No moment encapsulates the feeling of a relaxing break like slipping into a hotel pool. Whether you want to unwind body and mind, have fun with friends or maintain your fitness regime, a hotel with a swimming pool is an enticing treat. Our top picks include beachside options and energising pools in spectacular spas. Here are some of our favourite hotels with swimming pools in the UK.
Dormy House Hotel
Combining comfort with class, Dormy House Hotel is a picture of tranquillity. Slip into the centrepiece 16m indoor infinity pool illuminated by candlelight in the chic spa and dare yourself not to relax. After a few leisurely lengths, you can move on to the lavender-infused sauna and juniper-laced Finnish cabin – or simply curl up on one of the comfy poolside loungers. The cosiness continues in the rest of the hotel, with roaring fires warming wood-panelled rooms. In a stylishly restored 17th-century farmhouse, the 38 rooms and suites are individually designed by leading studio Todhunter Earle. The hotel is a seven-minute drive from the charming Cotswold-stone village of Broadway.
The Nare Hotel
Overlooking the pristine white sands of Gerrans Bay in Cornwall, the Nare Hotel oozes seaside elegance. Here, you can dip in one of two pools and enjoy the stunning surrounds of this peaceful haven. Sheltered by beach huts, the outdoor pool has sweeping views across the gardens, coastline and out to sea. Even better, it’s heated to a cosy 30 degrees when open between May and October. If the notorious UK weather is playing up, you can still get a swim in, against the in-built jet stream in the indoor pool. When the weather improves, explore nearby the Fal and Helford Rivers on Alice Rose, the hotel’s motor yacht.
The Retreat at Elcot Park
Sixteen acres of magnificent grounds. Two bespoke restaurants. And far-reaching views over the North Wessex Downs. There’s rather a lot to like about The Retreat at Elcot Park in Berkshire. Once the home of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, this beautiful boutique hotel blends the very best of modern comforts with the charms of the countryside. The Retreat’s spa ticks all the boxes. Think steam and sauna rooms, private massage treatments, and hydrotherapy pools where you can sit back and relax. It also features a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio for heart-racing workouts. If you’d prefer to exercise outside, hone your backhand on the hotel’s tennis court, or swim lengths in the outdoor pool – which has designer cabanas for when it’s hot and sunny.
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