The best hotels with rooftop pools

London’s skyline got a monumental upgrade with the regeneration of the historic Battersea Power Station, and sitting right at the heart of the action is this ultra-vibrant, art-focused hotel. While the playful Jaime Hayon-designed interiors are a feast for the eyes, the real showstopper is the heated rooftop infinity pool on the 16th floor. It offers a front-row seat to the power station’s iconic, towering chimneys – positioned so close you feel you could almost touch them. After a few laps overlooking the sparkling River Thames, dry off on a plush lounger and head to the adjacent JOIA bar for Iberian-inspired cocktails and bites.

Why haul yourself all around the Parthenon in the sticky Athenian heat, when you can take in the epic ancient site from the side of a fabulous rooftop pool? Perfectly positioned overlooking the ancient Acropolis, the alfresco dipper at THE DOLLI is an infinity-style number that reflects the Grecian wonder. Lined in umbrella-shaded dining tables where the chic set drain rosé until the sun sinks low in the sky, the oasis is open until 7pm, giving you plenty of time to explore Plaka’s buzzy shops or tick off other Athens highlights before slipping into the serene waters.

Dripping in gold leaf, draped in intricate fabrics and festooned with chandeliers and heavy wood furniture, this historic stay in the Indian capital’s diplomatic enclave doesn’t feel like somewhere you’d find something as modern and frivolous as a rooftop pool. Yet that’s exactly what occupies the space 11 floors up, and it’s flanked by shimmering metallic domes, prime hedging and cream loungers in a decadent echo of the interiors. If that’s not enough to satisfy your urge for a dip, a clutch of the hotel’s swanky suites come with their own in-room plunge pools, too.

The EDITION has a cool, youthful vibe that matches Madrid’s spirited summer energy, particularly when it comes to its beauty of a rooftop pool. The largest infinity pool in the city, it’s a greenery-lined suntrap that’s open until 10pm – or, in other words, until locals are just about ready to head out for their evening meals. If you want to start the party earlier, zingy cocktails can be delivered to your lounger, to be sipped as you drink in the view of surrounding landmarks such as Teatro Real, Almudena cathedral and the Spanish royal palace.

Amsterdam’s abundance of canals makes for atmospheric wandering in summer but doesn’t do much to cool you off when temperatures climb. It’s just as well that the city’s W Hotel, handily located by central Dam square, has the perfect remedy, set at the top of a grand building that once housed a regal bank. Drop your bag in an ultra-modern, minimalist suite, then make your way up for a swim at the WET Deck, where the heated pool overlooks the ornate rooftops of one of Europe’s prettiest cities. 

The Maybourne hotel group doesn’t do anything by halves, and that includes rooftop pools, as this much-loved example at Knightsbridge outpost The Berkeley attests to. Sweeping views over Hyde Park make you feel miles from the London rush, while iced granita on tap mentally transports you to the Med, particularly on sweltering days. Small but perfectly formed, it’s only open to hotel guests, but if that’s not a reason to book a summer staycation, then we don’t know what is.

New England summers are more associated with the beaches of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard than they are with swimming in Boston, but you can channel the maritime vibe even in the city centre. The Colonnade in upmarket Back Bay, a neighbourhood of chic shops and historic brownstones, is a go-to when temperatures soar thanks to its rooftop pool. The ‘RTP’, as it’s known, is the only one of its kind in the city and provides a 12th-storey refreshment after you’ve caught a baseball game at Fenway Park or walked the Freedom Trail.

Venice isn’t a place you go to relax – or is it? After stomping around St Mark’s Square, hitting the museums or exploring the canal-side food scene there’s no better place to snatch some R&R than on the adults-only rooftop pool at this sequestered resort. Occupying its own lush island just a brief private ferry transfer from the heart of the historic city, the JW Marriott comes with rambling grounds, family-friendly play areas, outdoor film nights, excellent restaurants and a slick spa. But the showstopper sits at the crown of its main tower building, a lounger-lined pool with parasols and adjoining bar, overlooking the Venetian lagoon.