The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London
Soothing subterranean serenity in London
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London provides a soothing respite in the midst of one of London’s busiest districts. Spread across two floors of the luxurious Knightsbridge hotel, the spa incorporates a color therapy area, amethyst crystal steam room, mineral vitality pool and a total of eight treatment rooms where guests can enjoy expert therapies such as hot stone massages and anti-aging facials using some of the best skincare products available. Consider booking a time slot rather than a specific treatment. A therapist will talk over what has you worked up and then tailor your treatments to suit your needs. This is a spa with a personal touch.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The elegant spa was carefully designed to help you relax and unwind. Although situated within a beautiful, century-old Edwardian-style property, the spa itself combines straight lines and smooth surfaces to create an ultra-modern and harmonious spa environment.
- This modern, minimalist architecture is complemented by rich textures such as horsehair-paneled walls.
- When you enter the London retreat, a staff member will scoop up your shoes in a basket and give you a pair of slippers in your size. The sandals are better than the usual terry-cloth options — you can use the London spa’s fantastic wet areas without having soggy slippers.
- In the dark relaxation room, faux white candles light up a buffet of snacks. Pick up a rectangular sky-blue plate with branches of white flowers and choose some oatmeal-raisin cookies from a glass jar, or fruit from a tray of apples, grapes and tangerines.
- Peruse products that are used in the treatments, like Aromatherapy Associates’ De-Stress Mind Bath and Shower Oil, along with meditative CDs and more at the spa shop.
Things to Know
- The spa is open between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day of the week, with treatments available from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday to Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday to Monday.
- You should know that the spa requires that bookings have a minimum of two hours in services. The requirement drops to 80 minutes Monday to Thursday.
The Treatments
- The aroma stone massage is a regular hot-stone massage, but the excellent therapist makes it a must. We didn’t need to tell our therapist where we were aching; her trained hands found our knots on their own.
- If two hands aren’t enough for your tension-filled body, opt for four with the two-therapist Oriental Harmony massage. But before the massage, you’ll get a foot bath and a warm body scrub application.
- Time Rituals allow spa-goers to reserve a block of time that can be tailored to whatever you need, whether it be a massage and body scrub or a facial and an eye treatment. Whichever combination you choose, your ritual will begin with a foot bath.
- Taking inspiration from its location, the Knightsbridge spa uses this floral scent in the English Rose Journey. The fragrance is supposed to calm and uplift, but the foot bath, rose-infused poultice massage and tension-zapping head rub will do the trick on their own.
- To avoid jet lag after a long overseas flight, book the 110-minute Deep Sleep treatment. The therapist will massage you into a sleepy state so you can just go up to your room in Mandarin Oriental and have some solid shut-eye.
The Facilities
- The relaxation lounge is so dimly lit, you’ll fall sleep under the blankets of the cushioned slatted-wood lounge beds. Each lounger comes with a set of headphones, so you can listen to the built-in radio while you relax.
- The lockers carry white-striped cotton robes from Irish company Lissadell Liddell. If you need to slip into the bathrobe, the granite-filled changing rooms with a small brown square ottoman offer privacy.
- Wander over to the adjacent wet areas. The dark, stunning spaces will make you linger in the Knightsbridge spa.
- Take a seat in the submerged lounger in the vitality pool while hydrotherapy jets gently massage you.
- There’s also a sanarium — it’s the same as a sauna, but with more humidity — and the Amethyst Crystal Steam Room, where you’ll see twinkling lights and a large chunk of its namesake purple stone, which is supposed to calm your mind.
Getting There
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA, United Kingdom
TEL+44 (0) 20-7838-9888
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