Bethnal GreenSpa Experience Bethnal Green, housed inside the historic York Hall (bet ya didn’t know it was there), is all about making luxury treatments accessible and affordable. Set in one of London’s oldest Turkish Baths, it offers the full thermal experience, including traditional hot rooms, hammam, plunge pool, sauna, and monsoon showers as well as face, body and beauty treatments. We’ve tried a couple of their signature treatments and they have been incredible, and that includes the price too.
North GreenwichWith Canary Wharf as a back drop and the O2 dome looming into your vision, the InterContinental London at the O2 might not seem like your first choice to escape the city and enter a world of bliss, but we can assure you it does the trick. The spa has a luxurious feel with gold gilt, blue pearl granite and polished surfaces. Inside you have a 17-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym and eight treatment rooms. Their signature treatment, the Meridian Time Ritual, lasts 105 minutes and is designed to empower the body’s natural healing process. It is bliss.
London BridgeThe neo-baroque hotel The LaLiT London offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Rejuve Spa is a place where you can revitalise, restore and rejuvenate thanks to a range of wellness treatments and holistic therapies. The traditional Swedish massage, designed to ease tension in your muscles with firm pressure over your entire body, does exactly that and the low lighting and nice smelling oils in the treatment room will have you relaxing in no time. The therapists are amazing at making you feel comfortable, telling you where you need extra attention – it does mean a few minutes of discomfort but you notice the difference over the next few days. If you’re guilty of sitting at a desk all day, you’ll learn how to keep the tension away (therapist top tips are stretching at work and going swimming) so if you’ve got an area of tension that’s been bothering you for a while it’s well worth coming in for the treatment. And at 45 minutes, you could even squeeze it in on your lunch break.
North GreenwichThe Ayurveda Pura Health Spa & Beauty Centre in Greenwich practices an ancient holistic medical system from India that puts your body and mind back in harmony. This is all about treatments, there aren’t any wet facilities here though you will find this is more than just a relaxing massage, this is the ‘science of life’. Their signature treatments include everything from full body, De-Stress, Abdominal Massage, Herbal Body-Scrub, pregnancy as well as hand and foot.
SouthwarkAgua is located on the spa level of Sea Containers London and is a true spa experience, so zen it’s the kind of place you want to spend a good couple of hours in rather than dashing in and out on your lunch break. With plenty of treatments to experiences in their treatment cabins and lots on offer from their Glamour Bar it’s an excellent spot. We tried their Bio Sculpture Gel manicures and pedicures which are available across two time slots, 60 minutes or 90 minutes, comes in a variety of colours and lasts for at least 3 weeks. What’s more it contains no harmful chemicals and it’s new evo oxygenating gel means it allows oxygen and water vapour molecules to migrate through to the natural nail surface so it won’t leave them dry and cracked when it does come off. Sandal weather ready.
Canary WharfThird Space Spa Canary Wharf is a beaut of a space to unwind in. Our full body massage zoned us out of London and into an imaginary place of soothing tranquillity and with each breath, we were more at ease and deeply relaxed. For anyone who may find massages a little intimidating, the therapists couldn’t be more helpful and friendly, talking you through the whole process, asking you questions about what you are looking to get out of the treatment and if you need to focus on a particular area. If only every day was like this.
Fulham BroadwayGlasses at the ready as the UK’s first ever wine spa has opened in London. That’s right, we said wine spa. Located on Fulham Road, Ella Di Rocco spa has created a range of wine inspired treatments that provide the ultimate relaxation along with all of those unknown benefits of wine. We always knew wine was good for you. Fancy soaking in a mixture of Sangiovese, Merlot and Ciliegiolo red wine, warm water and the concentrate of virgin grape juice?