King’s Cross Pond Club

Jealous types look away now. Every outdoor swimmer in the capital is eagerly awaiting the opening of the King’s Cross Pond Club. This morning we were lucky enough to try it out before it opens to the public. And we have to say, it is an amazing experience.

The King’s Cross Pond Club is a naturally filtered pond behind King’s Cross station. It is as urban a setting as you will ever get; surrounded by flats, offices and with the Eurostar whooshing by, it is a little bit of magic plonked in a building site. 
And it is not even a swimming pool, really. It is an art installation. Conceived by Eva Pfannes and Sylvain Hartenberg of Ooze Architects and artist Marjetica Potrč, Of Soil and Water: the King’s Cross Pond Club is “a living laboratory to test balance and to question a self-sustaining system.” Maybe, but it is also a cracking swimming spot and one that all outdoor swimmers should experience.
The pool is in three zones – a swimming zone, a filtration zone and a regeneration zone. There are also planting zones around the pool (a bit bare at the moment but the plants have only just been planted). The water is unchlorinated and clear. The number of swimmers allowed in the pool will be restricted to ensure that the plants in the pond can clean the water.
Once open to the public (and this will be soon, although as yet no official announcement has been made) the pond will be run by Fusion Lifestyle.