If this summer is anything like the one we had last year then an outdoor pool is going to be top of the agenda when we’re booking our staycation hotels.
From Cornwall to County Durham, luxury retreats invite you to rest and recuperate in aquatic style this season as the Good Hotel Guide shares 10 of the top UK hotels with outdoor swimming pools.
Hambleton Hall, Oakham
Set within beautiful gardens, Hambleton Hall is an impressive Victorian country house that invites you to relax and unwind in elegant surroundings. Brimming with beautiful details, the decor honours the heritage of the property whilst offering the best of modern hospitality. Looking out across Rutland Water, it’s in an idyllic location, and nestled within its landscaped gardens is a beautiful outdoor pool. In a secluded spot under mature trees, it has space to relax on a lounger and enjoy the warmer weather in peace – it’s perfect for summer relaxation.
Visit here for more information.
Chewton Glen, New Milton
A five-star hotel in Hampshire that’s won many an award for its exceptional experiences, Chewton Glen is known for many wonderful things, from a croquet on the lawn to luxurious treehouse suites and exquisite food. Amongst those experiences is the spa, a destination in its own right, complete with a 17-metre swimming pool, an impressive hydrotherapy spa pool, an outdoor whirlpool, and cold drench showers. The cherry on top is a heated outdoor pool within the hotel’s tranquil gardens that’s open all day until 7pm from June to October.
Visit here for more information.
The Nare, Veryan-in-Roseland
An Edwardian hotel in a blissful beachside location on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, The Nare is all about beautiful leisure activities. After waking in the morning in elegantly appointed rooms with views of the water, guests can choose from a variety of activities, from time on the hotel’s own yacht to a swim in the heated outdoor pool (open seasonally). There’s also an indoor pool with its own jet stream, a hydrotherapy pool and an outdoor hot tub.
Visit here for more information.
Longueville Manor, Jersey
Practically perfect in every way, Longueville Manor is an elegant Manor House surrounded by landscaped gardens with a lake and specimen trees. The five star hotel is brimming with historic details like beams thought to have come from the Spanish Armada in one bedroom, an 18th-century French four-poster in another. Beautiful details are peppered throughout – REN toiletries and scented candles in the bathroom. Dinner is also an experience in its own right within the panelled Oak Room. Days are spent enjoying the views, and relaxing in the grounds, which include an outdoor pool, surrounded by a sophisticated alfresco terrace.
Visit here for more information.
Cliveden House, Taplow
A destination for the good and the great across the centuries, Cliveden House has a reputation that precedes it. The extraordinary country house is the pinnacle of luxury and excellence. Five-star all the way, it’s located in Berkshire and combines luxury spa facilities with award-winning restaurants and hospitality. The property is surrounded by National Trust grounds, and is known for scandal as well as luxury, with its outdoor pool in the walled garden playing a pivotal role in the Profumo Affair of the 1960s.
Visit here for more information.
Seaham Hall, Seaham
A five-star spa hotel in County Durham, Seaham Hall is an impressive destination, combining the best of contemporary hospitality and heritage. A tunnel leads from the hotel to the Serenity Spa, which is a destination in its own right, including a 20-metre pool, steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy thermal experiences and Zen Garden. If you stay in the Garden Suite you can relax in total seclusion as it comes with a private wood fired hot tub in the room too. For those looking to swim in the fresh air, there’s an exquisite outdoor pool which enjoys views of the grounds as well as back towards the impressive modern architecture of the spa itself.
Visit here for more information.
The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth
Best known for being amongst the best of luxury eco spas, The Scarlet is perched on a clifftop and boasts an outdoor hot tub with incredible views and contemporary, glass-dominated architecture that houses a spectacular pool. It is a famously eco-friendly, low-tech hotel and spa that has been leading the charge in sustainable wellbeing since before it was fashionable, and one of its chief eco features is its reed-filtered natural pool. It’s not only impressive to see and experience, but much like the rest of the hotel, offers awe-inspiring views of the landscape as you swim.
Visit here for more information.
Mallory Court, Leamington Spa
A romantic Elizabethan-style mansion, Mallory Court is a charming country house with an award-winning spa. Pretty and welcoming, it takes in views across the gardens and south Warwickshire, and interiors are classic but immaculate combining modern comforts and period charm. The boutique spa sits within the grounds and includes a range of facilities, not least vitality and hydrotherapy pools and hot tubs. The outdoor vitality pool is a combination of warm water, with an average temperature of 38°C, water jets that gently massage and beautiful views.
Visit here for more information.
Cowley Manor, Cheltenham
Re-opening this year, Cowley Manor has a reputation for excellence. The classic country house hotel has more than 300 years of history. The Grade II listed property has 31 rooms and suites, a celebrated restaurant, cocktail lounge and more. Amongst its many assets is the C-Side Spa, which honours the wellbeing benefits of water and is inspired by their own natural springs and lake. As such, it’s fitting that its features include a spectacular 15-metre outdoor pool and a 17-metre slate lined indoor pool, which are both open all day, year round and waiting for your jump (respectfully), right in.
Visit here for more information.
