Words: Alistair MacQueen
Yet another year has gone by, yet another National Spa Week is soon to come around. And at a time when eyebrow shaping, nasal hair removal and chest shaving are all commonly discussed topics over the dinner table among friends, there’s absolutely no shame then in carving out a pocket of time just for yourself and sloping off to one of these best spas to get pampered.
Designed with a view to transport visitors from the vulgar throng of city life to the exotic Asian tropics, Ushvani is recognised as one of London’s premier spa destinations. Based in a Grade II-listed Georgian building at 1 Cadogan Gardens in Sloane Square, everything about the services here oozes refinement and luxury. With a whole host of treatments to try, we recommend the 90 minutes of bliss with the Full Body Experience for him, and picking up one of its wonderfully indulgent shaving products on the way out.
Situated at the top of the Dorsett Shepherd’s Bush Hotel in west London, Spa Mika blends the best of the west with eastern philosophy and wellbeing. With a host of treatments ranging from Bespoke Day Packages, Hot Stone Massages and Pan Asian Face & Body rituals, and using the finest Elemis products available, it’s top of the pile for the seriously stressed-out male.
Building on Harrogate’s reputation as a former spa town, Rudding Park certainly has plenty to shout about. Not only does it offer organic treatments and herbal infused steam and saunas, but it also has mud treatments and the healing benefits of bathing in the naturally drawn waters of the park. Furthermore, the Roof Top Spa features a hydrotherapy infinity pool, panoramic sauna & spa bath and Garden Sauna Cabin. So a bit like Lourdes, really, but in Yorkshire.
Putting the emphasis of luxury and individuality into health clubs, Third Space has four locations around the capital in Tower Bridge, Soho, Marylebone and Canary Wharf. Fusing the worlds of relaxation and rehabilitation with dedicated spa, pool and relaxation areas, there’s also a plethora of grooming choices for the modern male with manicures, pedicures and waxes as well as the enticingly labelled Gentleman’s Treat. In a rush but still want some down time? Its Canary Wharf outpost also offers an express 25 minutes of deep tissue massage.
Famous for housing many A-list celebrities (and many glamorous parties) when they’re in the capital, The Corinthia Hotel certainly does have many strings to its bow in top class facilities and a fabulous cocktail menu. Add to that the terrifically decadent Espa spa, with its unique interiors, amphitheatre saunas and relaxation bays, and everything has a sense of feeling just-so. Its Back, Face and Scalp treatment is probably the most popular choice, but there’s nothing to say you couldn’t plump for the Age Rebel Face Treatment to rejuvenate any tired countenance with a touch of class.
When Bulgari do a spa, you’d expect it to be not the best, but dripping in upmarket finesse and rarified oils extracted from the most exotic of plants – this is close. This hotel spa arranged over two floors embraces the core tenements of wellness, relaxation and holistic therapies, and couples it with a 25m swimming pool and a vitality spa entirely covered in gold leaf tiles.
We’re particular fans of the Four Handed Massage, and have long been tempted by the Cellular Men’s Skin Cleanse, but we’ll leave the Emotional Healing with The Modern Day Wizard (aka Andrew Wallas) for another day, thanks.
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