Forget the usual image of a spa break involving a grand country estate. City spa hotels are just as rejuvenating, offering a perfect sanctuary after exploring London’s bustling streets. Gone are the days of simple massages in tiny rooms; these spas are super-luxe and cutting-edge, boasting bio-feedback training, decompression pods, and superfood clinics. Whether you prefer Hyde Park’s calm or Liverpool Street’s energy, our list has the perfect city spa retreat for you.
Knightsbridge Charm: The Berkeley
The Berkeley, a true Knightsbridge grande dame, offers a luxurious experience with a heated outdoor rooftop pool and the Bamford Wellness Spa. Located on the seventh floor, the spa feels like an English country garden above the city. Relax on daybeds in the secret garden, blooming with vibrant flowers in summer, after indulging in treatments using holistic Bamford Haybarn products or OSKIA’s luxurious facials. One-on-one yoga and Pilates classes and special summer events like hula hooping and synchronized swimming add to the vibrant atmosphere.
Richmond Retreat: The Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa
Escape to the tranquility of the Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa, housed in a restored 18th-century Georgian building. Modern interiors and a restaurant terrace with heaters add to the luxurious charm. The spa is the true star, featuring a 20m indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and a stylish relaxation room with hanging egg-shaped beds. Outside, a leafy garden boasts two Scandinavian hot tubs and a vitality pool. The high-tech gym offers classes, and 13 treatment rooms provide a range of pampering options, including the Drift Away massage. The hotel is family-friendly, welcoming children in the pool at specific times.
Mayfair Majesty: Four Seasons Park Lane
Immerse yourself in the bold and classy design of the Four Seasons Park Lane, a perfect blend of 1930s Art Deco elegance and idiosyncratic charm. The rooftop spa boasts unrivaled views of Hyde Park, especially from the sauna with its panoramic window. Indulge in pre-treatment pampering in the vitality pool with bubbles and underwater seating or the wood-clad relaxation room with leather camel-colored pods, gold masks, and an abundance of magazines and herbal tea.
The Londoner: A Super-Boutique Spa Destination
The Londoner, London’s first self-proclaimed super-boutique hotel, is a buzzing haven with elegant basement spa you’ll want to revisit. Spend an afternoon lounging on cabana beds around the pool, taking advantage of the sauna and steam room. The extensive treatment menu includes Omorovicza facials, Ila massages, and holistic therapies like the Harmony massage incorporating Tibetan acupressure and scalp massage. A hair and beauty salon, a nail bar, and a Refuel superfood and juice “clinic” add to the cool vibe.
Corinthia London: A Landmark Spa Experience
The Corinthia London, a landmark building with a lavish makeover, offers an impressively contemporary spa, making it one of London’s best spa hotels. This flagship ESPA spa spans four floors and features a steam room, 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail studio, super-cool indoor swimming pool, vitality pool, an amphitheater sauna, ice fountain, marble heated loungers, and private sleep pods. Choose from a wide variety of ESPA treatments, including de-stressing, muscle-releasing, and uplifting experiences, and various packages like the Pure Indulgence Body Ritual.
Aman at The Connaught: Refined Tranquility
Aman at The Connaught embodies refined elegance without pretense. The spa is a minimalist sanctuary with 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 offers signature experiences inspired by different areas of the world, including the Native American-inspired signature experience combining different massage techniques.
The Lanesborough: Hidden Luxury
Tucked away just off High Holborn, The Lanesborough is a veritable palace with a sophisticated yet playful atmosphere. The Sense spa is a soothing oasis with black slate walls, a relaxation room, sauna, steam facilities, and treatment rooms. Indulge in the deep tissue Maison Caulières massage or other treatments on heated beds that adjust at both ends. The spa also has a gym with fruit and headphones provided.
The Dorchester: A Day of Exclusive Pampering
The Dorchester, known for its luxurious rooms, offers an exclusive spa experience for a day pass or free with treatments. The shadowy relaxation room with complimentary refreshments prepares you for treatments by ila, La Prairie, Tata Harper, and Lanesborough own-brand products. The scent-infused experience showers, steam room, sauna, and small swimming pool with whirlpool offer further pampering. Enjoy the club lounge with smoothie bar and vegetarian restaurant, large gym, and Daniel Galvin Jr hair salon.
London’s Largest Day Spa?
We haven’t delved into the size of London’s day spas. It’s a fascinating topic, but we’ll have to explore that in another article.
