What a wonderful, relaxing place…read more Aman is fairly new and located two levels below ground at the prestigious Connaught Hotel in Mayfair. A sister to the spa at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, Aman is less trendy and more focused on deep relaxation. The whole place is low-lit with candle light and Asian-inspired touches. I've received several treatments since arriving at the hotel last week and I have to say, I am impressed. Relaxation does not comes easy to me yet halfway through my facial/massage today I found myself almost drifting to sleep. Then, of course impressed by my own ability to be lulled into sleep, I bolted awake again. My facialist/masseuse was wonderful and helpful. I would absolutely come back here. If not for a treatment, then to lounge by the waterfall pool or sit in the starry steam room. Update: Still love the spa. However, minus one point for not offering necessary amenities in the locker rooms. Lesser establishments still have combs, dry deodorant and razors.

The Thai combo massage by Bour was 10/10 top massage I've ever gotten (and I get one a week so I…read morewould know). This will be my new go-to spot for massages hands down. The ambiance is calm and the music they had in the back while getting a massage was so relaxing and put me right to sleep. They give you some yummy digestive tea after which comes straight from Thailand. The staff is so sweet and prices are so beyond reasonable! Will definitely be back!!!

This place has been there for a long time so we assumed it must be really good. It was very clean…read moreand the hostess was very nice. We received water before and complementary tea and cookies after so that was very nice as well. We had paid for 90 minute massage and didn't end up with one. It was more like 75 minutes. After we said something about that, they tried to tell us that they started earlier, but since I was looking at my watch, which I always do, I said that was not possible. So they gave us a 10% discount which was satisfactory. We went for a couples massage after traveling for a bit thinking we would like to destress on our holiday. I'd say it was a good experience, not great. We'd probably go to a different massage place next time.

They walk you downstairs into a crowded changing room with multiple other people the steam room was…read moresmelly and I could only last 5 minutes in. Next they layed us on hard marble slabs for the massage which hurt with our bikini on. The staff was nice. The exfoliating was nice. Then we payed for towels and they handed us the thinnest sheets and there were men walking around outside the shower while I was rinsing off. It ended with tea that was too hot to drink even after 10 minutes and the inscents were so strong it gave me and my sister the biggest headache. Staff was nice but lacked giving direction or helping make this a relaxing and calming experience. I do not recommend.

This was nice, but I did not come away tingling and skin glowing as I did from a Turkish Hammam in…read moreIstanbul. There they really spend a long time cleaning and scrubbing you, so that you feel squeaky clean, relaxed and glowing! This was a whole different experience. I was shown into a tiny changing room with lockers. There really is no room to move when there were only three people in the room, that is how tiny it was. Opposite the changing room is the steam room, which I was told I would spend 15 minutes in, but it seemed a lot longer, that I thought I had been forgotten and I poked my head out to be told, another 5 minutes. Also the room starts to cool down as the steam/heat would stop and start. It was nice when it was hot and there was a nice eucalyptus smell. But it was not a relaxing experience as you can hear people talking outside. After the steam room, I was taken into another room with a large stone table which I was asked to lie down on. This is fine until you have to turn around and lie face down, as it is quite uncomfortable having to lie on my forehead on stone! The scrubbing and soaping was lovely though and when they throw a lather of honey over you, you feel like you are floating on air and the scent is lovely. After the washing, light massage and rinsing, they then cover you with mud and leave you to lie there for a while. The whole procedure seems to finish in no time, when you are shown still covered in mud to the shower room, you walk through the corridor that also leads to the steam room and changing room, so not very private if there are other customers. You then have to wash and shower yourself to get rid of the mud. After trying to dry myself and my hair in an overcrowded changing room, I went back out to the seating area, where I was offered a glass of water. This room is very cosy and with subdue lighting and there is a TV on, but I did not take much notice of it as I was sat with my back to it. All in all, it was nice but I had better.

Banya No.1 - Hoxton was the perfect way to end the hardest 2-weeks in my career. I splurged and…read morewent gold, including a face mud mask, parenie ("platza"), 25-minute masssage, and tea. I also had a Czech beer and delicious hot borscht with rye bread. The facilities were limited: 1 sauna, 1 cold plunge, but it was my favorite kind of Russian bath house: community-oriented and no-nonsense. The service were aggressive and quick, I happened to go on "nen's night" and the "aufguss" aroma was beer lol (it was great). IT wasn't too busy, the other bros were sweet, and the staff nailed it. This isn't a typical spa, you won't get a long massage, candlelight, or a variety of steam rooms and saunas, but if you're down - you'll have a great time.

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

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.

I had this wonderful opportunity to treat my girlfriend to a spa half day at Spa Verta. We went to…read morethe Crowne Plaza in Battersea were welcomed by the staff there immediately as they were expecting us. The Hotel itself was very well kept, stylish and understated. Battersea and the location itself is a little out of the way but nonetheless a nice area. We went into the spa and knew we both had seperate treatment times, both receving a 55 minute full body massage. The massage itself was great, very thorough and with the choice for the right amount of pressure. I certainly feel younger and spritely as I write this the day after. How long that'll last who knows. The spa facilities were good for both Male & Females. Its fairly small but they feed people through at different times, but never felt overly busy. They have a Sauna, Sanorium and Steam room, alongside footbaths, showers and a 10m Hydrotherapy pool.

Initially, I was all set to give this place only two stars. I was told to arrive about 15 minutes…read moreearly to fill out paperwork, which I did. Their first appointment is at noon, which was my appointment today, and when I arrived at about 11:45 the lights were mostly off. But they turned the lights on and gave me the paperwork to fill out. I was then told my massage therapist hadn't yet arrived. Hmmm, okay.... she arrived at about 12:10 and took me in right away - but I did get rather turned off by the lack of professionalism in terms of either offering me another massage therapist, keeping me updated on her whereabouts, making sure I wasn't in a rush to leave, etc. Marianne, my massage therapist, finally arrived and took me in immediately and filled with apologies. Anyway, once I was taken in, things started getting better. You leave your shoes by the waiting room, which is a nice touch - it adds to the spa like feel of the place, and minimises noise of people walking around. The rooms are lovely - well lit by candlelight, soft music playing, etc. I didn't love the fact that my body was covered with a smallish towel instead of a sheet, but once I got into the massage I forgot about it. I had booked a deep tissue massage and was a bit turned off by the light touch Marianne had at first, but she still somehow managed to get in there and loosen my muscles. At one point she pulled my shoulder blades out, which I've had done before and usually find myself gasping to not yell out, but with Marianne it just felt like a nice gentle stretch that left me feeling quite limber. I'm used to deep tissue massages being very strong and really working out my muscles, with me grunting from the pain (the good sort of pain, though!). That's not how Marianne did it - somehow, I received a deep tissue massage and managed to doze off! Afterwards she left me dozing in the room, and when I finally got up and got dressed, she met me in the waiting area with some tea and water, a stack of magazines, a blanket, and my choice of daybeds to curl up on and relax. I was told there was no rush for me to leave, and I truly felt that way. I'll be back.

I had my first massage here or as I like to call it "man-sage" last weekend. I am not a fan of…read moremassages, I generally find them pleasant but not something I'd pursue as some do. I generally find a good wet shave much nicer. I was cajoled into coming here and indeed I had originally suggested it to the cajoler due to reviews and proximity. Slightly worryingly the questionnaire described what one would normally describe as 'side effects' as a 'healing reaction'. It seems complimentary therapies are continuing to be good at rebranding. The place is certainly very clean and zen full of furniture from Lom Bok (I have just moved and studied furniture stores). The staff do a good job of putting you at ease. There was quiet music, soft smells and lots of places to meditate. The lady who looked after me was very good, very professional and and concentrated on my back where I get the most pain post swimming. The price wasn't bad at £65 for 45 mins and had a nice relaxing tea at the eng just outside a small garden. If my pain had gone or Id felt better this place would get five stars but Ive yet to find that place. I think I'll continue with my shaves but certainly I'd go back if I was gifted a session.

I'm a fan of unusual & weird places and I would says that the New Docklands Steam Bath is…read moredefinitely high up on this list. I've first heard about this place when I was telling a friend about my wonderful experience at the Turkish "Hamam" in Dalston. My friend listened attentively to my story and then told me about this place in the docklands...I started doing some research about it the very same evening. Let me preface the following paragraphs by saying that I really like going to saunas: I treasure the whole spa-like experience that goes along with it. Yet, I'm not a fan of the high-end spas that have popped up everywhere these days. I prefer the down-to-earth saunas where locals go and where you don't have to save up for months for a single visit. The New Docklands Steam Baths fit this bill perfectly: upon my arrival I already sensed that I had discovered something unique. The bath is located in a very much deprecated area; many Londoners probably wouldn't set foot here. Outside the place I saw many black cabs parked as well quite a few Mercedes. Once inside I found my way to the café-area where the register is. I paid £14 plus a £10 deposit for the locker key. I went to change and dressed up in my bathrobe and my pechtemal (a traditional Turkish towel used in hamams) and then I ventured down into the baths. And let me tell you: it's gritty down there: not in a dirty and disgusting way though, but because of the kind of characters you find there and the way they interact with each other. I first walked around and familiarized myself with the localities: two dry saunas, and various steam rooms with varying degrees of humidity. While doing my online-research about this place I came across an article, in which the author talks about the two main sauna traditions being nurtured here: The Russian tradition of 'Venik' where you first heat up in the sauna and then beat yourself (or each other) with oak or birch branches that have been dried first and then soaked in water. And then there's the Jewish bathing ritual of "Schmeissing", where the men take turns in scrubbing each other down from top-to-bottom. This is done where one guy lays down on a bench in the very hot & steamy room and the other guy lavers him up, using what looks like cleaning mop and it works like a giant shaving brush. The "Schmeissing" seems to be a very ritualized and cliquish undertaking. I was talking to a regular, who mentioned that these guys are a club and meet regularly. According to my source, there's even a pecking order and it's quite hard to become part of this club. The Russians or Eastern Europeans seem to be less organized, but during my visit they would all arrive in pairs or small groups. They would all wear these funny felt hats, which protect the hat from the intense heat. (Note to myself: I need to get one of these!) When I arrived I was reading about the possibility of booking a massage. My inquiry with some of the locals resulted in the following answer: "Yeah, talk to Simon, the heavily-tattooed guy who's relaxing in the steam room over there." Non sooner advised than done. I went up to Simon and he told me that he'd be happy to give me a massage in about half-an-hours time. Deal! I made the best use of the 30 minutes and went into the hottest sauna and beat myself up with oak branches... Turns out that Simon had actually grown up in Germany and so we chatted in German for some time. Then he suggested that I should just relax and let him do his work. It was really a very nice massage and I felt great afterwards. I paid £15 for a thirty-minutes massage. (60 minutes would be £25.) Aside from the Jewish and Russian men, there's a third group of men here: the can drivers (my guess). They mostly sat in the common area, chatting and washing themselves ritually. It's really a funny bunch that hangs out here...including myself! All in all, I find this to be a wonderful oasis of some old-world London. I'm so glad that a place like this still exists. I might not become a regular, but I will certainly be back!

I went with my boyfriend recently and we had a great time. The regulars were really welcoming and…read morefriendly, offering advice as to which of the steam rooms to use first etc.. We both left feeling relaxed and 'floaty' We're fans, and would definitely go back for another steam.