I have to confess that I am not a big fan of the really large London hotels, I find them impersonal and characterless. Moreover I always get a little anxiety attack, that a lone female can only be there on business (and not the kind that requires smart suits and laptops) and so I scuttle through the foyer trying not to attract any attention.
The Mandarin Oriental, located opposite Harvey Nichols on Knightsbridge is such a hotel. It's best feature is the view from the back which overlooks Hyde Park, an oasis in the heart of the city.
I had images of a spa that maximised the potential of the park views and combined the close to nature and indulgent spa luxury that the French do so well. Instead, it was the standard underground/ oriental style afterthought with extortionate prices due to the Knightsbridge location.
When I arrived I was given a cleansing tea and a locker which contained towels and a robe. I had 40 minutes to enjoy the water experience which was really just a large jacuzzi with jets that rotated on a timer.
This Zen design is very calming, sensory stimulation is reduced (ie there's not much to look at), but the downside, when you are lurking in the same place for 40 minutes, is that you start to notice every little detail of wear and tear.
There were some nice touches like sewing, shaving and dental kits and any toiletries that might be required.
The treatments were lovely and the therapist was the perfect combination of friendly and kind, without feeling any requirement to chat about summer holidays in the 2 hour session. The full body massage was well executed and she instinctively identified areas where I am tense (around my shoulders and jaw line).
The facial was Aromatherapy Associates, I liked the interchange between temperatures and textures and my skin felt like it was glowing by the end. The relaxation room was particularly drab so I just drank my tea, ate a little fruit and then went back into the spa area, which was warmer and felt less like God's waiting room.
All in all, it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning on a cold, snowy day. But for anyone looking for a really special (expensive!) spa experience, I don't think that this would be top of their list.
I am not a great Spa goer however we stayed with friends in Newark last week-end and I was treated to a Spa Day at Eden Hall. It was fantastic the best I think I have experienced and very reasonable £75 per day including lunch. We had 2 treatments which were extra but not overpriced in my opinion. Would highly recommend if you are ever up North.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see any pics, I will keep an eye on your blog. The country places are often better as the staff are so pleased to work somewhere special. I am going to look up Newark on google maps, I am ashamed to say have have no idea which county it is in!
ReplyDeleteI think I've learned about pockets of UK that I otherwise would not have known. I've also just discovered that Hyde Park is within walking distance to Harvey Nicks. Yikes. I haven't been to a spa for years now. I've seen this hotel each time I make my mad dashes between Harrods and HN but never knew what it was called either.
ReplyDeleteHa! a dangerous discovery to make, although I tend to use those excursions as research rather than shopping! I now live near Bicester Village and that's a whole different story...
DeleteThanks for the info, interesting comments, I checked out prices and could have a few days in other places for the same money
ReplyDeleteYes I did think I could almost have had an annual gym membership here for one day there! But if you are in central London I guess they are all pretty similar in pricing.
DeleteYou look super-svelte in that photo! I'm not a big fan of Spas as I always find them a bit boring. I do love reflexology though, and always feel rejuvenated after paw massage.I too, would have expected the MO to have a more swish Spa!
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