From a London tower overlooking reservoirs to a Plymouth townhouse close to a historic saltwater lido, these five properties in England and Scotland offer unique access to swimming spots.
Plymouth, Devon: £925,000
Plymouth offers sheltered bays and the Grade II-listed art deco Tinside lido, built in 1935 and filled with saltwater. In the Mount Wise estate, three pools provide views across the River Tamar into Cornwall. On Plymouth Hoe, a conservation area, a Grade II-listed four-storey townhouse features a lower-ground-floor apartment, a courtyard garden, and a double garage. It overlooks the historic bowling green and is separated from the seafront by the promenade. Price: £925,000. Contact: Marchand Petit, 01752 873 311.
Manor House, London: £650,000
On the 21st floor of one of the taller towers in the Woodberry Down development, a two-bedroom apartment offers views over two reservoirs—one popular for sailing and open-water swimming. The flat has a large open-plan kitchen-dining-living room with a balcony. Woodberry Down is one of Europe’s biggest single-site regeneration projects, spanning 20 years and comprising 5,500 homes, rebuilt around the water and a nature reserve. Price: £650,000. Contact: Dexters, 020 7483 6360.
Cellardyke, Fife: £780,000
Sitting on the shoreline, a handsome stone-built end-of-terrace house has a garden that merges into the stony coastline. Inside, a traditional four-bedroom seaside cottage features wooden flooring, white walls, sash windows with shutters, and a paved courtyard with timber decking and a built-in barbecue. For sheltered swimming, the popular Cellardyde tidal pool, known as the Bathie, is on the edge of town with a mobile sauna and nearby cafes. Price: £780,000. Contact: Rettie, 01334 237 700.
Litton Cheney, Dorset: £850,000
Litton Lakes is a campsite where campers and day visitors can swim, kayak, and paddleboard, just inland from West Bexington on the Jurassic Coast. In the neighbouring village, a characterful four-bedroom house, once an old granary, features exposed timber beams and arches in the sitting room. The back garden has a paved terrace overlooking a spring-fed lake with resident wildlife. The lake joins a stream on the south-west boundary, and there is a vegetable plot, timber shed, and lean-to greenhouse. Price: £850,000. Contact: Symonds & Sampson, 01308 422 092.
Hampstead, London: £6.45m
A four-bedroom, five-storey Victorian townhouse offers views from the kitchen, balcony, and garden of the Hampstead ponds and the heath beyond. Described by the agent as in need of modernisation, the elegant property retains period features such as ornate cornicing and original fireplaces under high ceilings. On the lower ground floor, an alcove separates the reception room from the kitchen-diner, which leads to the garden. There is another living room and study on the ground floor. Price: £6.45m. Contact: Knight Frank, 020 7317 7966.
