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Landmark Spa and Health Club, Marylebone - 4 bubbles
Two Good Spa Guide Spies were invited to the Landmark to check out their chic day spa. We found a minimalist hideaway in fashionable Marylebone that provides excellent treatments plus gym-n-swim. You'll have a great time in the hotel and the spa, but just a lack of little touches kept them away from that coveted fifth bubble.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
The Landmark is a large, traditional five-star hotel. One of the great Victorian railway hotels, it first opened as The Great Central Hotel in 1899, during the golden age of cutting-edge, steam-driven locomotion. Its front entrance faces onto the busy Marylebone Road, but you can also get in the back way directly from Marylebone station. There is even a covered wrought-iron walkway to get you there dry if it is raining, straight to the uniformed doorman who will open the door for you... Inside, all is sweeping marble staircases, hushed carpets, stained glass windows, and the famous atrium, where you can take tea to the accompaniment of a grand piano.
How did they welcome you?
Everyone was very friendly, from the doorman who wanted to know if I needed pointing in a right direction, to the spa receptionist, Monika, who made sure I had all the information I needed.
What happens next?
The spa is in the basement. (Make your way down the stairs to the side of the atrium.) There is a front desk where you sign in and the staff will give you a key to your allocated locker. Monika showed us to a small relaxation area where you can fill in your health consultation form (with a welcome drink of tea or juice).
The changing rooms: The changing rooms are compact but give you everything you need, including a small steam room for warming those muscles before or after your swim (there's also a steam room in the male changing rooms), and a spin-dryer for your wet swimsuit. Inside your locker is a robe and spa slippers. However, you can get more if the slippers get really wet.
We loved the bronze and gold tiling in the three showers -- makes such a change from turquoise. The showers were clean, hot and all contained ESPA "products in brackets": bodywash, shampoo and conditioner, although this latter is hard to reach if you're on the short side. There are also two boxes by the mirrors containing Simple products to remove your make-up, moisturiser, cotton buds and toner, although some of the products had run out on our visit.
The pool: The 15-metre swimming pool is a gorgeous addition to your London spa-ing opportunities. I did a good few lengths. Afterwards, you can recline in the warm whirlpool where you can switch on a swan pipe to pound your neck free of tension, or underwater bubbles to soothe your spine. The whirlpool is a generous size with room for six or eight people without having to squash up, but there was a fair amount of grit on the floor. Given how sparkling clean everywhere else was. we were surprised about this.
At the poolside is also a sanarium, which was welcomingly warm. It is glass fronted so you can sit in the warm without feeling claustrophobic, and watch the more energetic spa goers doing their lengths. We liked the fact that there were plenty of towels around, too. The pool was not crowded when we were there, though did get a little busier over the lunch hour, as some people obviously use the spa as their health club - both day and annual memberships are available.
The relaxation areas: There are two. There is a small area with comfy chairs, magazines and newspapers, jugs of juice and a bowl of fruit to help yourself to during your spa day. This is where you fill in your consultation form and wait for your therapist to collect you for your treatment. There is also a further smaller relaxation area near the pool where you can snuggle down after your treatment.
Which treatments did you have?
Single Spy had an ESPA aromatherapy facial (60 minutes, £70) and Sybaritic Spy had a Balinese massage(80 minutes, £130).
What were the treatments like?
The ESPA aromatherapy facial: My therapist came to find me in the changing rooms as I was running late after all that swimming about. I should have been sipping juice in the relaxation area, not drying my hair.
My therapist took me through to one of the four treatment rooms. The treatment room was nicely kept with wooden cupboards and dim lighting. As usual with an ESPA treatment, my therapist gave me a choice of oils and toners to smell and asked me to choose one, on the basis that my body would tell me what it needed. I chose the restorative oil, which contains a stress-relieving combination of myrrh, rose geranium, sweet orange and rosemary. Restorative oil aims to help you relax, unwind and relieve tension. I also chose the floral toner, which I do every time I have an ESPA facial, as it's refreshingly full of rose, neroli, tangerine and geranium, and smells divine.
The facial was professional and perfect. There was a double-cleanse, followed by exfoliation, toning and moisturising. As with all ESPA treatments, the scents are enough to waft you away to Planet Other, where you can leave all your everyday cares behind.
I wished I hadn't been going to a meeting afterwards: I'd have loved some Pink Hair Mud to rejuvenate my tired locks, but I had to settle for a sans-Mud scalp massage. I enjoyed it anyway.
My therapist gave me some tips of how to hydrate my skin, but otherwise left me in glorious silence for the treatment, which I appreciated.
The ESPA Balinese Massage was interesting and unusual.
My therapist, Beth, had read my consultation form and was prepared for my lavender allergy. A little too prepared perhaps, since she had chosen the oil to use already and did not offer me the smell test you usually get with ESPA treatments.
Once I was comfortably settled on the treatment bed, Beth began with warm cloths on my feet (the perfect start to a massage) and then used long stroking actions and hot stones. This combination of Balinese massage and hot stones was new to me, and may offend purists, but it was wonderful. The stones warmed the muscles of my shoulders, arms and legs, and that helped me relax into the massage. I had mentioned how tense my neck and shoulders were before the treatment began and Beth used hot stones to ease those muscles, but I could have done with some more focussed massage in this area.
How did you feel afterwards?
Relaxed, unwound and with some tension relieved: as promised. Not bad for a facial!
After the Balinese massage, Sybaritic Spy felt very relaxed and about two inches taller -- the work on her neck and shoulders did have an effect.
What happens afterwards?
When the facial was (sadly) over, my therapist brought me a glass of water and led me through to the candle-lit relaxation area, which has a code on the door so only those having treatments can get in or out, which keeps it peaceful. Here there are three relaxation couches, some water, and magazines. My therapist brought me some green tea to revive. Once revived, I went through to the changing rooms and dressed to return to the real world.
Was it worth it?
At £30 for a day membership, the Landmark offers very good value compared to other day spas in London. If you wrap up several elements into a spa day, you can really make the most of your money. The Soothe day includes an hour-long treatment, a Bento Box lunch, a whole day of splashing about and steaming, plus a gift to take home for £125. Not bad for central London. If money is no object, however, you may like to consider the option which includes chauffeur transfers there and back.
What else could you have?
A range of ESPA massages, scrubs, wraps and facials, with specific treatments for jet lag and for mums-to-be. There is also a small but well-equipped gym overlooking the pool.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
If you're staying at the Landmark, the rooms are some of the largest in London for your money. Half face out onto the city, the others onto the atrium where you can spy on who is taking afternoon tea. They are well appointed with surprisingly little traffic noise. If you do stay, you should know that, like more and more hotels, the Landmark charges hotel guests for the use of the spa and health club. The charge is currently £15 per day for adults, although use of the gym, pool and heat facilities is complimentary if you book a treatment.
Children are allowed in the pool between 8am and 10am, and also between 7pm and 9pm at weekends, though this can vary with the season, so check with the spa...
Any special features?
We liked the can-do, helpful and professional attitude of all the staff.
Who do you think would like it?
People staying at The Landmark, obviously, but also those who live or work locally. The spa offers a good value health-club experience. If you need a quick pick-me-up treatment, it's ideal, too.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Landmark Spa 4 bubbles because it's a small but spot-on day spa, and a nice addition to your London stay. The spa lost out from perfection because of the dratted conditioner, and the fact that the top half of the steam room was hot but the bottom half wasn't. Just like the last time we visited! The treatments were excellent and the spa was clean and generally well looked after.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Definitely for spa and tea.
We visited The Landmark Spa and Health Club in March 2010
See also:
* Contact Details for Landmark Spa and Health Club
* Pools
* I have very sensitive skin. Do spas use products that will irritate my skin?
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