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We were invited to re-visit this 5-floored, spacious and sociable spa in the heart of London's Covent Garden. This ladies-only day spa is well maintained and girly throughout without being too sweet. Perfect for women who want to spa with friends, to have a bit of a catch-up or a celebration. The emphasis is on feel-good indulgence.
Was it easy to book?
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?
Was it easy to book?
Yes.
First impressions?
In the very lively and cool Covent Garden area of London, minutes away from the tube station, the Sanctuary shop was easy to find. I headed through the sweet-smelling shop, up a winding staircase and into a refurbished and lustrous reception area. Directly ahead was a long, chest-height reception desk with four or five receptionists welcoming guests. To my left, was an entrance to a sparkly white skin bar. To my right, doors led to other rooms. When I entered, a member of staff offered me a small apple or orange juice from a tray, and showed me where to queue to check in.
There were already ten women in front of me (at 10am) and, within a minute, another six women behind me. Hmmm, so The Sanctuary is busy, then.
How did they welcome you?
The receptionist dealt with me politely and efficiently, and with a smile. She checked my details, and gave me my itinerary and welcome pack, complete with map, info on new products in stock, a product and homecare advice booklet to be filled out by my therapists, and a questionnaire. Serious spa stuff!
What happens next?
The receptionist gave me a waterproof electronic locker-key that you wear on your wrist for the day. She also showed me the huge locker/changing rooms. Well over 200 lockers lined the walls.
Inside my locker, I found a fluffy white robe, a soft white waffley towel and a coat hanger. Women were milling about changing into their cossies. I hunted about for a private changing room and found just a couple of small corner changing rooms, almost secretly positioned against the back wall of lockers. I had to squeeze past people to get in and out of one.
I studied the map, which showed the size of the spa. I managed to find my way back to reception where I requested a tour to ease my bewilderment. I also asked about the provision of flip-flops, and was advised that if I hadn't brought my own, I could go barefoot or purchase some from the shop. I opted for bare feet, annoyed.
One of the many receptionists was quick to help me around and explore each of the five levels that make up The Sanctuary. The spa is like a maze and the geography takes some getting used to. Once you've mastered the art of finding the central staircase, it's easier to find your way around.
Everywhere had wooden polished floors, and lots of white orchids. Walls were muted mushroom browns and pastel teals: all very calming and pleasing to the eye. None of the Artex walling that used to be in evidence.
It was then time for my first treatment, so off I went to the Orchid waiting room.
I sat with five other women who were reading one of the many magazines available. My therapist, Sally, warmly greeted me and took me through to the treatment room.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a Mela Holistic Experience (£120, 115 minutes), a bespoke treatment with the new Sanctuary Mela products; a Sleep Retreat (30 minutes - and you must book this in advance of your visit), and a Luxury Jessica pedicure, (£55, 55 minutes).
What were the treatments like?
My spacious treatment room was warm, dimly lit and fragrant. Sally asked me to change into the paper knickers provided, and adorn myself in my large white fluffy robe while she left the room.
My Mela Holistic Experience began with a warm foot soak and scrub using a heavenly smelling ginger-and-black-pepper scrub. Sally then took me through an ayurvedic spa consultation to determine my dosha; this would determine what type of treatment to give me. The consultation was a series of questions about body frame, height, weight, complexion, hair, speech, temperament, mind, sleep, and so on. It felt like a thorough investigation into my Vata, Pita or Kapha responses.
Sally diagnosed me as being predominantly Pita, so put together a treatment to "cool me down". As I lay on my back, Sally told me to deeply inhale an essential oil. She then gave me a perfect firm-pressure ayurvedic full-body massage with warm oil. Sally followed the massage with a cleansing body exfoliation, using more of the delicious ginger-and-black-pepper scrub, which she gently removed with toasty warm flannels. Finally, Sally enveloped me in Mela Rose and Pistachio body butter, and gave the butter time to soak in. Sally was very considerate of my modesty and comfort at all times,
After the massage, Sally revived me with an inhalation of peppermint essential oil. She also recommended that my free cup of tea should be peppermint, to continue the cooling of my body.
I then moved on to The Sleep Retreat: an interesting experience. I walked up a small flight of stairs into a long, dark room lit by floor spotlights. The room was filled with around 12 low- frequency sound wave beds, which vibrate while you recline on them. The vibrations are meant to assist in easing pain and tension. A few speakers are strategically positioned up high, or you can use the headphones by each bed. You listen to an hypnotic recording of a woman talking you through an imaginary journey. The experience lasts for almost half an hour.
After my "sleep" was my Jessica pedicure. My next therapist, Maria, met me in the Orchid waiting room and took me through the hand and foot area. There were three recliners with small stations filled with nail-care goodies.
I chose the colour that I wanted, and Maria gave me a mini-bottle of a similar colour (they had run out of the popular one I wanted) to take home for touch-ups.
What followed was nearly an hour of filing, different balm applications, strengthening nail and cuticle oil, and hot booties cocooning my feet. Personally, I'm not keen on my feet getting very hot and was relieved when those ten minutes were up! My feet were borderline roasting. Maria finished the pedicure with a lick of Jessica colour and a top coat.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt rather divine after my Mela treatment, and was a bit sad that I had to hurry to get to the sleep retreat immediately after my massage. I was really chuffed to have my toes looking so perfect and pretty!
What happens afterwards?
I lunched in the large spa restaurant. The restaurant was filled with quite closely positioned tables of varying sizes, with comfy seats and funky decor. I feasted on tasty scallops followed by succulent pan-fried sea bream on a bed of shredded cabbage and pancetta, plus a side order of rocket and parmesan shavings with balsamic vinegar. A waitress mindfully brought me over a couple of magazines to read while I waited.
I was the only one dining on my own. The creme brulee tried to woo me into submission, but I had no room for pudding. I washed the meal down with apple juice. Other groups were having champagne with their lunch. The service was good and I liked the fact that I could just give my name and sort out payment at the end of the day.
Also on this level is the spa shop, which displayed a whole host of colourful Sanctuary goodies. A lounge joined this room and was dimly lit with lots of deep sofas. I soon discovered this lounge was one of the quietest rooms in the spa.
Back down on the Koi Carp lounge level, I opened the door and found the lounge teeming with people. Most were sitting down having chats. This room was so much bigger than the website photos had led me to believe. The lounge was filled with bountiful amounts of comfortable seating, including large nest-like seats, beanbags and long, padded benches hidden under a mass of cushions. Central to the room was the Koi Carp pool with a wide spot-lit gangway leading up to the sleep retreat on the mezzanine. There is a bar serving teas, coffees, and indulgent cakes.
There's lots to do at The Sanctuary. There are two pools. The warm atrium pool is quite shallow and has the famous Sanctuary swing. The more serious, cooler, exercise pool is in the basement. There are two relaxation lounges, a hammam, sauna and sanarium, so you have a good choice of heated rooms. I enjoyed the hot hammam with a ceiling of fairy lights. The sauna next door was hot but not overbearing. To the side of the exercise pool was the hydrotherapy pool. I didn't get to try this pool because a small party of women were enjoying themselves when I was on that particular floor.
The boudoir-style dressing room was mirror-lined, with seats around the edge. There were hairdryer stations, along with plenty of The Sanctuary's own-brand face wipes, toner, and moisturiser, and cotton-wool pads.
Was it worth it?
Definitely. The Sanctuary offers very good spa value. There is plenty on offer and my Mela treatment was nothing short of divine and expertly executed. The pedicure was good value, too.
What else could you have?
Massages, wraps, facials. Manis, pedis galore, and a Serenity Dreamtime Float, which uses a variety of tension-relieving methods such as a soothing scalp, shoulder and face massage, skin-nourishing wrap and dry floatation.
There are different packages to choose from, including a Champagne Day, a Package Day and an Evening Package.
The Skin Spa is slightly more clinical than your average treatment area, with white walls and chrome mirrors. That's not surprising really, because it offers medi-spa treatments such as microdermabrasion and glycolic peels.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Not to try to fit it all in! There's so much on offer at The Sanctuary. I wished I'd arrived earlier and stayed later.
To have set aside more money for buying lots of products (sucked in - me?!) I must admit I succumbed to the yummy scrub.
To remember a hairbrush. To remember my flip-flops, as I did feel out of place being the only person not wearing any.
Any special features?
The famous atrium pool swing. The size of the spa. The Koi Carp Lounge. The Sleep Retreat.
Who do you think would like it?
Sociable women; small groups; best friends; mums and daughters; hens; generations of family women.
If you have mobility problems, The Sanctuary is not for you. The spa is spread out over five floors, so multiple trips up and down stairs are necessary.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave The Sanctuary a glistening 4 bubbles. There is not much to fault about The Sanctuary, but manage your spa expectations: The Sanctuary is not a silent retreat. The Sanctuary is a popular day spa, and everywhere women will be having a good gossip, catch-up, natter, and giggle.
I felt that The Sanctuary could do with a silent room, somewhere that isn't the sleep retreat, where you could just be with your own thoughts. There is a constant buzz of people having a bit of a jolly. I did see a sign (with minimal effect) in the Koi Carp Lounge which reminded people to keep the noise down. That said, I did go during a busy half-term week.
The Sanctuary is well kept and in pristine order. I liked the fact that the staff members (receptionist / therapist / manager and so on) are identifiable by their different coloured uniforms.
The furnishings are very girly, but not sickly sweet. Everywhere was comfy, warm, clean and appealing. The emphasis is on feel-good luxury and joyful indulgence.
There's so much on offer at The Sanctuary, with plenty of facilities to keep you entertained and to lure you back.
Read more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
I would definitely go for a fun-filled day of pampering with a friend or to share a treat with my mum.
We visited The Sanctuary in October 2009
Like the sound of this? You're in luck.
Follow this link to book a special spa offer at the Sanctuary with our partners lastminute.com
See also:
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