If you're wanting to study fashion, be it design, business, make-up, styling or journalism, this is…read morecertainly the college to opt for. It is one of the most reputable, and many of the established designers and fashion experts have learnt their craft here. I studied two part time courses in both the John Princes Street and Davies Street colleges and absolutely loved them. The teachers know the industry inside out and their expertise comes from actively working in fashion so you can be assured that you are learning from the best. There is an amazingly addictive creative buzz as everyone is immensely enthusiastic about what they do and you truly learn the meaning of the phrase 'passion for fashion'! The facilities are great, including top range and current IT equipment and an extensive resource library at John Princes Street. The college also often holds industry led conferences and seminars. I also predict that the people who attend the London College of Fashion are the most colourful - you are sure to see an amazing selection of obscure (yet fashionable as hell) outfits and hair cuts!

I am studying my postgraduate course here at the moment and it is so brilliant. Apart from the…read morecourse and the teaching (both are fantastic) the school itself is brilliant. On the Princes street campus there is the best library I've ever come across, and they have a great selection of computers with loads of great software programs installed in both Princes and Davies street. The Hub in Davies st is the bar/cafe and does really cheap food and drink. I usually go for a bagel with cheese, chicken and pesto which costs £1.70, total bargain. Just outside the Hub is The Arts Gallery, University of the Arts London, 65 Davies Street, W1K 5DA. Here they have loads of different exhibitions of up and coming artists which is free for all UAL students.

I've been a long time patron of this beauty school. Spa services in London are so expensive and so…read morehit-and-miss that I can't stomach paying a ton for them, so the first time I saw the services menu with the really affordable prices on it, I had to give them a try. In the past 3 years or so I've tried a number of the treatments offered, and they've ranged from mediocre to very good. Never excellent, but also never bad. Your treatment is given by a student at the school, who might be anywhere along the time line of her training. At the end of the treatment you are asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about your experience, how you liked it, what you would have had done differently, etc. So you're also contributing to the education of a student, which feels almost like volunteer work. So, for a full body Swedish massage, one full hour, you pay 22 pounds. I haven't seen anything cheaper in town, and I'm a massage enthusiast. And as I said, I've had some really really nice ones, and some just ok ones. Haven't had a pedicure here because they don't have proper pedicure chairs in the facility, and I can soak my feet in a pot of water at home. The manicure is basic and nice, however. They also do a pre-massage infra-red treatment which warms up the muscles so you get more out of your massage. They're also really good about giving you post-treatment advice about future behaviours and products. Oh also had a facial here once that was really nice. Basically it's the best place to go for affordable beauty treatments in central London. And they're always really super nice to you. Only problem is they don't usually take walk-ins, you have to book ahead. But you can book several treatments back to back and treat yourself to a spa day at a ridiculously cheap price. I'm surprised this place isn't booked out months in advance. Oh also I see men in there a lot, which is cool. All are welcome.

I've got my diploma from here and I can say a lot about this school. This is not just a regular…read moreplace to learn how to do Make-up, but it's a whole lifetime experience. You get to meet people from different places, with different talents and techniques and share experience. You can get any Spa treatment you desire here and you won't have to break the bank for it. The procedures are on the most competitive prices in London. Don't hesitate because of the students, I can assure you that most of the people that study here, work more professionally and have more knowledge that the ones at your local salon. Which is great is that you can give tips, recommendations and tell the person that is treating you, how would you like to be treated or what would you like to change. You can basically instruct the students and you'll also be helping them in their future career. I graduated the Advanced Make-up Design, but like I said, you can get any beauty treatment here, not just Make-up. From nail care, pedicure, beauty therapy, massages, facial care and all of these of affordable prices.

Fabulous cut for dirt cheap. Instructors were very involved, the student listened to my wishes and…read moredid a very thorough job.

My daughter went to the Accademy in Greek street. She came home in tears…read more She has curly mixed race (African/Asian hair). I asked before making the appointment if they could do this style of hair was told yes they do. I was told to just make sure that this was mentioned at the time of the appointment which was done. The haircut is beyond bad and the blowdry is beyond words. No product used, no consideration of the type of hair she has. IF YOU CAN NOT DO THIS TYPE OF HAIR BE HONEST. EVEN UPON SEEING THE HAIR YOU CAN BE HONEST AND DECLINE THE APPOINTMENT. THE HONESTY WOULD HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED AND UNDERSTOOD. My daughter is not the most confidient young lady so she was looking forward to a good hair cut after many bad experiences. She came home in tears and locked herself in the bathroom. When she did let me in I can see why. The tutor and the stylist should be ashamed of themselves. I would not reccomend this accademy to anyone with this type of hair even if they assure you they know how to deal with this type of hair.

The place is clean and professional, the staff were amazing treated me with kindness and made me…read morefeel like part of a family. The Academy was very fun learning environment, Teachers were great , helpful, kind ,knowledgeable and professional. definitely recommend to everyone. I had Mesotherapy course with Becky at East London Beauty Academy and it was amazing. i cant recommended them enough.

I was very pleased overall with this experience. My facialist seemed well informed and was…read moreexperienced in her movements. My skin looked great after and she gave me some feedback on my skin etc. The one thing which made me think twice was about the locale and the atmosphere - deffo has a budget feel! But then the price reflects it, so overall would return!

The Ray Cochrane Beauty School outclasses every high-end spa I've ever been to…read more Their facials are AMAZING. They use Dermatologica products, and also offer the most relaxing paraffin facial as well as microcurrent and vacuum facials. Often they'll add on a microcurrent or other treatment gratis. (Their bacials are quite good, too!) Their leg and Brazilian waxes are the best I've ever had. Nearly painless and incredibly thorough, the girls even take care to tweeze any hairs that got missed. Their manicures and pedicures are thorough and the paint doesn't chip for weeks. If you're lucky, sometimes you'll get both the mani and pedi done at the same time, by two estheticians. The ultimate in pampering. I also tried out their G5 and vacuum suction body treatments for the little bit of cellulite on my thighs. It actually worked and I haven't had cellulite there ever since. Even though they're still training, the estheticians are super knowledgeable, incredibly nice. The prices are also unbeatable.

The prices here are unbeatable. If I lived in London I would be here every week…read more The girls are very nice. Going back again before I leave town.

Just finished nails course with Vinni and I think she is wonderful. Will be back to do more…read morecourses. Made me feel so comfortable and confident, highly recommended.

From the owner: NVQ, VTCT training in Beauty, Holistic therapy, Nails and Massage. Levels 1, 2 and 3. Also short…read morecourses/ fast track course, accredited to The Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists, ABT, BABTAC and Professional Beauty Direct. We are offering promotional rates for NVQ and VTCT courses starting in 2014 - please check out our website for full details!!

Disclaimer: unlike all the ladies who reviewed this place previously, I went there as a student…read more(short-course facial course) for 6 weeks - not for a treatment ! so I am not reviewing LCIBT as a beauty parlor but as an educational place. I have to say that the quality of teaching is impressive- I was trained by two ladies and both of them worked hard to make the hardest bone names and muscles sound easy and familiar ;-) * I have tried couple of other beauty colleges around London, and trainers there are just freaky ---but that's another issue I had a hand-on experience there (obviously on customers and on other students) which gave me confidence and pinpointed at areas I should work on to improve. so the two good points in this place are (1) quality of teachers, (2) the hand-on experience you get while you are training the not so appealing point was the price.. the course was over £600 which is why I can't afford to sign up for any other courses there- although I desperately want to try couple of other short courses. these prices might not apply if you are diploma student (talking with another student, I noticed she paid nearly nothing for 2-year comprehensive beauty course!)

I visited for an Indian Head Massage, on my budget pursuit to get rid of the pain, tension and…read moreaching in my neck and shoulders. Since ten minutes at Walk-In Backrub didn't seem to do the trick, a more lengthy student therapy was the next on my list of things to try. The salon is located in a posh listed building just south and east of Oxford Circus tube station on Upper Marlborough Street, and is rammed packed full of teenage learner estheticians dressed in white (the crowd of them at the reception counter where I needed to sign in was five deep, no joke) in the mani/pedi room at the front of the building. Once I did get signed in, I moved to the relative quiet of the waiting room, which offered quite comfortable plush settees. My trainee massage therapist came to get me after a while, offered me a cup of water that she already had in her hand (nice), and led me upstairs to the massage therapy room. The area where she seated me looked much like an A&E examination room, but I was somehow unbothered when I considered the £15 I paid for the service upfront. The massage began, and I felt as if the trainee was just touching me rather than massaging. I personally like a heavy massage hand. This said, I've never had an Indian Head Massage before, so I don't know if that's what it's supposed to be like. At one point when she leaned my head back to massage my neck and face, I was dreadfully uncomfortable, as I was slouched up with my neck craned backward simultaneously, so it was sort of the antithesis of a relaxing experience at that point. I left a little disenchanted by the entire experience, but I couldn't get upset when I only paid £15 for it. But then, later that night, I realized that the pain in my neck and shoulders had abated a bit. More so than it had when I had a woman manhandle me for a ten-minute rub elsewhere. I will probably go back for other treatments, because, well, it's so damn cheap. P.S. Book ahead.

There came a time when I had to face the unavoidable fact: I needed a haircut. I dropped in a few…read morelocal hairdressing places and inquired after the cost of a simple trim, nothing fancy, no shampoo, conditioner or hair drying services, please. Mostly I was quoted a price over £15, often over £20. I don't mean to sound like a skinflint, and for a good haircut I don't mind shelling out the money, but the exchange rate from US dollars to GBP means that a quick trim was looking pricey. The I found Alan D School of Hairdressing. Here's the deal - you ring them up using the number on their web page and ask for a student haircut. You'll be given a few time slots during the week, pick one, and make an appointment. Turn up on time to their studio just off Oxford Circus and let them know what you're there for. You'll be asked to sign a contact saying that you can't sue even if a terrible accident involving your hair and a pair off scissors happens, and then you hand over £3 (yes that's all!). You'll be led down stairs, handed over to a student hairdresser who with a teacher will consider what you want done, make some decisions, and then you're off to a shampooing/conditioning/ haircuting/blowdrying treatment. A word of caution: the students are not always experts and they have little investment in the result of your haircut, so while it's a good bargain, be cautious. The teachers are sometimes stretched thin and are not always watchful. A trim is fine but if you want to try something bold, look elsewhere. (Or be prepared just in case an accident happens).

Oh my goodness, I cannot quite belive the fantastic experience I had today. I booked in for a cut…read moreand colour and was expecting to come out maybe looking perhaps a bit off what I was hoping for but they by far exceeded my expectations. You have to be prepared for a no frills environment but the price you pay by far makes up for the slightly shabby interior. I had my hair bleached, a toning colour put on and then a restyle hair cut all for £20. Yes £20 measly pounds. OK it took 2.5hours but that's about how long it normally takes, you don't get offered a drink so maybe take your own if that worries you but I swear to God I've got the best haircut I've had for a very very long time. My other top tip is tip. There's no way to know its acceptable other than by trying but considering they saved me about £60 it was worth tipping more than average. Will update my profile pic with my new white blonde crop asap.

Bodyology Massage School really was a pleasure to attend over the weekend when learning Hot Stone…read moretechniques. Dror is a wonderful, warm, energetic, suportive and knowledgeable tutor who I truly believe has changed my life direction. He has helped with posture, techniques needed and provided a weekend of blissful learning- a really good way of taking in techniques and knowledge! If you want to learn any techniques, this is the course you need to go on! Steve Barnes, http://www.sbtherapy.co.uk

From the owner: Students choose us because we are experienced and passionate about teaching massage courses. Our…read moremassage courses are accredited by the Massage Training Institute and comply with the National Occupational Standards and the General Council for Massage Therapy. We use interactive and fun teaching methods such as muscle painting to improves our students' knowledge while keeping learning fun. Bodyology based its program on individual familiarity and support to each student during their massage training, starting from our pre-course advisory meeting, through individual tutoring and working in small groups. Our students' career success is ours.