I had a wonderful spa day at Bannatyne's this week. I had a massage late in the afternoon, but a…read morespa day gives you access to all the facilities for the whole day. So, in the morning I went to the gym, which has a great range of equipment. It was nice and clean and bright, and I enjoyed my work out. The rest of the day I spent in the spa area, the pool was a good size, not really big enough for an exercise type swim, but fine for a relaxing one. The jacuzzi, steam room and sauna where all great, and the loungers round the pool were comfy. Before my massage I spent some time on the heated 'sunbeds' in the treatment area, they're very nice! They'll get your muscles nice and relaxed before your massage! I had the bamboo massage which was great. The therapist didn't check with me before hand so I almost ended up having a Swedish. The massage was great, nice and firm, and really relaxing. Therapist was always checking I was ok with the pressure which was good. Had an awesome day, will definitely be back.

Went to the women's only Latvian witch ceremony Sauna thing! Was epic ! Hope to see more of these…read moreexperiences on the schedule !

Very good experience of sauna and spa. Nice service and great food. Massage is great. Feel great.read more

Been twice. it's only a small place but it does what it says on the tin. the Sauna and steam room…read moreare goo they a a 4 item gym room. I've found the staff very friendly along with the cliental. it is not busy all the time and it's good to get your kit of and feel not intimidated.

Quiet when I visited, but truly naturist unlike Rio's. Some of the facilities could do with a…read morelittle TLC - e.g. one of the two showers broken. Small exercise area, sauna and steam room. Jacuzzi now a freezing plunge pool, no doubt to save money. Could do better.

Amazing I really had a great day afternoon tea was lovely. I actually really enjoyed going alone…read moreaswell. For your mental health maybe try to do things differently.

superb gym, very clean and nice staff ! Thank you Spencer for showing us around and motivating my…read moredad to join the gym soon (hopefully!)

Positive points 1- spacious and trendy interior…read more 2- good quality products (shampoos and hair colours) Negatives 1- pricy 2- staff who are mainly expats don't seem very experienced when it comes to hair colour in case you need to change your hair colour this is definitely not the place to go to But if you prefer to go for similar look, colour over and over again then you are safe there because they don't take risks and they don't have creativity Will still go to there because I am after hair colours that are primarily natural

I have come to this salon many times, and have brought my cousin here as well. I feel pampered and…read moreappreciated in this place, the staff is lovely, accommodating and always cheery. It's an upscale clientele here but there is nothing snobby about the place. Just attentive and kind. I like natural looking colour and Aveda is known for that. I have a custom mix created for me in LA with my longtime Aveda hairdresser there, and they perfectly match it here. Can tweak the colour with toner. These people are experts in colour. Jessica is a remarkable talent in blow drying. The best. I'm a weekly regular.

The ladies are very welcoming, makes you feel at home. My…read morescrub etc was great, a bit on the rough side, but that's exactly what i wanted. The whole Turkish Bath vibes For £95 its not bad for the whole experience besides the massage . its basically an oil down, although i upgraded to a 1hr deep Tissue which i got 45 mins. Overall its worth a try. I will definitely go back. Not for the massage though.

In London visiting my daughter in college. From the states, and it's turning out that when we…read moretravel; or are together, the two of us like adventure-spa types of activities: true-to-culture, authentic, and when possible, available at a moments notice, and affordable. BINGO. Hamam was easy to get to, the woman on the phone was delightful and got us booked for two perfect services for each of us, sparing no detail, and we were in. We arrived, and don't be put off if you have to ring the bell - door's locked, and it might take a moment, but we had baths booked and scrub/massage, so we knew we were getting in, but we had no idea how cool and memorable this would be. You could tell there were regulars, happy looking women just in pants, sitting in twos in the steam, or around the common table, rinsing or awaiting scrub or foam; pre-massage. The women who work there are all speaking Turkish, economizing on the pleasantries, because, baby, they are really delivering the goods. Women are getting polished with Turkish coffee, lathered with foam delivered from some kind of oversized cheesecloth tube. It's dynamite. If you've opted for a massage, then a massage you shall get, in a private room in most cases, and very thoughtful, personalized, and leaving you with a very dreamy relaxed yet energized feeling. I had a burn on my hand that my therapist was so concerned about she made that the focus of her care, making lots of recommendations about how to treat it, and lots of extra effort. Anyway, it was a 5 star experience in an affordable, authentic, really sweet caring package. They care about what they do, and they do it I think every day of the week - broken into Mens days and Womens days -- I'd do it weekly if I lived in London, not gonna lie.

What a wonderful experience with Noriko! I had an 8 hour layover in London so I decided to take the…read moreHeathrow express into paddington. My skin has been super dry and dull lately, plus I got a terrible night of sleep on the plane, so I was beyond glad Chi Yu was able to take me as a walk in. Noriko was so sweet and friendly, as was the lady who checked me in at the front (I didn't get her name). The facility is clean and cozy, offering tea or water when you arrive. The facial with products includes eminence products which all smelled and felt incredible. They also specialize in Japanese Cosmo Lifting Massages and Noriko integrated some of that into my facial, which was great and something new for me. The facial was so relaxing I'm pretty sure I fell asleep. I'll definitely make this my spot whenever I'm in London!

Thanks Thank you, it was a great job…read more Thank you, it was a great job Thank you, it was a great job

expectations are everything. we were looking for something more authentic than "5-star" and we…read morefound it here. This is exactly as you might find in Morocco - a hole in the wall that leads you down to another world...don't come if you're in a hurry. Let them take care of you, and you will be glowing when you leave. I will be back!

We bought the couples package on a whim on a Monday morning. It was a fantastic experience, as good…read moreas what I have had in Morocco and better than Barcelona. They definitely adhere to the idea of hospitality, but for the people that are cranky in reviews about their attitude, realise that this is not some smarmy Soho Salon with obsequious twits checking you in. The delightful manager upstairs from Tunisia and the amazing therapist downstairs from Morocco for both delightful talented friendly and helpful. In order to have an optimum experience, you might call and ask specifically when a slow time would be for you to come in, so that you can be unhurried and laze your way through the experience. On the flip side, if you need to be in and out, be clear about that. We heard that the weekends are crazy, so if you can do a weekday that may be best.

I go to this wonderful venue only once per month but have such a relaxing time I hope to increase…read moremy attendances. I like the steam room, good for my Asthma, I like all the pools, especially the one with the huge fish ready to impale someone (see picture) !! I chat to anyone who will chat back.... I spend three or four sessions in the steam room during the day, topping up my liquids with mango juice or water. I lie flat out in the main pool area and catch up on the news in the dailiies and monthlies available. At 1 pm I go for for lunch, usually the buffet which is superb. Then I have a kip and then after a shower I go back into the steam room for one last time. I go there early morning and leave about 4 pm, feeling good.

Sometimes I take for granted how relaxing this place really is, that is, until I walk outside and…read moreforget where we've left the car. That's partially to do with me going a bit nuts, but I always leave feeling rested, much lighter and incredibly happy. You don't get ultra modern neon-lit eternity pools, but a place where normal people (the ones that appreciate the nice environment that's been created there) can totally chill out. With a separate changing area for members and non-members, there's always a lot of space, secure lockers and hot showers on the way in. Once you get inside robes and sandals are encouraged as everything is quite spread out. My highlights include the giant tepidarium, containing 33 ceramic loungers heated to approx. 35 degrees to soothe the entire body. Each lounger has its own head phone socket, so you can bring your headphones and relax to your choice of music. There's also two large pool, a 49 seat spa pool with massage jets, a hydrotherapy flotation tank (with over 1.5 tonnes of salt in!) and an aromatherapy steam room. Additional things to consider are a fantastic cafe-style restaurant, where you can lounge about and eat. They do the best salads I've had anywhere outside of my home (I just like fresh ingredients and knowing what's gone into something). And the beauty salon does an exclusive range of body butters/scrubs/bath foams in ever changing varieties. I fell in love with the raspberry milkshake 'flavour' a few years ago, and I haven't been disappointed since. My last purchase was angel cake bath melt (a thick bubbling foam) and hot butter fudge shower gel. Oh my. There are three basic ways to go. One, buy a special experience pass (from £65 for entrance, a treatment and 'light supper', upwards). Second, a spa membership ranging from £9 a month for 3 visits a year up to £30 a month for 12 visits, all on top of a £99 joining fee. Or, a combined membership with the MASSIVE Pulse 8 gym across the way (literally a one minute from the spa). It's about £500 (sheesh) joining fee, then £80ish pounds for full come-any-time-you-like membership to gym and spa, then gets less as you strip away visiting at certain parts of the day. Just like most gyms and spas really. Either way, we joined at Christmas time a few years ago. It was on a special offer with no joining fee and one visit per month for £15. Bargain! It pops up at the same each year and often during Summer. I'd recommend holding out for that, because it's SO worth it.

I had never heard of The Cove Spa before, but after being given a voucher for my birthday, I…read moredecided to book myself in for a luxury pedicure. On entering the building, I was a little surprised. Most of the spas that I've been to in England have been bright, modern places that border on sterility, and the name makes me think of Maine or Cape Cod: nautical decor and seashells and lots of light and airy spaces. Instead, The Cove is a colourful, Indian-inspired place that is reminiscent of somewhere you might visit in Goa or Kerala. Peaceful Eastern music plays throughout the building, Asian artefacts and colour schemes dominate, and the overall effect is tranquil, comforting and welcoming. Rather than the reclining pedicure chairs with attached basins that I'm accustomed to, at The Cove you're seated on a banquette piled with cushions while you soak your feet in a wooden tub. It's very low-key and natural-feeling, unlike anything I've ever had done in England, and it made me feel sort of like I was on holiday. However, don't mistake low-key for low-quality - staff are well-trained and talented. Kayleigh, my pedicurist, described herself as "a perfectionist" and it shows in the job she did. My cuticles were perfectly trimmed, my nails were shaped well (or as well as they can be - years of ballet have left the toenails growing quite strangely), and everything was massaged, buffed and polished. The only bit we had some trouble with was the calluses on my heels - the combination of going barefoot year-round, and neglecting my foot care for the last 18 months, has left me with extremely thick skin that will probably require chemical peels to treat. However, my heels were considerably softer and smoother after my visit here than they've been in months. Overall I would say it's one of the best pedicures I've ever had. In addition to doing superb work, Kayleigh was both friendly and professional. She was happy to talk when I felt like it, but wasn't exceedingly chatty, which I appreciate more than I can state. As an introvert with a hectic lifestyle, I turn to spas and salons for relaxation. More often than not, I like peace and quiet when receiving a beauty treatment or massage, as it's one of the few times I actually sit down and do nothing. Until about five years ago, this peace and quiet was easy to find, but in recent years beauty therapists seem to have become much chattier, and I find the constant small talk overwhelming. Happily, I didn't have that issue at The Cove, and I left feeling chilled and rejuvenated. Five days after my treatment, I have no noticeable chips or other damage to the polish, which I'm quite happy about. Despite choosing to come here because I had a voucher, I actually forgot to use it, so I'll probably come back soon for a back massage. At £44, the luxury pedicure isn't cheap (particularly to a half-American girl used to US prices!), but it's not considerably more than other salons in St Albans. In addition, each month the spa runs a different offer, and this month (June 2015) the offer was on pedicures - buy four get one free, or buy six get two free, which saves quite a lot of money if you get your nails done regularly. Overall, I was very happy with my experience at The Cove Spa, and would absolutely return. Updated 17/12/2015 - On my second trip here, I'm still very happy with everything. Patricia is wonderful, and I have another lovely pedicure. I really must come and try the other services!

From the owner: The Cove Spa provides a vast range of Rituals & Packages, Holistic Therapies, Beauty and Cosmetic…read moreTreatments using world class products from the IIAA - International Institution of Anti Aging including ENVIRON, Jane Iredale and Advance Nutrition Programme in addition to CoolHerbals' products. We are known as a results driven skincare clinic, performing a number of anti-aging treatments inhouse.