Words: John Smith
In the midst of a muggy London heat — where exhaust fumes sit heavily in the air and semi-naked Brits fill up the already overcrowded streets, what is the one thing people desire the most? Beyond the desire for an authentic Italian gelato, and dare we say it, beyond the desire for a mint garnished mojito in a quiet rooftop bar, is the desire for a swimming pool.
But, the choice of water-filled swimming holes in London is sparse at best. At the top end, you have the luxurious resorts which come equip with pools. The Berkley Hotel is a fantastic example of this, sporting impeccable views of the London skyline. However, even then you will have to spend your leisure time surrounded by the terribly gauche general public.
With a little help from our friends down at Knight Frank, we have collated four private properties currently on sale which have the most exclusive and luxurious swimming pools in the whole of London. Burn the rulebook, swim up the lefthand side, cannon ball, dive in the shallow end and even pet, heavily, if you so wish.
The mansion: Cowley Street, Westminster
You could not dream up a more ideal home. Available for the first time in generations, there is too much to say about this property to do it justice here. In a brief synopsis, it has views of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and The House of Lords from its roof terrace, so the location is phenomenal. In addition, this seven bedroomed colossal comes with a 12-16 person dining room, bar room, billiards room, walk-in wine room, 2 staff bedrooms, Italian garden, two terraces, a roof terrace, gym, spa, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
The pièce de résistance has to be the majestic, under-lit, ten metre swimming pool with doors opening out onto the back-garden. Weighing in at the very exclusive price of £36,000,000.
The suave: Farm Street, Mayfair
Imagine sliding around on the marble floors in your fluffy slippers, silk dressing gown draped over your shoulders, whiskey and ice clinking around in your glass, and the partner away for the weekend. No cooler place to have a quiet night in than in this Mayfair pad.
It comes with four bedrooms, is situated on one of the most sought after streets in London, and spans seven floors with an 8 man lift to make that all important descent from the rooftop down to the pool. £25,000,000.
The bucolic suburbs: Coombe Park, Kingston upon Thames
When you begin to start talking about outdoor space in London in terms of acres, you know you’re doing something right. Albeit, this property only has half an acre, but it still affords the freedom for you to stretch your legs on a Saturday afternoon in the privacy of your own grounds.
What is better than one cascade fountain in your pool? That’s right, two cascade fountains. No one is complaining here we see. £8,995,000.
The Chelsea hideout: Cathcart Road, Chelsea
This lush pad looks as though it has seen — or at least should have seen — a fair share of parties extending into the reckless hours of the morning. Its well-curated modern interiors are combined with an angular, art-deco exterior, and a patio area outside. There are countless incredible features, including the immaculate wine cellar, the personal gym, the location inside the über prestigious Bolton’s Conservation Area, and a double row of sofas in the cinema room creating an ‘authentic’ cinema experience.
However, it is the clandestine, underground swimming pool adorned with beautiful tiles and a shimmering water-like ceiling which subtly steals the show. £18,950,000.
Many thanks to Knight Frank for providing these ultra exclusive alternatives to pond dwelling.
If a luxury pool in London won’t suffice and you just need to get away from it all, try this luxury private island getaway in Fiji.
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