Whenever we travel, we always look up Hurlingham reciprocal clubs, and have been lucky enough to enjoy this extra dimension to our holidays in Canada (The Granite Club with its own full-sized ice hockey rink!), the US, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy… the list goes on… but the only club that we have returned to has, to date, been The Tanglin Club in Singapore.

We were wowed by it and its beautiful outdoor pool two years ago, after finally being able to take up an abortive 2020 trip to the region and vowed to return if we had the chance. This Easter we went to the beautiful, and thought-provoking Cambodia and tacked on a few days at the end in Singapore, to enjoy the club!

The staff, from the doorman to those throughout the whole building, were most friendly and courteous. The 33m pool (almost the same in width!) was a joy, especially with so much space, and visitors could comfortably be accommodated alongside post-school swim lessons! We ate in the more relaxed restaurant by the pool, which was perfect for our needs with our children.

It is, quite simply, a haven of tranquillity on the island, especially given the country’s busyness and humidity. When on city breaks, it’s always so restorative to simply stop and reset before getting back on the metro and immersing oneself in all the many cultural experiences Singapore has to offer.

JULIE, OLLIE, TOM AND HENRY CRAIG

Cruise Ship Hurlingham

‘I think I’m going to spend the summer here’, said my friend.

‘Oh yes’, I said, ‘summer in the UK is wonderful’.

‘There are pools and restaurants and lots to do’, continued my friend, not really listening.

‘Oh, you mean actually here, at Hurlingham’, I said, cottoning on to the drift of her thoughts, clued in by the mention of pools, which isn’t the first selling point I’d have thought of, when recommending spending the summer months in London. She is right though, Hurlingham has everything the ideal holiday resort has to offer, aside from a beach I suppose – and they’re overrated. In any case, there’s a bit of sand in the children’s Playground, and lovely views of the river. Best of all, our friends are all here already and we don’t have to go through the pain of trying to organise a trip with them.

The weather is perhaps not everything we’ve come to expect from a holiday in Spain or Italy. It is rarely ‘too hot’ but at least we’re not usually in danger of hurricanes or floods. There are ice creams, cocktails, BBQs, al fresco dining, parties, events, classes. It’s a bit like a cruise, where all the excursions are in London, and you get to go home and sleep in your own bed.

So, I thought, I’m going to spend the summer here too and, best of all, there’s no need to spend the whole day queueing at the airport to get there, as it’s only 20 minutes away from our house!

KATE FAZAKERLEY