Intense therapy... luxury pampering treats

From spas to pedicures, how to treat your loved ones to a real pampering
p33 Espa Life spa at the Corinthia Hotel
19 December 2012

BEST SPA

WINNER: THE BULGARI HOTEL

So exclusive and luxurious it describes itself as a spa journey. Set over two spacious floors of the hotel, it incorporates precious minerals such as onyx and Italian glass mosaics. There is a 25m swimming pool, beside which you can lie on an oak and gauze day bed and eat a light meal with full silver service, then take your choice of facial, manicure or massage. There are 11 treatment rooms with hi-tech facials, incorporating both European and Asian traditions. An enzyme-renewing facial, intense exfoliation and a peel were tried. The treatments are bespoke and the spa is open seven days a week.

The Bulgari Spa, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 (020 7151 1055, London-spa@bulgarihotels.com)

RUNNER-UP: ESPA LIFE AT THE CORINTHIA HOTEL

With four floors for the spa alone, a private spa suite, sizeable swimming pool, and a sauna and steam room to heat your bones up, this is serious luxury.

Day spa packages from £95 including access to the facilities — more for weekday escapes and lunch packages.

Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place, SW1 (020 7321 3050, espalifeatcorinthia.com)

PEDICURE

WINNER: MARGARET DABBS, Medical Pedicure

A qualified podiatrist, Margaret Dabbs created the original medi-pedi, realising that what Londoners wanted was someone to get rid of their hardened heels. Dabbs files your feet when dry, which is far more effective and prevents taking off any good skin. She will also tutor you in the right (and wrong) shoes and offers a bespoke orthotics service for those with problem feet and fallen arches.

Medi-Pedi £80/45 mins (or £125 with Dabbs herself). 7 New Cavendish Street, W1 (020 7487 5510, margaretdabbs.co.uk)

RUNNER-UP: Groom Foot Doctor

In between a medi-pedi and a pretty-pedi. A soak, polish and a hardcore hard heel treatment using a foot knife.

£60/60mins, 8 Gees Court, W1 (020 7499 1199, groomlondon.com)

FACIAL

WINNER: VERONIQUE SIMON: The Rejuvenator

“My clients don’t want to choose from a perplexing range of anti-ageing treatments,” says Dr Véronique Simon. Too right. Simon’s motto in her Belgravia clinic is ‘”never alter, always enhance” and her prescription is a mixture of rehydrating cocktails injected into the skin and great products. A few days later and — voilà! — her collagen-stimulating work really did make a difference. It’s claimed to last for up to five months.

£400/1 hour. For vouchers email info@simontherapie.com

RUNNER-UP: SARAH CHAPMAN

If you want to give a miracle this Christmas, look no further than a Sarah Chapman bespoke facial — they’ll make you feel younger, fresher, faster.

£140 for 90 minutes of pure hydrating luxury. Sarah Chapman London, 106 Draycott Avenue, SW3 (020 7589 9585, sarahchapman.net)

MASSAGE

WINNER: MANDARIN ORIENTAL

Here you can get heavenly bespoke massages to suit your body type, mood and season — then paddle in the pool afterwards. It is the signature spa therapy that you really want — two personal consultations before the oil of your choice is dripped over and soaked into your skin. Afterwards you’ll be given advice on how to top up at home.

Signature Therapy, £240/1 hour 50 mins (020 7838 9888, mandarinoriental.com/london/luxury-spa)

RUNNER-UP: BLISS

The Blissage105 is a 95-minute massage and warm wax foot treatment that could be the most relaxing massage you will ever experience.

£145/105 mins. Bliss London, 60 Sloane Avenue, SW3 (020 7590 6146, blissworld.co.uk)

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

WINNER: osteopathy with kERRY DOWSON

Notting Hill osteopath Kerry Dowson’s sessions are a combination of the cosy, searingly effective and magical (when she gives cranial you might see dragons): after a quick chat and an examination she massages, cracks and cranials your body into submission until you are straightened and unstiffened.

From £70 a session, 15 Pembridge Road, W11 (020 7722 7773, nottinghillosteopaths.co.uk)

RUNNER-UP: METAMORPHIC TECHNIQUE WITH AXELLE BONAPARTE

This subtle therapy consists of gentle tapping and stroking of spinal reflex points on feet, hands and body. It leaves you feeling euphoric and is an excellent way to “spring clean” your mind. Simple but very effective.

£85 for one hour’s treatment at the Hale Clinic (020 7631 0156; themetamorphicway.com)

MANICURE

WINNER: COWSHED

The Ultimate Cowshed manicure will leave you with baby soft hands, neat nails and a sense of calm — sorting out your cuticles, massaging and polishing your mitts, and you get a scalp and shoulder massage to finish off. You’ll feel far better on leaving than when you went in.

£50/60 mins, Shoreditch House, Ebor Street, E1 (020 7749 4531)

RUNNER-UP: WAH

If you want a hand rub and loud nail art designed by people who love to create it, why go anywhere else?

From £15 for basic nail art, Wah Nails, Topshop Oxford Circus, 214 Oxford Street, W1 (020 7927 7844, wah-nails.com)

AND ONE FOR THE MEN...

WINNER: THAI SQUARE SPA

Thai Square Spa has a lovely jasmine-scented sense of repose in the middle of Covent Garden. It is perhaps more clinical than indulgent but then again the massage really does something to your joints. You will want to sleep immediately afterwards.

£72/1 hour back, neck and shoulder massage. £120/2 hours. 25 Shelton Street, WC2 (020 7240 6090, thaisquarespaserver.co.uk)

RUNNER-UP: Advanced back, face and scalp treatments with hot stones at the Four Seasons London

Your therapist will target any problem areas and over two hours let you completely unwind.

£225/120 mins, Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1 (020 7499 0888, fourseasons.com)

Vouchers for all treatments can be obtained at all the spas.

Our testers were Sarah Sands, Emilie McMeekan, Charlotte Ross, Jasmine Gardner, Nick Curtis, Victoria Stewart, Kara Dolman, Karen Dacre, Jackie Annesley and Emma McCarthy.

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