamin boosting Vitadrips. Visit the Ned’s Barbershop and Salon for a haircut worthy of London Fashion Week.

The hotel is full of original architecture and design features, with vaulted ceilings and majestic columns to an intricate tapestry, the biggest of its kind when it was created during the 1920s. Sleep in a room or suite with original features including walnut wall panelling and bespoke floral prints, sumptuous velvets and a colour palette that nods to the building’s glamorous 1920s heritage. Rainfall showers, deep bathtubs and Cowshed toiletries ensure rooms are lavish to the end.

After a day of pampering, dine in the grand setting of the historic banking hall with a choice of eight restaurants serving food from across the globe. Each restaurant is nestled between opulent columns and rows of Grade I-listed walnut banking counters. Choose between British and American cuisines, Asian-Pacific, Italian and French or take a seat at the intimate Library Bar, which serves martinis and over 30 types of champagne.

The Ned

Top rated
London
9.0 Excellent (1086 reviews)

Discover a Moroccan-inspired London hotel rooftop pool and restaurant

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Float on top of an arty-industrial hotel in the centre of vibrant Shoreditch with a visit to The Curtain. This effortlessly cool space boasts spectacular views of the city from its Mediterranean-style rooftop. With a retractable glass roof, it can be used both in cooler weather and opened up in warmer seasons. Take a dip in its heated, Moroccan-inspired pool, which is surrounded by glass for uninterrupted views over London’s financial hub. While on the roof, dine on fresh, seasonal dishes throughout the day from the LIDO brasserie. For a little more pampering, head down to The Curtain’s underground spa for a rejuvenating massage or an Imarni Nails manicure. Men’s Society specialises in male grooming with haircuts, facials and hot towel shaves.

As well as an al-fresco dinner, try cuisine from the American South at Red Rooster Shoreditch, where chef Marcus Samuelsson creates traditional soul food inspired by the streets of Harlem. After eating, the plush Green Room is just the place to sink back onto curved velvet sofas and sample some East-London inspired cocktails.

When it’s time for bed, put your feet up in rooms with an urban-chic New York vibe created by mixing exposed brickwork and hardwood floors with lavish marble baths, large windows and king-sized beds. If you want to live like a rock star, treat yourself to a night in the Curtain Suite. As well as a deluxe bedroom with freestanding tub, kitchen and two marble bathrooms, you’ll also have the use of a Porsche Boxster for the duration of your stay.

Mondrian Shoreditch

London
9.0 Excellent (1377 reviews)