Best spa hotels in London for a sumptuous weekend of pampering

Akasha at Hotel Café Royal is one of London’s most lauded spas. And for good reason: its 18-metre pool, hammam, sauna, Jacuzzi and Vichy shower, set under atmospheric lighting with an ambient soundtrack, is the lap of luxury.

Akasha also features a cutting-edge Watsu pool – the first of its kind in London – for bespoke hydro treatments and meditation under the guidance of an aquatic bodywork specialist. Other therapies include facials and scrubs to soothe skin, along with manicures, pedicures and waxing for a polished finish. A number of specialists are on Akasha’s roster, whether you’re seeking the expertise of personal trainers, yoga and pilates practitioners, nutritionists or meditation teachers.

Just like the spa, rooms at Hotel Café Royal are minimalist and upscale. Soundproofed superior options feature English oak panelling and marble bathrooms with mirror television screens to keep you entertained as you freshen up under a rainfall shower. Relish the feel of the cosily heated floors as you dress for dinner in one of the hotel’s restaurants – why not opt for artfully prepared sushi within the sleek monochromatic interior of the Laurent? You’ll be in good company: both Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill were regulars at this hotel.

For a girls’ catch-up, the afternoon tea here is award-winning. Pick from more than 30 blends of tea alongside delicacies such as lavender lemon cake and English cucumber and juniper cream cheese sandwiches.

The Bamford Haybarn Spa at The Berkeley aims to transport its patrons from London’s busy streets to the restful solitude of the countryside. And with its serene decor, nature-inspired products and rustic wooden furniture, it certainly succeeds in doing so. Pick from an array of luxury treatments – from massages, exfoliations, masks and wraps to manicures and pedicures – or simply enjoy the serene relaxation spaces.

After a collagen-boosting facial by Oskia – which has won more than 50 awards for its rejuvenating formulas – pop down to the airy dining room for Prêt-à-Portea. This creative take on afternoon tea includes a range of cakes modelled on current catwalk collections, alongside dainty canapes and finger sandwiches. For an intimate evening with your other half, plump for Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus. This eaterie (named after head chef Marcus Wareing) offers striking cuisine such as Cornish sea bass with clams and sea vegetables or Herdwick lamb served with wild nettle.

Head to your state-of-the-art suite to conclude your spa weekend with a blissful soak in your marble bathroom, using luxury Cowshed products – just put your favourite chill-out playlist on the in-room entertainment system. Upgrade to a Terrace Suite to savour your morning coffee on your private balcony overlooking a quiet square with a quintessentially English church.

With its of-the-moment, vintage-inspired decor, The Ned is ideal Instagram fodder. Take the plush guest rooms with their queen-sized beds and marble mosaic bathrooms: these spaces are wonderfully retro thanks to furnishings like 1920s-style wing chairs and statement lampshades with a backdrop of bespoke wallpaper.

Set in the building’s former banking hall among repurposed walnut counters, The Ned’s restaurants follow suit. There are 11 eateries to choose from, ranging from the Asian-Pacific Kaia to the more formal Cecconi’s – a Venetian-inspired brasserie that serves dishes such as organic salmon with fennel and dill.

The Cowshed is The Ned’s playfully named treatment centre. The usual suspects – facials, hair removal, manicures and body therapies, as well as foot, brow and lash care – are also available, alongside more experimental treatment options. Think skin-restoring infrared sessions and intramuscular or VitaDrip infusions administered by a registered nurse to boost vitamin intake.

While your partner undergoes a precise wet shave in the old-school barbershop, complete with avocado-coloured tilt-back chairs, you can indulge in a strengthening keratin hair mask within the dusky-pink surrounds of Ned’s Parlour. You can also bask in the 20-metre pool, enveloped by gleaming pillars, or warm up with a hammam ritual in the sleek rose-and-white marble Turkish bath, using award-winning La Sultane de Saba products.

You may be surprised to know that the Langham’s swimming pool was once a bank vault – now, it’s a place for relaxation and rejuvenation as part of the Chuan Health Club, complete with a Vitality pool, a salt sauna and herbal steam rooms. It’s also the perfect place to immerse yourself in holistic and traditional Chinese treatments, designed to restore balance and reduce tension in the mind and body.

Back in the rooms, the hotel remains true to its 150-year heritage, with elegant Victorian charm, coupled with the modern conveniences of a private bar and mp3 connectivity.

The Rosewood London offers a plethora of treatments for the spa-addict – an extensive menu of massages, body scrubs and beauty treatments are all available at the hotel’s Sense Spa. Here, soothing water features, wooden floors and bamboo walls evoke a sense of calm, with large sensory showers, saunas and steam rooms allowing guests to make the most of their experience.

The hotel’s rooms capture the essence of the modern British manor house: plush, elegant and spacious. Guests can sink into fine Italian linens, relax in the handsome marble bathrooms or choose their favourite feather-and-down pillow from an extensive selection.

A night at the Hilton London Syon Park Hotel wouldn’t be complete without a pampering session at the hotel’s Kallima Spa which specialises in exfoliation, mineral mud masks, facials and full-body massages. After an indulgent treatment, relax in the 15-metre indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna or steam room.

It’s easy to unwind in the hotel’s tranquil rooms which look out onto the gardens and pools of the picturesque Syon Park Estate. Chic design meets modern comfort with TVs in every bathroom – so you can soak in your tub whilst catching your favourite flick.

The Taj greets guests with a wealth of luxury and opulence, with one of the highlights being a visit to the hotel’s La Sultane de Saba spa. With warm oil blends and melted shea butter as some of the treatments’ key ingredients, guests can enjoy ancient Moroccan and Indian practices.

Film enthusiasts will also be sure to appreciate the hotel’s signature Cinema Suite, a room which pays tribute to international cinema. With full butler service, an 85-inch HD TV and a complimentary bar fully-stocked on arrival, the suite is arguably the envy of any luxury traveller.

LA chic pervades the Mondrian London, including at its wildly popular bottomless brunch where options such as cheese-stuffed bacon hash complement either sparkling prosecco or tangy Grey Goose bloody Marys.

Gather with the girls on the acid-yellow velvet shell booths and discuss spa treatments: an age-defying facial or a traditional hammam experience with a skin-soothing mudpack?

The Mondrian’s contemporary rooms, which offer sweeping views of the Thames, are decorated in the style of a 1920s luxury cruise liner with touches of postmodernist art. Once you’ve checked-in, start your session in the hotel’s Agua spa with a stint in the steam room. Elements of gold accentuate the slick monochrome decor for more than a nod to high-octane Hollywood glamour. Prepare for a glittering evening with beauty treatments like manicures, pedicures, brow care and waxing.

Nights at the Mondrian begin at Dandelyan, chosen as the world’s top cocktail bar at the prestigious Spirited Awards in 2018. Sip on expertly mixed drinks in this Art Deco-style space while listening to rock, disco and funk. An unorthodox colour scheme reigns supreme here, with a deep-green marble bar, mirrored tables and lilac leather banquettes combining to create a distinctive space. Just throw an innovative plant-based cocktail like the Kyoto Sweepstake – featuring Scottish seaweed and gooseberry – into the mix.

Four floors of sleek black marble give the ESPA Life spa at the Corinthia a futuristic slant, which is mirrored by its innovative treatments. Experience therapies such as podiatry sessions using 3D scans and facials utilising skin analysis equipment – treatments here are led by world-renowned naturopaths, personal trainers and herbalists so you’re in safe hands. Choose from massages, relaxation rituals, cleansing treatments, wraps and scrubs for a classic spa experience, or try alternative therapies such as reflexology or acupuncture.

You won’t need to venture far to refuel: simply head to the Spa Lounge for healthy light bites. Opt for an energy-boosting smoothie alongside an Omega 3-packed salad using ingredients such as ruby grapefruit and mung bean sprouts. Afterwards, retire to your room and relax in the heavenly rainfall shower or watch your favourite television show from the bath tub – the underfloor heating will keep you extra warm. Deluxe rooms come with either city panoramas or a Juliette balcony with quaint courtyard views, which you can admire with a cup of coffee freshly brewed in your Nespresso machine.

A Park Lane position in upscale Mayfair ensures that the Four Seasons has a prime London setting. The hotel, which is just a 10-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, treats guests to 360-degree views over the city from its serene rooftop spa. Rejuvenate in the hot steam bath, blue-tiled vitality pool and pale-wood sauna, then scan through the range of treatments on offer – from signature therapies that last a blissful hour or two to quick fixes that can be slotted into your lunch break. Opt for a massage, wrap or scrub inspired by Eastern practices, then finish with a hot-stone manicure or shea butter pedicure.

Rooms have awe-inspiring vistas too, with Superior options looking out across Mayfair’s streets or the iconic buildings of Westminster. Relax on down-filled bedding amid opulent autumnal-toned walls and walnut-veneer panels, before heading for a leisurely lunch in the conservatory at the hotel’s Amaranto restaurant. Order a signature dish such as Dover sole complimented by confit lemon and potato terrine to savour as the late afternoon light streams in through the windows.

As expected from a hotel created by an iconic jewellery brand, the rooms at the Bulgari are impressively opulent. With their rich fabrics and black Marquina marble tubs, they make a refined base for a weekend in the capital. Upgrade to a Junior Suite to recline in the lavish lounge area and have a butler service attend to your needs. Continuing along the same vein, the hotel’s Il Bar has gleaming granite floors, mahogany walls and a titanium ceiling. Snack on American-style light bites like a lobster roll or a club sandwich while propping up the hammered-metal bar.

One of the largest in London at more than 2,000 square metres, Bulgari’s spa is equipped with a fitness area and 11 treatment rooms. When not indulging at the double spa suite – with its private steam room and Jacuzzi – choose a skin-restoring treatment. As well as classic therapies such as facials, massages, body rituals and osteopathy, you’ll also find experimental options like acupuncture facials or complexion-restoring LED light treatments. Try a vitamin-infusion drip or simply opt for finishing touches like makeup sessions, hairdressing and waxing. Nail, brow and lash care, as well as men’s grooming, are also available.

With its high-tech gym facilities and a nutritious juice bar, The Marylebone puts a focus on health and wellness. Energetic types can try Wattbikes, which help improve exercise efficiency by analysing your cycling technique, before swimming a few leisurely laps in the 18-metre pool. A vitamin-filled smoothie is an energy-boosting follow-up. Try the signature London Greens, a concoction consisting of antioxidants such as spinach, lemon and coconut water, or peruse the menu for drinks created by former supermodel Elle Macpherson’s WelleCo brand.

A session in the spa is an ideal post-workout reward. Third Space at the Marleybone is a tranquil utopia featuring a host of detoxing saunas and a steam room. Treatments such as facials, scrubs, manicures, pedicures and eyelash extensions come courtesy of beauty stalwarts like Elemis, Murad and Jessica. Choose an express therapy like waxing or eyebrow care for a quick lunchtime fix or a blissful 90-minute-long aroma stone massage to totally destress. You’ll also find wellbeing rituals such as chakra balancing, reiki and reflexology to soothe both body and mind.

Dining takes place in the 108 Brasserie, a chic eaterie with a French feel – think red leather bar stools, polished wood floors and streamlined interiors. Sample comforting, seasonal dishes like game pie with smashed celeriac and roast quince. Continue the comfort in a Classic room, which features a spa-inspired Italian marble bathroom with heated floors and a walk-in shower. Sit in your velvet tub chair, dressed in one of the hotel’s plush bathrobes, before slipping under the pure cotton sheets.