Swim & Dine at Haymarket Hotel
There are two types of people in London: those who can casually spend hundreds on a hotel room, and the rest of us.
So when I heard you could rock up to Haymarket Hotel, have a swim and lunch, and leave without handing over the price of a weekend away, I was intrigued.
The hotel’s Swim & Dine package costs £45 per adult and £20 per child. You get 45 minutes in the 18-metre indoor pool, followed by a two-course lunch at Brumus.
The swimming pool at Haymarket Hotel
Not exactly a budget swim - but this isn't your local leisure centre either.
The whole appeal is luxury without checking in. You get to wander into a five-star hotel in the heart of the West End, take a dip, get changed and sit down for lunch. Then, just like that, you're back on the streets of London.
The forty-five minutes is more than enough for a swim and to be honesty, they’re not strict about timings.
The catch? The pool is 1.5 metres deep throughout and there was no apparent lifeguard when we visited. I’m tall but my companion is not and spent most of the time having onto the sides. Also while we were swimming ghtere appeared to be a groups of work people at the bar. We were in bathing suites, they were fully dressed…it felt weird.
Then there’s lunch and I suppose this is where the £45 starts to make more sense. You're paying for more than a swim: you're buying the setting, the food and that slightly ridiculous-but-fun feeling of enjoying a luxury hotel without actually staying there.
Would I pay £45 just to swim? Probably not.
Would I pay £45 for a little slice of five-star London, followed by lunch? Now we're talking.
Look it won't replace a full spa day, but if you're looking for a glamorous few hours without the glamorous hotel bill, Haymarket's Swim & Dine is a pretty clever way to fake being a hotel guest in one of London’s most beautiful boutique hotels.
And honestly? In this economy, I'll take it.
*The pool is on the lower ground floor, with lift facilities in the hotel, although anyone needing specific step-free access should check the arrangements before booking.