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Our expert writers are usually hosted for free to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review.
The term ‘spa holiday’ conjures up ideas of grand getaways in a country house or a residence stay, but what if you choose to have your spa experience in the city? Who says you can’t combine the two elements? It’s actually a genius move, because once you’ve strolled the streets and washed the city clean of all it has to offer, you can retreat to your hotel for a pampered bit of welcome respite. Gone are the days when spa breaks in London were simply a classic massage in a small room. The experience is now super luxurious and cutting edge – think biofeedback training, decompression capsules and superfood clinics. Whatever your favorite spa getaway in London, we have locations to suit you from Hyde Park to Liverpool Street via Leicester Square. These are the best spa hotels in London.
How we assess
Each hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, usually hosted free of charge. They stay at least one night, test at least one meal and try other experiences the hotel may have to offer.
The best spa hotels in London at a glance
A true grande dame of Knightsbridge, The Berkeley is a hotel with plenty of five-star frills, but the icing on the cake is the heated outdoor rooftop pool and Bamford Wellness Spa. Located on the seventh floor, the spa resembles an English country garden high above the city. The secret garden, lined with sunbeds and in full bloom during the summer, is a fantastic place to unwind after a treatment. Bamford Haybarn, which follows a holistic, organic philosophy, is the main brand behind most treatments, while British boutique brand OSKIA provides facials. There are fantastic one-to-one yoga and pilates classes and special events such as hula hooping or synchronized swimming are held throughout the summer (check the website for current timetables).
Pan Pacific was big news when it opened in 2021. Not only would it be a glorious antidote to the city’s business environment, it would also have a wellness center to blow many of its nearby rivals out of the water. It’s safe to say that it certainly achieved its goals. On the fourth floor you will find the 11,000 square meter wellness area with treatments that combine Southeast Asian traditions and Western science. There’s a spectacular, rarely seen in London, 18.5 meter infinity pool (pictured), a yoga room and a relaxation area with sunbeds, noise-canceling headphones and weighted blankets. A large gym has the latest TecnoBody equipment such as D-Wall (a high-tech digital training system that offers body recognition).
A restored 18th-century Georgian building is now home to the Richmond Harbor Hotel & Spa. Modern interiors, a heated restaurant terrace and the location (a quick walk to the gates of Richmond Park) are all highlights, but the spa with its 20-metre indoor pool is the real star of the show here. Inside, next to the pool (which is big enough for decent laps), there’s a sauna, a steam room and a stylish relaxation room with hanging egg-shaped beds. Outside is a real leafy gem of a garden with two Scandinavian hot tubs and a vitality pool. There’s a super high-tech gym with classes and 13 treatment rooms – the Drift Away massage is excellent. It is great value compared to other hotel spas in the city and the pool welcomes children at set times of the day.
Located in one of London’s most established postcodes in Mayfair, Four Seasons Park Lane is an epitome of bold and stylish design, combining 1930s Art Deco elegance with quirky charm. No spa in London can match the views from this roof terrace, which overlooks the Dutch elms and copper beech trees in the south-eastern part of Hyde Park; the sauna, which has a window, offers particularly beautiful views. Allow plenty of time for the pre-treatment pampering – especially the vitality pool with bubbles and underwater seating, and the wood-clad relaxation area with leather, camel-coloured pods to lie in, a feature wall with gold masks and plenty of magazines and herbal teas at the hand.
London’s first self-styled super boutique hotel, 14 years old and £500m in the making, caused a stir for all the right reasons when it opened in late 2021. Its buzzing bar and restaurant areas make it one of the capital’s hottest new spots and the elegant cellar spa? You will want to come back again and again. Cabana beds around the pool make it easy to while away an afternoon, especially in combination with the sauna and steam room. The extensive treatment menu includes facials by Omorovicza and massages by Ila. There are a number of simple deep tissue massages available, but most of these are more holistic treatments; For example, a Harmony massage includes Tibetan acupressure and scalp massage, leaving you feeling like you’ve had multiple treatments in one. You’ll also find a Hiro Miyosh hair and beauty salon, an AMA nail bar and the healthy Refuel superfood and juice ‘clinic’ – all very cool.
This Grade II listed building underwent one of the most lavish makeovers Britain had ever seen when it opened as Corinthia. The scale and quality of the furnishings created an impressively contemporary wow factor for the area and the spa was one of the most notable. (making it one of the best spa hotels in London). This is the flagship of the major brand ESPA; a serious affair across four floors of the hotel, with a steam room, 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail salon, super cool indoor pool, vitality pool, an amphitheater sauna, ice fountain, marble heated loungers (pictured) and private sleeping pods. Of course, the treatments are ESPA’s best: de-stressing, muscle relaxing and uplifting, and there are several packages to choose from; the Pure Indulgence Body Ritual is exactly that.
This famous hotel has fallen on hard times over the past decade (with a devastating fire just after a massive renovation), but it’s back and better than ever. The Spa has opened its doors to sparkling new facilities and a fresh look from New York designer Adam D Tihany. There are 13 treatment rooms, including a double suite complete with Rasul water temple; a spa menu with countless treatments, from Mandarin Oriental’s signature ‘digital wellness escape’ restorative massage to traditional Chinese medicine. Expect great amenities including an amethyst crystal steam room, sanarium, 17-meter indoor pool and fitness center. In addition, the spa now offers the award-winning Bastien Gonzalez Pedi:Mani:Cure studio – a real treat for hands and feet.
This is one of London’s most sophisticated hotels, yet far from pretentious. Old world meets new, but not in a ostentatious ‘hodgepodge of styles’, it’s more subtle than that: step inside and you’ll find dark polished wood, gleaming marble floors and pillars, and cream-coloured cornice ceilings alongside airy, modern rooms. And there is a similar atmosphere to the sleek spa from the Aman brand, all deep wood, shiny marble and minimalist lines. The black granite swimming pool is the focal point, surrounded by sun loungers, and there is a small aromatic steam room. In addition to the standard therapies, Aman at The Connaught offers signature experiences inspired by different parts of the world: if you have two and a half hours to spare, you should treat yourself to the Native American-inspired signature experience, a combination of different massages including ancient Navajo techniques
It’s hard to believe that a real palace like this is located close to bustling High Holborn. Despite its effortless elegance, the place doesn’t take itself too seriously, with cages full of fake birds and bulldog and bear models near the elevators. The hallways are dark and sultry, with striking accents such as a rose gold mirror ceiling. The Sense spa is a relaxing space; a warren of black slate with a relaxation area, sauna and steam facilities in changing rooms, plus treatment rooms. The treatments are excellent, with heated beds that are adjustable on both sides; the deep tissue Maison Caulières massage is a wonderful option to loosen particularly difficult knots. There is also a fitness room, with fruit and headphones.
The Ned is a spectacle of a hotel. Located in the former Midlands Bank headquarters, designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens (with many original architectural details), it is now a party palace – with restaurants, bars and a beautiful lobby with live music and a huge spa. The basement spa is a dark, soothing space – worlds away from the streets above. It’s all black and white tiles, green marble and there’s a 20-metre long, marble-clad swimming pool, topped by scalloped lights. And in a first for a London hotel spa, the Ned has opened the Define Clinic by Dr Benji Dhillon MD, a leader in non-surgical aesthetics – and includes treatments such as laser (BBL and Moxi; from £450) and anti-wrinkle treatments . injections (from £180).
The hotel itself is known for having some of the most expensive room rates in London (from £700 per night), but what many people don’t know is that here you can experience the exclusive (advertised as members only) spa. for just £150 per day (or if you spend £250 on treatments you can use the facilities for free). Guests await treatments in a shaded, magazine-laden relaxation room with call buttons to summon complimentary refreshments. Therapists perform treatments of own-brand products ila, La Prairie, Tata Harper and Lanesborough in the dimly lit rooms before you explore the scent-infused experience showers, steam room, sauna and small pool with whirlpool. Here you will also find a club lounge with smoothie bar and vegetarian restaurant, a large gym with top-of-the-line equipment and a Daniel Galvin Jr hair salon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest spa in London?
Spread over four floors, ESPA Life at The Corinthia is the largest day spa in London, complete with steam room, 17 treatment rooms, private spa suite, nail salon, indoor pool, vitality pool, amphitheater sauna, ice fountain, marble heated loungers and private sleeping pods.
Contributions by Jade Conroy, Rachel Cranshaw, Fiona Duncan, Mark C. O’Flaherty, Charlotte Johnstone, Francesca Syz