News

It is just over a year since the UK’s first public natural swimming pond was opened within London’s innovative King’s Cross Development, having been built by BIOTOP’s UK partner Kingcombe Aquacare Ltd.

The King’s Cross Pond Club was officially launched in May 2015 to great interest from the UK and international media.  The natural bathing pond was designed as an art installation entitled Of Soil and Water: King’s Cross Pond Club to encourage visitors to enter the water and participate in the installation as a piece of experiential art.

The original concept for the swimming pond was created by Ooze Architects (Eva Pfannes & Sylvain Hartenberg) and artist Marjetica Potrč. The installation aims to make people think about the relationship between nature and the urban environment – the permanence of buildings and the changing nature of undeveloped spaces.

Since its launch the Pond has become extremely popular with outdoor swimmers, who have swum daily in its unheated waters, throughout the year. King's Cross is the largest mixed use development in single ownership to be developed in central London for over 150 years. The 67-acre site has a rich history and a unique setting. The pond is one of the main attractions within the Lewis Cubitt Park area of the development. The aim is to provide visitors and people living in the area with a beautiful and relaxing vantage point from where they can swim and enjoy a piece of nature in an urban location.

Visitors to the 40m long, natural, chemical-free pond have access to 8 changing rooms, lockers, and showers. A lifeguard will be on duty during opening hours and we have followed all the required guidelines to ensure that swimmers can enjoy a safe swim at the King's Cross Pond Club. There is also a viewing platform providing visitors with an aerial view of the pond and the wider area of King's Cross.

Over the last few weeks, Kingcombe has been carrying out spring maintenance on the pond’s hundreds of marginal and aquatic plants, which play a vital role in the pond’s natural filtration.  The water is now crystal clear and being enjoyed by swimmers of all ages.

Having been trendsetters for 30 years, having designed the very first private natural pool, BIOTOP is delighted to be have lead the industry once again with the UK’s first public natural pool.  BIOTOP hope that many more cities across the UK will now see the benefits of chemical free, natural public swimming.