These next-level London spas are the ultimate luxury day out
There are spas, and then there are spaaaaaahs. For those seeking the ultimate in luxurious pamper gifts, we've rounded up the best luxury spas in and around London. We're talking the type where, moments after arriving, you inhale a serene blend of organic lavender and geranium oils and exhale burn-out, anxiety and stress.
The setting makes a difference, so settling down in the fluffiest white robe and slippers to relax in beautifully upholstered, low-lit interiors – or in front of airy, invigorating panoramic views – makes all the difference.
Likewise, having a menu of treatments on hand that are meticulously developed, researched and curated to boost wellbeing and aid relaxation can reboot your mind and body when you need it most.
Ahead, our edit of the capital's most jaw-dropping spas and gold-standard treatments for a spot of January-and-beyond rejuvenation…
Surrenne, London
Nestled opposite London's Hyde Park, this health and beauty emporium offers over 2,000 square feet of dedicated wellness across four floors.
There's the wet-zone with its 22-metre lap pool and sound system for in-water meditation. There's poolside cabanas and loungers serviced with the Health Café's curated menu. There's seven treatment rooms, including an Ashiatsu room (for traditional bare-foot massages) and a white onyx treatment room (with a white Onyx heated stone bed). There's a medically-led longevity lounge featuring GP consultations, there's a fitness floor with a state-of-the-art gym, and there's even a Tracy Anderson floor, with workouts designed by JLo's favourite personal trainer (which features a Super G Floor to minimise impact).
It's exclusively available to members and guests of The Berkeley and The Emory. With an annual membership of £10,000 (plus an additional £5,000 joining fee and individual treatment fees), it is an investment, but nowhere does gold-plated wellness quite like it.
Hero treatment: The Four Hands Ultimate Synchronised Ceremony (£380 for 90 minutes)
The restorative power of touch is amplified in this treatment as two therapists coordinate to deliver synchronised contact for possibly the most relaxing encounter you'll ever experience. Designed to alleviate tension from deep within muscles, adaptogenic Chakra oil is introduced to further reduce stress and gently reinvigorate energetic systems. You'll experience a blend of light strokes and targeted pressure to soothe muscles and rebalance the body and mind.
Edmund DabneyBvlgari Spa, London
This is one of the most indulgent spa experiences you will ever have. To reach the spa, you glide past a doorman, under the grand entrance and through the oud-scented lobby of the Bvlgari Hotel. Descending into the split-level sanctuary, you’re met with pure luxury at every turn. One floor greets you with a serene reception, showcasing coveted wellness products. You then pass a state-of-the-art gym and fitness studio to enter the changing rooms —complete with vanity stations and a women-only steam room.
On the other side, a mixed-gender sauna faces an impressive 25-meter pool, framed by minimalist Vicenza stone, with loungers and cabanas perfectly arranged for privacy and relaxation. Opposing this quiet luxury is a gold-leaf-tiled, shimmering vitality pool, offering full-body massage jets for the ultimate relaxation. Water, fruit, granola bars, and a selection of teas sit alongside the day's paper, ensuring you never have to leave this oasis.
On the second level, wellness takes a futuristic turn with treatments dedicated to recovery, sleep, and longevity. Private therapy rooms host new experiences like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Zerobody dry float sessions, and a Recovery Suite with an ice bath. Following a large set of saunas and steam rooms is the cosy relaxation room, warmed by a real crackling fire and sectioned off with cotton-draped loungers.
Hero treatment: The Shakti Divine Feminine Nurturing Ritual (£370 for 120 minutes)
Crafted to support the female hormonal cycle, the therapist begins with a consultation about your Ayurveda doshas to discovery areas that need rebalancing. Based on your own dosha oils will be specifically chosen and tailored for your treatment. The treatment incorporates shakti, a herb known for its benefits to fertility and overall female sexual wellness. You'll experience a full-body massage using the remedies chosen for you with breathwork and the soothing sound of singing bowls. The deeply personalised experience will leave you feeling more aligned and at peace than ever before.
@claridgeshotel/InstagramClaridge's Spa, London
Claridge's spa was built from the ground up with calm in mind. The space was designed by interior architect André Fu who was inspired by visits to traditional Japanese temples and Zen gardens in Kyoto – hence you'll see natural elements such as limestone, wood and water incorporated in the interiors. The comprehensive spa features an electrolyte-rich relaxation pool, a fitness suite, its own Josh Wood hair salon and world-class residencies from a revolving roster of wellness masters, nail artists, acupuncturists and therapists. As for treatments, the wellness concierge can help handcraft a treatment or health plan that's bespoke to you. Elsewhere, enjoy treatments from Augustinus Bader, MZ Skin, Omorovicza and more, or head to the pink room with its heated pink onyx bed for a signature hammam.
Hero treatment: Claridge's Signature Hammam (£350 for 90 minutes)
Claridge's own take on a hammam, the treatment features an aromatic steam to open pores and reinvigorate your senses. A mint and sugar kelp-infused charcoal soap is used to detoxify the skin before you're treated to a full-body exfoliation with a textured Kese mitt. Softening rose water is ladled over you before you're cocooned in a pink clay mask. While that marinates, your therapist starts on a cleansing face ritual, hair oiling and a relaxing scalp massage. To finish, a blend of buttermilk and rose petals are poured over you before rose body oil and shea butter are applied.
Mandarin Oriental Spa, London
The tranquil oasis on the Mandarin Oriental spa offers up plenty of opportunity for some solo, couples or group relaxation. The generous spa facilities include a sauna, vitality pool and zen colour relaxation area. For dedicated therapy, the hotel boasts 13 single treatment rooms, alongside the couple’s Oriental Suite and the Rasul water temple. The extensive treatment menu offers up holistic health longevity workshops alongside consultations with nutritionists.
Meanwhile, hero facials from Biologique Recherche and Oskia offer personalised attention to your complexion, and the hotel's signature therapies pay attention to head-to-toe pampering. For a full 360 approach to health, the spa has a sleep concierge service, which includes hypnotherapy to encourage better rest, alongside an award-winning nail studio from Bastien Gonzalez
Hero treatment: Biologique Recherche Facial (£330 for 90 minutes)
You can personalise this one-hour and thirty-minute facial to your skin's specific needs and add on enhanced treatments to target and combat your unique skin concerns. Discuss your goals with your therapist, who can suggest the best blend of exfoliating, lifting, protective or reconditioning treatments.
Mark Anthony FoxEstelle Manor Spa, Oxfordshire
If you can't resist the draw of the countryside, Estelle Manor's Roman-inspired Eynsham Baths spa is less than two hours' drive from London, nestled in the middle of Oxfordshire woodland.
Open to hotel guests or members only, the Baths are a comprehensive wellness sanctuary designed to cleanse, relax and heal. There's a labyrinth of intimate and social spaces, including the ceremony suite (for individual rituals), experience showers, open-air hideaway (a hidden oasis, complete with a cascading waterfall, natural wildflowers, woodland ferns and a bar reminiscent of King Triton’s kingdom), breathwork pool, treatment rooms and the main baths and “thermal journey”. The thermal journey includes a series of baths kept at different temperatures (the Tepidarium, Frigadarium, Frigadarium X, Caldarium and Scottish Bucket), alongside a hay sauna, botanical steam room, breathwork pool and hammam.
As for individual treatments there's plenty of thoughtful options to choose with wellness, relaxation and recovery front of mind. Access to the Eynsham Baths costs £95 for guests for a 180-minute journey or £145 for a full day pass.
Hero treatment: Chi Nei Tsang Massage (£180 for 60 minutes)
If your stomach starts to suffer as soon as you feel stressed, this treatment is for you. The Chi Nei Tsang massage looks to ease poor “emotional digestion” focusing on the gut (where nearly 90% of the body's mood and sleep hormone, serotonin, is released). The treatment, designed to tackle lethargy, alleviate bloating and detox the mood and mind, works mainly on the abdomen, incorporating the spa's signature smoked balm enriched with Castor Oil. For your comfort they recommend arriving on an empty stomach or with only a light meal eaten at least two hours prior to your massage.
Corinthia London, London
Mere metres from the River Thames and sandwiched between bustling commuter hotspots Charing Cross, Waterloo and Victoria, you might be surprised to discover the capital's most serene spa. Spread over four floors and covering an enormous 3,300 square metres, ESPA Life at Corinthia is an oasis of undisturbed bliss, offering a generous edit of revolutionary lifestyle programmes, treatment therapies and grooming experiences that nourish you from the inside out. The latest addition to the roster is a brand-new menu of facial and whole-body wellness treatments developed exclusively by Augustinus Bader for Corinthia London.
Subtly sexy in its aesthetic, rich, opulent darkness offers up a new take on bright, modern spas, with strong, curved cocoons and ambient fireplaces rendering the vast space entirely intimate.
Hero treatment: The Augustinus Bader Longevity Facial (£335 for 75 minutes)
Augustinus Bader is the brand that's raved about by celebs and beauty editors alike, so you know you're in good hands. Fully personalised to address any unique skin concern, this facial firms, tones and refreshes the skin using laser therapy and the brand's super cell-renewing formulas. Available from 3 December 2024.
TIM CHARLESMaison Sisley Spa, London
Situated in the heart of Mayfair, Maison Sisley offers a space that takes the brand's hardworking products to the next level. The botanical, Parisian-inspired interiors are intimate and cosy.
Aestheticians are on hand to offer signature facials that call on a precise physiological knowledge. They'll feel for tension
under the skin, and adjust the treatment accordingly to client needs. Massage helps boost circulation, combined with Sisley's formulas, meanwhile advanced treatments feature Jet Peels and LED technology. Full-body treatments are on offer alongside sumptuous hair rituals designed to strengthen the scalp and hair fibres.Hero treatment: Signature Facial Treatment (£220 for 60 minutes)
Fully personalised to your own skin needs, the Sisley Signature facials combines a deep remodelling massage with tailored treatments.
