7 Cheap Hotels with Swimming Pools for Your UK Trip

That “pool included” feeling, without the price tag, is harder to find than it should be. You want a decent room, a sensible location, and somewhere to swim without stumbling into resort-level prices or hidden leisure fees. That’s not luxury. That’s basic holiday competence.

Cheap hotels with swimming pools do exist in the UK, but you need to shop smarter than the average traveller. The first rule is simple. Never trust the pool icon on a booking site without checking the hotel’s own page. Look for terms like “health club access”, “guest swim times”, “spa supplement”, or “complimentary for guests”.

A quick call to reception helps too. Ask whether the pool is open to all guests, whether children have restricted hours, and whether your room rate includes access. That single check saves a lot of post-check-in sulking.

1. Holiday Inn London – Kensington High Street, London

London is where “cheap” and “pool” usually stop speaking to each other. That’s why Holiday Inn London – Kensington High Street is such a useful find. It gives you a central West London base, a recognisable chain, and access to a proper indoor pool through the Kensington Health Club & Spa.

The location does a lot of heavy lifting. You’re close to High Street Kensington Tube, and you’ve got easy reach for the museums, Hyde Park and the usual central London hit list. If you want cheap hotels with swimming pools in a part of London people want to stay in, this is one of the strongest options.

Why it works

The win here is balance. You’re not banished to the outskirts just to get leisure facilities, and you’re not paying for an ultra-posh spa hotel either.

• Best feature: Central London location with an on-site indoor pool.
• Good for: City breaks, couples, solo travellers, and parents who want a swim without leaving the hotel.
• Worth checking: Some rates handle health club access differently, so confirm what’s included before you book.

Practical rule: In London, a pool in Zone 1 or close to it is the loophole. If the room is compact but the location and leisure access are right, you’re usually winning.

Rooms can feel compact, which is hardly shocking in London. But if your priority is value plus location plus pool, this hotel gets the job done. If you’re planning a capital break, this guide to cheap hotels in London helps you squeeze more value out of the city overall.

2. Novotel Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh

Novotel Edinburgh Park (Accor), Edinburgh

If you’d rather keep your money for restaurants, whisky and castle views, Novotel Edinburgh Park is the smart play. It sits outside the postcard centre, but that’s exactly why it often feels like better value than Old Town options.

You get a heated indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and gym, and the hotel is well placed for the tram and rail links. That means you can get into the city without paying city-centre hotel premiums. For airport access, it’s handy too.

Why I’d pick it over a central budget hotel

A lot of lower-priced city hotels save money by cutting the useful bits. No pool. No proper leisure facilities. Tiny rooms. No breathing space. Novotel Edinburgh Park takes the opposite route and gives you a more complete stay.

The business-park setting isn’t romantic, but it is practical. If you care more about swimming before dinner than staring at old stone buildings from your window, this one makes sense fast.

• Standout perk: Leisure access is usually straightforward for guests.
• Best fit: Families, weekend trippers, and anyone flying in or out of Edinburgh.
• Main compromise: You’ll trade historic atmosphere for easier value.

Stay outside the centre when the tram is doing the heavy lifting. That’s often where cheap hotels with swimming pools become realistic instead of theoretical.

3. Novotel Cardiff Centre, Cardiff

Novotel Cardiff Centre (Accor), Cardiff

Novotel Cardiff Centre is the dependable all-rounder on this list. It sits in that sweet spot between Cardiff Bay and the city centre, which means you’re close enough to walk to the useful stuff without paying for a fussy “boutique” badge.

The hotel’s indoor heated pool makes it especially handy for families and weekend stays. Add the steam room, sauna and gym, and it feels like a hotel that understands why people book leisure facilities. They want easy downtime, not a scavenger hunt.

Best reasons to book it

This is the sort of place that works because it doesn’t try too hard. You get a practical location, familiar mid-scale standards, and facilities that make rainy-weather plans much easier.

• Nearby upside: Good access for shopping, events and rail arrivals.
• Family appeal: The pool helps break up a city break nicely.
• Watch for: Parking is limited and paid, and some rooms feel fresher than others.

There’s also an on-site restaurant and bar, which matters more than people admit. After a swim, being able to stay put for dinner is often the difference between a relaxing night and a tired trudge across town.

4. Holiday Inn Birmingham M6, Jct.7, Birmingham

If you’re driving, Holiday Inn Birmingham M6, Jct.7 is one of the clearest value picks in the whole bunch. This is not the hotel you book for urban charm. It’s the one you book because you want low faff, easy parking, and a proper indoor pool.

The hotel works with the You Fit Health & Fitness Club, which gives you access to a 15-metre indoor pool, plus steam room, sauna and whirlpool. For road-trip stopovers, family breaks, event stays and practical overnight trips, that’s a strong package.

Where it beats city-centre options

City-centre Birmingham can make you pay more for less. More traffic, more parking stress, smaller leisure setups, and less breathing room. This hotel dodges that.

• Big advantage: Easy motorway access with leisure facilities on site.
• Useful extra: Parking and EV charging make it especially good for drivers.
• Catch: Some parts of the property feel older, and club access terms are worth confirming.

If you’re heading to a show or exhibition, this guide to cheap hotels near the NEC Birmingham helps you line up the right area before you book.

Booking move: For motorway hotels with a club partnership, ask reception one direct question before paying. “Does my room rate include full guest access to the pool and spa facilities?” That gets you a yes or no quickly.

5. Village Hotel Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne

Village Hotel Newcastle is for people who want to swim, not just stare at a decorative splash pool next to a few loungers. The big draw is the sizeable Village Health & Wellness Club, anchored by a 25-metre indoor heated pool.

That’s a serious plus at this end of the market. You’re also in a useful position between Newcastle and the coast, so the hotel works for a mixed trip. One day in the city, one day heading towards Whitley Bay, then back for a swim and a meal without changing hotels.

Why it stands out

Village properties are often a good answer when you want affordable hotels with proper leisure infrastructure rather than token extras. This one follows that pattern well.

The large gym, classes, spa facilities, Pub & Grill, and on-site Starbucks make the place feel more like a self-contained base than a basic crash pad. That’s useful when weather changes your plans.

• Best for: Families, couples on a casual break, and travellers who want room to spread out.
• Main strength: Pool size and overall health-club feel.
• Trade-off: It isn’t in the city centre, and peak swim times can get busy.

If your trip has a “bit of everything” brief, this one is easy to recommend.

6. Village Hotel Nottingham, Nottingham

Village Hotel Nottingham is the kind of hotel that conveniently solves several problems at once. You get an affordable base, a 25-metre indoor pool, family-friendly leisure access, parking, and a straightforward route into Nottingham.

It works especially well if you want a city break without sleeping in the busiest part of the city. Chilwell gives you breathing room, and the nearby tram links help keep things easy. Families also tend to like the pool setup because it feels like an actual activity, not just a hotel extra.

The smart reason to choose it

This is a “make the hotel part of the trip” option. If you’re travelling with kids, or you want a swim and a sauna after a day out, the value equation gets much better than a central no-frills room.

• Strongest point: A large pool and full health-club facilities at a more accessible price point.
• Useful for: Family weekends, visiting relatives, and stopovers that need more than a bed.
• Potential downside: Rooms are functional rather than fancy, and family swim periods can be busy.

There’s also a Pub & Grill and Starbucks on site, which keeps logistics simple. That matters when everyone’s hungry and nobody wants another taxi.

7. Britannia Hotel Stockport, Greater Manchester

Britannia Hotel Stockport (Britannia Hotels), Greater Manchester

If your brief is brutally simple. “I want one of the cheapest hotels with swimming pools and I can live without style.” Then Britannia Hotel Stockport deserves a look.

This is a no-frills budget play south of Manchester, with access to the Spindles Health & Leisure Club and its heated indoor pool, plus sauna and gym. The appeal is obvious. Low base rate, parking, Wi-Fi, and a real pool instead of a misleading amenities list.

Go in with the right expectations

This hotel is the bargain-bin option on the list, and that’s exactly how to treat it. You book it for price and facilities, not polished interiors or boutique-level service.

Cheap works best when you know what you’re sacrificing. Here, you’re paying for access and utility, not atmosphere.

• Why book it: Good for stopovers, road trips, and strict budgets.
• Why hesitate: Dated rooms and more mixed guest feedback than the stronger chain options above.
• Who it suits: Drivers and value-led travellers who care more about the pool than the wallpaper.

If your next family debate is drifting towards bigger water features, this round-up of hotels with lazy rivers is a fun next step.

7 Budget Hotels with Pools, Comparison

Use this table to cut your shortlist fast. The right pick depends on one thing first. How much effort you want to spend confirming pool access, parking, and whether the “pool hotel” claim means guest use without awkward extras.

A simple rule works here. Start with location, then verify pool access, then compare the total cost after parking, breakfast, and any leisure restrictions. That process saves more money than chasing the lowest headline rate and fixing mistakes later.

If you want the safest value pick, choose one of the Novotel or Village properties. If you want central London with a pool at a tolerable price, Kensington is the loophole. If you want the absolute lowest spend and can live with trade-offs, Stockport is the blunt budget option.

Lock In the Fun, Let the Price Drop

You find a cheap hotel with a pool, confirm the swim times work, book the refundable rate, and move on. Good. That is the right time to stop shopping and start tracking.

Pool hotels are annoying to replace. Once you’ve found one with the right location, the right room, and pool access that fits your trip, switching to a different property just to save a little money often creates more hassle than value. The smarter play is simpler. Keep the hotel you already vetted and watch for the same stay to drop in price.

FlipMyStay does that for you. After you make a refundable booking, forward the confirmation email to FlipMyStay at save@flipmystay.com. It tracks like for like rates for the same hotel, room type, and dates, then alerts you if a cheaper price shows up.

That matters here because leisure hotels have extra variables. A lower headline rate means nothing if the replacement property has restricted pool hours, paid club access, or family swim windows that wreck your plans.

Use a simple process. Book the best refundable option once you’ve verified the pool setup. Send the confirmation for tracking. Rebook only if the cheaper rate matches the same stay and keeps the terms you want.

That is how you keep the fun part locked in and still cut the price later.

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Made a refundable booking already? Send it to FlipMyStay and let the platform watch for a cheaper like for like rate while you get on with your life. It is the easiest way to keep your pool hotel cheap after booking it.