Escape the hustle and bustle of city life without leaving the urban jungle. While the term “spa break” often conjures up images of grand country estates, the city offers a unique blend of luxury and convenience.
Imagine: after a day exploring London’s vibrant streets, you retreat to your hotel for a pampered respite. Gone are the days of basic spa experiences. Today’s city spas are cutting-edge, offering everything from bio-feedback training to superfood clinics and de-compression pods. Whether you prefer a relaxing massage or a rejuvenating facial, the city has something for everyone. Join us as we explore the best spa hotels London has to offer, from the heart of Hyde Park to the buzzing streets of Liverpool Street.
A Glimpse of London’s Best Spa Hotels
The Berkeley, a classic Knightsbridge hotel, boasts a heated outdoor rooftop pool and the Bamford Wellness Spa. This tranquil oasis on the seventh floor feels like an English country garden high above the city. After a treatment, unwind on a daybed in the secret garden, a blooming haven in the summer months.
Bamford Haybarn, known for its holistic, organic philosophy, provides most treatments, while OSKIA, a British brand, offers luxurious facials. For a truly holistic experience, indulge in one-to-one yoga and Pilates classes, and keep an eye out for special summer events like hula hooping or synchronized swimming.
Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa: A Blend of History and Modernity
Step into a restored 18th-century Georgian building, now home to the Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa. Modern interiors, a restaurant terrace with heaters, and a location just steps from Richmond Park are all highlights. But the real star? The spa with its 20m indoor swimming pool.
The pool is big enough for a few laps, and there’s also a sauna, a steam room, and a stylish relaxation room with hanging egg-shaped beds. Outside, enjoy a leafy garden with two Scandinavian hot tubs and a vitality pool.
The super high-tech gym offers classes, and the 13 treatment rooms offer a range of services, including the highly recommended Drift Away massage. This spa is great value compared to others in the city, and children are welcome at the pool during specific times.
Four Seasons Park Lane: Art Deco Elegance Meets Breathtaking Views
Four Seasons Park Lane, located in Mayfair’s most prestigious postcode, is a picture of bold and classy design, blending 1930s Art Deco elegance with idiosyncratic charm. No other spa in London can rival the views from the rooftop, overlooking the lush greenery of Hyde Park. The sauna, with its window, offers especially magnificent vistas.
Allow ample time for the pre-treatment pampering, especially the vitality pool with bubbles and underwater seating, and the wood-clad relaxation room with leather, camel-coloured pods, a gold mask feature wall, and an abundance of magazines and herbal tea.
The Edition: London’s First Super-Boutique Hotel
London’s first self-proclaimed super-boutique hotel, The Edition, opened in late 2021 after 14 years and £500 million in development. Its buzzy bar and restaurant spaces have quickly made it one of the capital’s hottest new spots, and the elegant basement spa is sure to leave you wanting more.
The cabana beds around the pool offer the perfect place to spend an afternoon, especially when paired with the sauna and steam room. The extensive treatment menu includes facials by Omorovicza and massages by Ila. Beyond the standard massages, try a Harmony massage incorporating Tibetan acupressure and scalp massage – leaving you feeling revitalized.
The spa is also home to a hair and beauty salon by Hiro Miyosh, an AMA nail bar, and a Refuel superfood and juice ‘clinic’, all adding to its cool factor.
Corinthia London: ESPA’s Flagship Spa
This landmark building, once transformed into the Corinthia London, boasts one of the most lavish makeovers the UK has ever seen. The scale and quality of the fixtures and fittings deliver an impressive contemporary wow factor to the area, making the spa one of the most remarkable features.
This is ESPA’s flagship spa, a serious affair spread over four floors, featuring a steam room, 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail studio, super-cool indoor swimming pool, vitality pool, amphitheatre sauna, ice fountain, marble heated loungers, and private sleep pods.
Naturally, the treatments are ESPA’s finest, offering de-stressing, muscle-releasing, and uplifting experiences. There are a variety of packages to choose from, including the Pure Indulgence Body Ritual, which is just that – pure indulgence.
Aman at The Connaught: Where Old World Meets New
Aman at The Connaught is one of London’s most refined hotels, yet far from pretentious. It seamlessly blends old world charm with modern elegance. Step inside and you’ll find dark polished woods, shiny marble floors and pillars, and cream-colored corniced ceilings alongside airy, contemporary rooms.
The spa carries the same sophisticated ambiance, featuring deep woods, glossy marble, and minimalist lines. The black granite swimming pool is the centerpiece, surrounded by loungers, and there’s a small aromatic steam room.
Beyond standard therapies, Aman at The Connaught offers signature experiences inspired by different parts of the world. For a truly unique experience, try the Native American-inspired signature experience, a blend of different massages including ancient Navajo techniques, lasting a luxurious two and a half hours.
The Lanesborough: A Palace of Luxury and Relaxation
It’s hard to believe a palace like The Lanesborough is tucked away just off bustling High Holborn. Despite its effortless elegance, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, with cages of fake birds and models of a bulldog and bear by the lifts.
The corridors are dark and sultry, with eye-catching details like a rose gold mirrored ceiling. The Sense spa is a soothing retreat, a warren of black slate with a relaxation room, sauna and steam facilities in changing rooms, and treatment rooms.
The treatments are exceptional, featuring heated beds that adjust at both ends. For a truly indulgent experience, try the deep tissue Maison Caulières massage, perfect for relieving even the most troublesome knots. There’s also a gym, complete with fruit and headphones.
The Dorchester: Exclusive Indulgence in the Heart of London
The hotel itself is known for having some of the most expensive room rates in London, but what many don’t know is that you can experience the exclusive (advertised as members-only) spa for just £150 for the day. Alternatively, spend £250 on treatments and enjoy free access to the facilities.
Guests await treatments in a shadowy, magazine-laden relaxation room with call buttons for summoning complimentary refreshments. Therapists administer treatments using ila, La Prairie, Tata Harper, and Lanesborough own-brand products in dimly lit rooms, before you’re invited to explore scent-infused experience showers, a steam room, sauna, and a small swimming pool with a whirlpool.
This luxurious haven also includes a club lounge with a smoothie bar and vegetarian restaurant, a large gym with top-of-the-range equipment, and a Daniel Galvin Jr hair salon.
What is the largest day spa in London?
While this article focuses on the best hotel spas in London, exploring the city’s vast spa scene reveals a myriad of options. The largest day spa in London is The Spa at The Dorchester, offering an unparalleled experience for those seeking a luxurious escape from the city.
