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The Aurora Spa at the Sherlock Homes Park Plaza hotel - 3 bubbles
The Aurora Spa invited our spy along to try out their new Lava Shell massage. These small but holistically based treatment rooms, with steam and sauna facilities, proved to be much more than "elementary", my dear Watson. The spa offers top quality treatments, but fights with the gym for space and relaxation.
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?
Long-term effects
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 taxi stopped outside what looked like a bar. I assumed that the taxi driver has taken me to the wrong place. But he said: "It goes back a long way, love"’ and he was right. The building I was looking at looked like a bar because it was a bar -- and a very trendy one, too, with wooden floors, comfy chairs and a huge bar along one side of the room. Reception for the hotel is tucked away at the back of the bar, next to the dining room.
How did they welcome you?
They were expecting me, so I got quickly checked in. I took the tiny lift upstairs to my room. So far, so average London hotel.
But my room was a lovely surprise. It was a loft room, double height with the bedroom on a mezzanine floor above a large and well furnished living area. This is the room they use for spa parties, so groups can book an evening with drinks and treatments in the room. There is plenty of space for the two treatment beds they bring up, as well as room for a half-a-dozen friends to enjoy themselves. Great idea!
What happens next?
I had an early supper in the dining room. The food was good: a generous portion of smoked salmon was served with warm nut bread and finely chopped onion and capers, followed by a tender ribeye steak. Breakfast was equally good. When I asked for soft boiled eggs, I got soft boiled eggs and proper toast soldiers. The bread was rolled before toasting, so no crumbs drop onto the runny egg yolk! Someone in the kitchen has been well taught.
After breakfast, I went down to the lower ground floor to the Aurora spa. There is a good sized steam room, a sauna, and shower, a small gym and just one treatment room. The waiting area is small with an elegant grey sofa and an easy chair, and double doors through to the gym and the treatment room. It was calm and relaxing, just a shame it's the only way into the gym, so people come and go at intervals.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Lava Shell massage (60 minutes, £75).
What were the treatments like?
Nicole, my therapist, greeted me and showed me into the spacious treatment room, which has wooden flooring and white walls. Fabric hangings, a statue of an angel in one corner, and a bronze sleeping Buddha in another, brightened the plainness. I filled in a consultation form, we discussed my allergies, and Nicole left me to get undressed and onto the bed.
The massage started with oil -- a good thing, too, as Nicole noted my very dry skin and used a double dose. The lava shells followed. These are Tiger Striped Clam shells from the Philippines. The shells contain a sachet of algae, minerals and dried kelp, and Nicole added an activator liquid which generates heat. I could hear the sound of the liquid being added to the shells.
Nicole used the hot shells to massage my muscles. The shells felt great on the soles of my feet, and also when Nicole used them, one in each hand, in long smooth strokes along my calf muscles.
Once Nicole reached my shoulders, I realised that, as well as the curved smooth sides, the shells have a thin edge which can be used to pull down the muscle, which helps with lymphatic drainage. The bump on the back of the shell was useful for working away at the knots in my shoulders -- and very effective this was, too. The shells stayed hot for the hour and more of my massage; this is where the shells have an advantage over hot stones, which tend to need reheating during the treatment.
I was very, very relaxed by my massage. I began the session a bit distracted by Nicole’s shoes clip-clopping on the wooden floor, but I managed to tune this out and sink into the treatment. However, halfway through, someone came into the gym next door and spent an energetic 20 minutes on the walking machine. This machine made a steady thumping noise, carried through the floor.
How did you feel afterwards?
Very relaxed, very loose limbed and very oily. My neck and shoulders in particular felt smoothed and soothed, with no tender spots as sometimes happens after a massage.
What happens afterwards?
Nicole brought me a cup of water and then left the room so that I could get dressed. I was still covered in oil, so I used a towel to wipe off the excess before I dressed.
I would have liked the chance to have a quick steam to help absorb the oil, or sit and relax and perhaps have some herbal tea, before heading out into the noise and bustle of central London.
Long-term effects
I was more relaxed than I had been for some time, and still remember the lovely sensation of those warm smooth shells on the soles of my feet. (My idea of heaven is having my feet stroked!) Although the oil was a problem because I had to get dressed, my skin -- usually dry and flaky -- felt wonderfully smooth a week later.
Was it worth it?
The treatment itself was, though I would have liked the other spa facilities to be more integrated into the treatment. I was offered a steam or sauna, but it didn't feel like part of the usual treatment. The chance to change out of my clothes, warm up my muscles and sit with a drink and magazine before and after the treatment would have been relaxing and made the whole experience feel a little more luxurious.
What else could you have?
I quite fancy the Rose hydrating cocoon wrap, simply because you get to lie on a bed of rose petals! The Gerard's Bamboo massage is unusual: it uses bamboo canes in a rolling technique that is stress relieving, muscle strengthening, and lymph draining. As well as a whole range of other massages and facials, there are some holistic therapies such as Reiki and reflexology. There are several "male" treatments, too, including the Gerard's Sportsman's Tibet with a deep "bundle massage" and the Ahava Back treatment, which involves exfoliation and massage with hot oils.
The spa has a strongly holistic feel to it, so it's not surprising that the manicures and pedicures on offer use the Pinks Boutique organic range of products.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
To allow more time so that I could have used the steam and sauna, and had a shower after the treatment.
Any special features?
The quality of the treatments stands out. The very central location is great, as you could combine a treatment with some shopping or a trip to the theatre.
Who do you think would like it?
The Sherlock Holmes hotel is wonderfully central so is ideal for a weekend in the city. The farmers market in Marylebone High Street is not to be missed on a Sunday morning, and the Wallace collection is just round the corner if you fancy an afternoon of beautiful paintings, furniture and porcelain.
The hotel was full of business people when we were there mid-week, but it had a nice atmosphere: crowded and buzzy but not too noisy, so the Sherlock Holmes would make a good place to combine a little business with an hour or two in a spa.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
The Aurora Spa rates a high 3 bubbles. My treatment was excellent, delivered with real skill. The whole spa area is clean and in good condition and the fact that there is a steam room, sauna and shower means that you can spend some time before and after the treatment unwinding.
The lack of relaxation area is a problem. The seating area is attractive and comfortable, but it is also the way through to the gym, so you can’t really relax there in your towelling robe.
The noise from the gym is also a problem. The gym is likely to be most busy in the early mornings and evenings, but even my middle-of-the-day treatment was disturbed by someone using the running machine.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Yes. I would love to book a group spa session in one of the loft rooms. It would make a great way to have a reunion with old friends. And I would definitely book the Revive jet-lag massage here if I was coming back from a long trip.
We visited The Aurora Spa at The Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes in November 2009
See also:
* Contact details for The Aurora Spa at The Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes
* All about lava shells
* Buy Pinks Boutique products at The Good Spa Shop
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