Swim in Style at the Incredible Canary Riverside Pool

The Bond sights in London don’t stop! The sleek design of a Shanghai hotel rooftop swimming pool in Skyfall is actually the Virgin Active gym and spa at Canary Riverside. This Canary Wharf pool is shared with Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel. Virgin Active claims this is their best swimming experience in London, understandable given the view.

We don’t really associate London with swimming, which is why it holds some great aquaeous secrets. The RAC club in Pall Mall has an underground spa in glorious marble that required plans for the underground line beneath to be lowered! The Beatles shot album artwork at the University of London pool in Bloomsbury. This remains the biggest pool in central London. However, imagine a morning or evening swim with the low sun hung above the Thames.

Penthouse Paradise is but a DLR away

If you work in Canary Wharf or live near the Docklands Light Railway, a membership here by Westferry Quays could be a valuable investment. In London we are glass obsessed- with skyscraper bars and restraurants a favourite indulgence if a self-confessed fad. It is ironic to note how the vast majority of images of the pool show the view West towards town. The view from the other end of the pool is understandably underwhelming. However, the other side of this glass building looks out onto a landscaped garden.

 

 

A Costly Indulgence?

Rain or shine, imagine occupying the humid warmth of this pool as gails and rain dance across the Thames. The membership starts at £115 per month for a 12 month contract, which works out as £1380 per year. This can be upgraded to include other Virgin Active gyms, since this is part of their premium collection. Unfortunately this does mean this is the cheapest membership available whereas their cheaper gyms offer a range of discounts.

However, the monthly rolling contract is available half price if you use Vitality health insurance, which could make a good deal overall. You could join a budget-friendly ‘gym only’ brand for around £70 per month. A relatively expensive example, Soho Gyms Covent Garden offer a year for £699.90 which is very nearly half the price. But maybe you get double the experience here? Or might you use it twice as much? See our other choices of top places to work out.

So what is the benefit of joining a premium pool? Firstly, if you work in Canary Wharf this is ideal! If not, then this is a tempting indulgence requiring travel. While your friends are out running in the cold, rain and diesel or pumping weights at some of London’s more laconic spa-less gyms, you can swim and work out before relaxing in the spa. These also tend to be social places, so Canary Wharf could be of strong networking potential.

 

More Than Just a Pool

The spa here clearly continues the luxury of this gym. And of course there is a cafe lounge which doubles as an excellent space for work and meetings.

To enjoy the gym without membership, become a guest at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel next door. Although a room here demonstrates the same luxury premium as the membership! However, there can be no harm in signing up for their special offer releases here: http://www.canaryriversideplaza.com/en/special-offers/special-offers-sign

 

Stewart Vickers @VickHellfire

The post Swim in Style at the Incredible Canary Riverside Pool appeared first on Felix Magazine.