The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner - 5 bubbles

A Good Spa Spy was invited to this intimate and exclusive hotel "spa studio" in London's Knightsbridge. She found the treatments relaxing and effective, and the traditional afternoon tea a classic close to a pampering day.


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 Lanesborough is an imposing building on Hyde Park Corner. It's a proper hotel with men in grey suits to hold open doors and elegant rooms with chandeliers. My mother would approve! I asked the way to the spa and was escorted thence with old fashioned courtesy. I liked this! The spa is tucked away at the back so being escorted through the corridors was useful.



How did they welcome you?

Quietly and calmly -- which is how they do everything at The Lanesborough. A member of staff whisked away my case and coat, and offered me a cool drink and a comfortable seat in the small reception area. The gym leads off this room to the right and the treatment rooms are to the left. The spa studio at The Lanesborough is small but perfectly formed. There are no pool or water facilities. The gym, complete with treadmills, a rowing machine, a stationary bicycle, an elliptical cross trainer, G5 Multi Gym, and free weights... is only available to hotel guests! So this is a bijou spa -- more of a treatment rooms, but very luxurious treatment rooms.



What happens next?

Rachel, my therapist, came to have a chat as I filled in my consultation form, then took me off to the treatment room. These must be some of the grandest treatment rooms in London. They are huge, with high ceilings, marble floors, floor-to-ceiling wooden doors, and lights that change colour along with the soft background music. In my treatment room, there was a prettily tiled serail chamber on one side of the room and a huge mirror on the other. I had stepped from noisy, busy Hyde Park Corner to a haven of peace and quiet. And I didn't want to leave. Candles in a tub on the floor and on the worktop added to the atmosphere.



Which treatments did you have?

I had the Serail Spa Massage Ritual (£95 for75 minutes). This treatment combines being coated with "medicinal" muds, steamed in the serail chamber which has seats for two, and a full body massage.



What were the treatments like?

Rachel explained the treatment, asked me if there were any areas she should focus on for the massage, and gave me my "privacy button".


This is simply brilliant. It's a small remote gadget (so no wires to trip over) that you can place somewhere close to hand and buzz when you are ready. However many treatments I have, in however many spas, I'm always worried that someone will come in when I am half-dressed. With this gadget, I could call for Rachel when I was ready -- and I knew that no one would barge in at any other time. It relaxed me and made me feel very pampered and well looked after.


I got undressed and buzzed Rachel. To start, she anointed me with various muds enhanced with algae. Different coloured muds have different ingredients: cinnamon to detox and mint to revitalise. After Rachel had painted me like an ancient Briton, I entered the serail steam room. The hot steam built up gradually and I sat in splendour while the muds soaked into my skin. I could hear the music from the treatment room over the steam, and see the changing lights, so I wasn't bored -- but that empty seat opposite me looked a bit sad! Take your lover for this treatment -- it's much more fun with two!


The temperature built up and I was glad of the water hose which I used to run cold water over my wrists and ankles. The cold water meant I could control my body temperature and keep it at a level that suited me. You have a hose by each seat so wimps, like me, can cool down; others, who enjoy the heat, don't have to.


Once the steam stopped, the shower began and I rubbed the mud off. Outside, I found that Rachel had left me a stack of fluffy towels, and I dried myself off. She had left me a pair of paper knickers, too, but had explained beforehand that I didn't have to use them as I wouldn't ever be exposed. That reassurance meant I could ignore them and just hop under the towels in my natural state -- much more comfortable than those niggly knickers.


I got up onto the bed and pressed the buzzer to tell Rachel I was ready.


Rachel proved to be an ace at massage, and my 45 minutes of mud and steaming meant that my muscles were warmed up and more flexible. I reminded myself never to have another massage without this pre-warming. Rachel gave a very firm and deep massage, using her forearms and her weight. I nearly dropped off, I was so spaced out. At the same time, I felt that my muscles and joints were having a good workout. A weird contradiction, but a very pleasant one.



How did you feel afterwards?

Wonderful. A couple of inches taller and very loose-limbed. It was a top-notch massage. And it was lovely having plenty of space and time to get dressed afterwards in my huge treatment room.



What happens afterwards?

I took a seat in the small reception area and drank a long, cool glass of cranberry juice. I would have liked somewhere to lounge around for a while but the reception area is all there is. The three treatment rooms and the rather nice large loo with good lighting for doing your make-up make up the entire spa.


I had booked myself in for afternoon tea, and the tea is well worth it. A conservatory, piano music, and a tea sommelier, no less. I sat back, ordered jasmine tea, and treated myself to a wonderful array of tiny cakes and scones. Somehow, calories don't seem to count when portions are so tiny and elegant.



Long-term effects

My relaxation lasted for a couple of days, but the memory of the delights of the steam and massage remained much longer. The Lanesborough was a small relaxed oasis in a busy life.



Was it worth it?

The spa studio at The Lanesborough is pricey -- but then most London spas of this quality are. I felt the price was worth it for the sheer attention and privacy. Rachel mentioned that most of the spa's clients are busy business people who want some pampering in privacy. They get a lot of custom from people staying in the hotel and always strive to keep slots for people who cannot book ahead, perhaps if their meeting finishes earlier than planned, so that they have time to squeeze in a treatment. The spa tends to be busiest in the later afternoon and early evening, so if you want a last-minute treat and can get there early in the day you have a good chance of getting in.



What else could you have?

The spa studio offers a wide range of facials and body treatments from two of the great names: La Prairie and Comfort Zone.


There is a good selection of treatments for men, including a Gentleman's Wet Shave, with hot towels and a scalp massage.


The La Prairie Swiss Bliss Treatment, which is described as "A dream treatment where time stands still", and which involves caviar and exclusive drainage techniques, is the one we have our eyes on. Beauty treatments include every type of waxing, eyelash tints, and Leighton Denny hand and foot treatments, manicures and pedicures.



What do you wish you'd known before you went?

That the serail treatment is best done a deux. That Harvey Nicks is just a two-minute walk away.



Any special features?

The sheer privacy of the whole experience and the sense of hushed luxury; come to The Lanesborough for a special occasion. As I'd been in six countries on three continents over the last three months, this little haven of total peace and privacy was just what I needed.



Who do you think would like it?

Ladies who Lanesborough. Celebs looking for a private spa experience. Anyone feeling frazzled and harassed. Jet-setters rushing into London from a plane and needing to get the kinks out for their backs after a long flight. Men -- The Lanesborough has lots of good treatments for men and the spa is sophisticated and quite masculine: dark woods and marble and elegant understatement. Anyone wanting to combine a treatment with a wonderful afternoon tea.



Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave The Lanesborough 5 bubbles -- but only just. The treatment and the experience were well worth 5 bubbles.


I did have a couple of reservations: there is nowhere to sit and unwind after your treatment. I was invited to take my time getting dressed, and the treatment room is elegant, with a large chair to sit in and plenty of space. But I would have liked a lounger somewhere to have my cool drink rather than an upright chair in reception.


Also, at one point someone came to the spa looking for service and kept calling out, "Hello, anyone there?" There was obviously no-one on reception and, after a while, he started opening doors. I was worried that he would try the door of my treatment room, although, thankfully, he went away. The spa tell us that there was a sign on the reception desk reminding people that treatments are in progress and asking people to leave their number. Perhaps it needs to be bigger.


See more on how we rate the spas



Would you go again?

Is that an invitation? Can't wait! I might just book myself in for the Footloose and Fancy Tea: a pedicure followed by afternoon tea in that elegant conservatory. What more could a girl want after a busy day shopping or running a multi-national company?


We visited The Lanesborough in April 2009



See also:

* Contact Details for The Lanesborough

* Massage

* Facials