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There is nothing quite like taking some time to yourself and enjoying a decadent spa day, where you can hunker down in a fluffy robe and let your only concern be whether to sauna or steam next.
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But with London so saturated with sanctuaries — how to decipher the good from the great?
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Well, we’ve taken one for the team and done the hard work for you, with a round-up of London’s most luxurious spas.
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Whether you’re looking for a deep tissue massage to iron out WFH-induced aches and pains, want to revive an exhausted complexion (who can blame you) or are just after some much needed “me time” in a serene subterranean bubble, the perfect destination awaits.
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Not all spas are created equal and the Guerlain spa at Raffles leaves the competition in the dust.
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An utterly spoiling experience, from the friendly doormen and women who greet you to the perfume-spritzed slippers you leave with as a gift.
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The spa spans four floors, so you know they mean business.
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It has a showstopper of a pool, sauna and steam rooms plus experience showers to calm or invigorate depending on your mood.
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This being a Guerlain spa there are makeup services on offer as well as SALON64 for hair appointments.
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They’ve hired the best and most experienced massage therapists who will work magic on knots and acupressure points.
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Speaking of which, renowned reflexologist Andrea Hurst also takes appointments here.
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The underground, two-floor spa at the Bvlgari is terrifically luxurious: the gold mosaic around the colonnaded 25-metre swimming pool makes for quite the swim; the eleven treatment rooms (including a double suite) and relaxation area — all made with Vicenza stone, onyx and oak — are simple in an opulent sort of way, and there’s a very good gym run by Workshop.
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The Recovery is a combination of ice bath and sauna to stimulate metabolism under the supervision of a fitness instructor.
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The Longevity uses a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber — it looks like a horizontal space capsule — to bring you to the same pressure as you’d get 15 foot under water, which helps you to better absorb the oxygen pumped into the capsule to stimulate energy.
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The Sleep uses a floatation bed so you’re cocooned like a baby in a cradle above 400 litres of bubbling water.
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The relaxation massage was one of the best I’ve had, ever.
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The Peninsula London, Belgravia
Joining the capital’s already generous spa scene is The London Peninsula — and, wow, is it a happy addition.
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Taking over two underground floors of the billion-pound Hyde Park Corner hotel, its piece de resistance is the 25-metre heated swimming pool.
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Entire days could be spent reclining here.
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They pump out relaxing underwater music to make lengths less arduous.
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The treatments are the first to be offered in the UK by spa brands Margy’s Monte Carlo and Subtle Energies.
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The former is high-tech, beloved by celebrities and beautifying; the latter is incorporated into a more holistic menu, including its Blissful Marma Massage which balances one's chakras.
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Therapists are highly qualified, gentle and understanding of personal health issues.
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It's a top class spa so relax and let them do their magic
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Treatment rooms are wood-panelled, luxurious and completely silent (sadly so rare in spas) with heated beds to sink into.
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The relaxation room is cocooning with more heated beds, duvets and pillows to encourage a post-treatment snooze.
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There is a state-of-the-art fitness studio and a mini hair salon where famed stylist Errol Douglas MBE will be attending to the tresses of the hotel’s stylish set.
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Over the coming year, the spa will be teaming up with expert practitioners like David Marshall, The Body Doctor; Susan Siklawi, who specialises in craniosacral and lymphatic massage; acupuncturist Dr. Li Ping Bartlett; and osteopath Emanuele Calabrese.
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Claridge's
It’s hard to believe that London stalwart Claridge’s only launched its magical spa in 2022.
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As with everything the Maybourne Hotel Group does (the brand behind The Connaught and The Berkeley), the spa is glamorous to the hilt.
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Cocooned three floor downs below the beloved hotel you’ll find a small but perfectly formed swimming pool with cabanas, steam rooms, sauna and seven treatment rooms.
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Inspired by architect Andre Fu’s visits to traditional Japanese temples and Kyoto’s Zen gardens, the vibe is one hundred percent chill.
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The signature treatments follow the Eastern theme and a must-try is the Bamboo & Silk Ritual.
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Unlike anything you’ll have had before, the massage is done with warmed bamboo sticks and the facial with soft silk thimbles.
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Elsewhere, acclaimed hairstylist Josh Wood will be attending to the strands of London's finest, FaceGym has designed a raft of exclusive high-tech facials and — run don’t walk — cult skincare brand Augustinus Bader has also created a bespoke treatment menu.
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Read More
Location: Brook Street, W1K 4HR
The Landmark London
Find a revamped oasis off the Marylebone Road at The Landmark London, where the hotel has given its spa a plush £4 million overhaul.
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Designed by Alex Kravetz Design, the new 710-square-metre space now feels as much a destination as its palm tree-strewn lobby, with a thermal circuit built around a 34°C vitality pool, complete with hydrotherapy jets, plus sauna, steam room, ice fountain, experience showers and heated marble loungers for any biohacking enthusiasts.
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The treatment menu has had a refresh too, bringing in QMS Medicosmetics, Ashmira Botanica and OSKIA for high-performance facials, massage and holistic therapies.
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…and 74 more, not listed.
The Aporia
