Review of Urban Retreat, Harrods

Urban Retreat, Harrods -- 4 bubbles

Urban Retreat is a modern blend of medi-spa, treatment rooms and hair salon. There are no pools or thermal facilities, but you will find a wide range of health and cosmetic treatments. Ideal for post-shopping or pre-partying pick-me-ups that leave you feeling good inside and looking great out.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Urban Retreat is on the fifth floor of London's world-renowned luxury department store, Harrods. After a brief wrong turn into the shoe department (completely unintentional, obviously), I was greeted by a friendly receptionist at the entrance of the spa, salon and retail area.

Urban Retreat is stylish and modern; the spa combines a medi-spa with regular treatment rooms, a hair salon and, as you would expect in a department store, plenty of retail opportunities. After the receptionist checked me in, I popped my coat and bag into the cloakroom and took a seat on the large purple velvet oval seating area. There wasn't much to read while I waited, but I did look through a book denoting all the types of tattooed make-up you could get from the medi-spa; complete with rather shockingly large before-and-after photos. I was quite thirsty but the water machine was most definitely broken. I tried it, a number of other customers tried it, and a couple of therapists banged it, shook it and discussed its failings at some length: all to no avail.

What's on offer?

There are no thermal or wet facilities at Urban Retreat. However, if you arrive early, you won't be bored as you're surrounded by a WORLD of shopping!

Which treatments did you have?

I had Urban Retreat's signature treatment THE Facial (80 minutes, £95). I was also lucky enough to try the World's Most Expensive Blow Dry (£320) and have a Laura Mercier make-up application (45 minutes, £40) to get me party-ready for an event straight afterwards.

What were the treatments like?

My therapist was chatty and friendly; she talked me through what would happen while I filled in my consultation form. Obviously a seasoned professional, my therapist was keen to get to work. She briefly left me to get comfortable on the treatment bed, then we began.

THE Facial starts with a double-cleanse to remove all make-up and deeply clean your skin, followed by an exfoliation. My therapist's technique was confident and assertive, which was fine, but her bold product application pulled my eyes open a couple of times and some product got in them. Nothing major, but I'd not come across such an enthusiastic technique before!

Following the cleanse and exfoliation, my therapist set up a steamer machine and bathed my face in warm steam for a while. She made sure I was relaxed and that the temperature was comfortable, then gave me a foot, leg and arm massage, which was very welcome!

According to the Urban Retreat website, THE Facial includes a Clarisonic brush exfoliation, but I didn't get one of these (a shame as I've been keen to see if Clarisonic is as miraculous as people claim!). Instead, we moved straight on to extractions, not anyone's favourite part of a facial but necessary and, in this instance, expertly executed. I had no redness or swelling afterwards.

THE Facial also includes a mask and super-cold eye treatment, both of which were carried out with a skilled and practised hand; my therapist definitely knew what she was doing.

All in all, I found this facial very effective. Urban Retreat claim THE Facial is a must for all facial connoisseurs, and I think they're right. My face was positively glowing by the end. Apart from a slightly watery eye from getting some exfoliant in it earlier, I was looking pretty good, even if I say so myself!

My hair and make-up appointment was straight after my facial. You can read all about the world's most expensive blow-dry over on our blog!

What else could you have?

Urban Retreat offers a range of facials, body treatments, scrubs, massages and essential grooming. There's also a salon for all your hair-related needs. Urban Retreat also has a medi-spa and Body Clinic, which offer services including make-up tattooing, Hypoxi therapy, facial acupuncture, medical aesthetic treatments, and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Food facts

There's no food in the spa, but as you're in Harrods, you're only a hop, skip and a jump away from the food halls if you get peckish.

Was it worth it?

THE Facial works out at a very reasonable £95 for 80 minutes; especially reasonable given the spa's elite location.

We loved

Our glowing skin!

The friendly, approachable staff.

The sense of luxury you get from being pampered within one of London's most luxurious department stores.

We didn't love

The broken water machine.

That the cloakroom was left unmanned for a time during a shift-change; we're pretty sure the bags and coats of London's elite could be better guarded.

Who do you think would like it?

London socialites.

Tired shoppers in need of a little pampering.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Urban Retreat at Harrods 4 bubbles. The treatment rooms are lovely, the staff are friendly, and we left happy, pretty, and ready to party!

See more about how we rate the spas