With its unpredictable weather and short summer season, the UK is not known for its outdoor pools. Perhaps that’s why a hotel in the UK that has an outdoor pool is often weird. Natural and reed-filtered, cliffs and infinity, heated and hydrotherapy, private sandy beach and flower shed, Britain lives up to its eccentric reputation for its hotels’ outdoor pools. Whether you want to brave a cool, wild bath or prefer a heated, luxurious experience, you will find some pretty incredible deals. And since the climate is friendlier in the south, you will encounter most of these unusual pools there.
Here are some of our favorite UK hotels with quirky outdoor pools.
1. The Scarlet, Cornwall
For all brave souls, there is the outdoor pool The scarlet is a reed-filtered, natural wild pool with cold water. If you like the idea of wild swimming but don’t want to jump into a lake, this pool is perfect for you. Cold water swimming – or just soaking in cold water – is a great way to get the blood pumping and endorphins going, but not for the faint of heart! There is also an indoor pool at The Scarlet, which has incredible panoramic views of the ocean.
The hotel is 5 minutes from Cornwall Newquay Airport and 25 minutes from Bodmin Parkway Railway Station and is easily accessible by car. This is a couples only hotel but dogs are allowed!
Pro tip: This coast is loved by surfers who come from all over the world to catch a big wave, and that’s in part because of how breezy it can be. It’s a rugged coastline with a touch of wilderness. So be sure to pack a sweater no matter what time of year you visit it.
St. Brides Hotel
2. St. Brides, Pembrokeshire
Infinity pools might not be the first thing you think of when you think of South West Wales, but you will be fascinated by the oceanfront optical illusion pool in St Brides in Pembrokeshire. When the tide comes in, you can float around in the hydrotherapy pool, which is warmed to body temperature and the pool appears to merge with the murmuring ocean. It’s especially spectacular on cool days when the bubbling jets and warm water calm you down as the waves crash in the cool air.
To get to St. Brides, you must fly to Cardiff Airport, 90 miles away. Take the train to Tenby, 5 minutes from the hotel. or drive from anywhere in the UK.
Pro tip: The hotel has a range of rooms and apartments so you can either enjoy the usual hotel experience or cater for yourself. The apartments offer you the best of both worlds, with all the hotel facilities plus your own in-room amenities. The hotel is right on the beach, making it perfect for doing your own thing.
South Lodge
3. South Lodge, Sussex
If you like the idea of a natural, wild swimming pool but don’t like the cold, the outdoor pool is at the South Lodge has the best of both worlds. South Lodge is set on 93 acres of outdoor spa and country park with forests, gardens, lakes and the most unusual natural outdoor pool. This pool is heated so you don’t have to steel yourself to get in, but it’s natural too, with foliage around the edges, natural water and a lake-like appearance. You can feel like you are swimming wildly while enjoying a little extra comfort. There is also an outdoor heated hydrotherapy pool and an indoor pool so you will be spoiled for choice.
The rooms and suites are spacious and have original elements from the historic manor house.
Horsham Train Station is 10 minutes away by taxi and the hotel is easily accessible by car.
Pro tip: There is also a self-catering cottage on the premises. Note, however, that if you book this instead of a room at the lodge, you will not have access to the hotel’s restaurants. There is a pub across from the lodge and a grocery store 2 miles away.
Ellenborough Park
4. Ellenborough Park, Cotswolds
This historic mansion, now a hotel, is set on 90 acres and has a rich and storied past dating back to 1485. If you like historic rural settings, Ellenborough Park is the real thing, but it also has some surprising and luxurious features, including a lovely outdoor pool. The 50-foot pool is heated to 86 degrees so you can enjoy a swim in any weather. The special thing about this pool, however, is that it fits perfectly into its surroundings. The pool is made of Cotswold stone, as is the terrace that surrounds it. It’s a classic and sophisticated outdoor pool and a very unusual find in the UK.
Ellenborough Park is a 20-minute drive from Cheltenham Spa Railway Station.
Pro tip: This is a 500 year old mansion so there are some challenging areas for anyone with mobility issues. Ellenborough Park has worked hard to fix this and there are four rooms on the ground floor that are wheelchair accessible. If you’re traveling with other guests and want to make sure you’re close together, you can book the two interconnecting accessible rooms.
The Grove Hotel
5. The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire
Just 20 minutes outside of London, Ralphs Beach at The Grove Hotel brings you an unexpected piece of sea in a rural setting. This urban beach in the middle of the country looks and feels like the real thing, complete with lots of sand, lounge chairs, buckets, and spades. But instead of taking a dip in the ocean, you have a large, luxurious, heated outdoor pool. The grounds at The Grove are just as English – and as eccentric – as they come. Next to the beach and pool, there is a walled garden with a flower shed where you can relax in an armchair and play a board game or two.
The Grove offers a choice of luxurious rooms and suites for you to stay in.
Pro tip: If you want this amazing experience all to yourself, inquire about exclusive bookings for the beach, pool and flower shed. Invite your friends and family to a garden party no one will ever forget. This makes a great backdrop for a birthday, wedding, or just a much-needed celebration.
The Headland Hotel
6. The Headland, Cornwall
The headland in Cornwall has just redesigned its outdoor and indoor areas to include an incredible pool complex overlooking beautiful Fistral Beach in Newquay. The Aqua Club opened in April 2021 and features an outdoor vitality pool with a Cornish granite menhir as its centerpiece and a heated sunset spa surrounded by an oceanfront pool. There is also an 80-foot indoor pool and a hydrotherapy pool.
You can travel to Newquay by air and land at Cornwall Newquay Airport. by train, stop at Newquay Station; or by car from anywhere in the UK.
Pro tip: Although The Headland offers double hotel rooms and stand-alone self-catering cottages suitable for a romantic getaway for couples, it is mostly a family resort. The pool complex has a paddling pool for children so you can take the grandchildren with you perfectly. However, if you want a slightly quieter stay, join us during the school year and you will find these incredible pools offer a little extra space!
