It's around this time of year when the idea of having a pool in your backyard feels intoxicatingly appealing. In this seemingly never-ending heatwave of a British summer, there is nothing I'd like more than to plunge myself into an icy body of water every couple of hours. But, for most of us Londoners, a garden pool feels about as realistic as getting a tube seat in rush hour.
There are a few reasons behind this. First of all, despite what these past few weeks would have you believe, London weather rarely calls for a swimming pool, and for 80% of the year, it would likely go unused, taking up precious space. Which brings us to the second, and foremost problem: the staggering lack of space. In the capital, you're lucky if you've got a home with a garden, let alone a garden large enough to contain a pool. Even if you were to decide to commit to a swimming pool, it would most likely come at the expense of the rest of your garden, leaving no room for anything else to squeeze into your outdoor space.
