Sport & Fitness

Agua at the Sanderson
A labyrinth of 40-foot white curtains, this is London’s most space-age spa. Treatments are carried out in cubicles, separated by drapes and there are private cocoon-like booths with comfy beds and TVs. The Eve Lom facial and Hot Stone Massage are as popular as ever, but it’s the new Thai Yoga Massage, performed by expert Tom Suwihan, that is really worth booking in for. Suwihan delivers an ultra-intense treatment, using every ounce of his energy to knead out knots and pull you into all sorts of heavenly yogic stretches.
Sanderson Hotel, 50 Berners St, W1 (7300 1414/www.sandersonlondon.com). Oxford Circus tube. 9am-9pm daily.

Beauty Works West
Secreted in a quiet mews behind Westbourne Grove, this two-floored neighbourhood beauty spot serves up top treatments, including facials devised by New York facialist Ling Chan. The pedicures, carried out in comfy massage chairs, are particularly good – there’s an indulgent option that includes hot paraffin wax.
Beauty Works West, 8-9 Lambton Place, W11 (7221 2248/www.beautyworkswest.com). Notting Hill Gate tube. 9.30am-8.30pm Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm Sat, Sun. Feature continues

The Berkeley Spa
This is London’s most glamorous spa, thanks mainly to the open-top swimming pool overlooking Hyde Park. The treatments are fantastic too. A London exclusive, the Neom ‘Top to Toe Organic Indulgence’ is just that. Taking a blissful 2 hours 15 mins, you’ll be thoroughly buffed and polished with a scrub containing sapphires (yes, really), after which follows a long, all-over massage incorporating invigorating yoga-like stretches and ending in a soothing head massage.
The Berkeley Spa, The Berkeley hotel, Wilton Place, SW1 (7235 6000/www.theberkeley.co.uk). Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge tube. 6.30am-10pm Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm Sat, Sun.

Bliss London
This dreamy South Kensington day spa has been keeping well-heeled west Londoners buffed and polished since it opened in 2001. Everything here is focused on results and the pedicures are still some of the best we’ve ever experienced (they last ages).
Bliss London, 60 Sloane Avenue, SW3 (7590 6146/www.blisslondon.co.uk). Sloane Square tube. 9.30am-8pm Mon-Fri, 12.30-8pm alternate Wed, 9.30am-6pm Sat, noon-6pm Sun.

Elemis Day Spa
The elegantly ethnic-style treatment rooms are the ideal setting for escaping the stress of central London. Massages and facials are what Elemis does best and the day spa has one tailored to most requirements – our favourite is still the Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial.
Elemis Day Spa, 2-3 Lancashire Court, W1 (7499 4995/www.elemis.com). Bond St tube. 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun.

Gentlemen’s Tonic
MEN
The exclusive members club atmosphere at Gentlemen’s Tonic attracts suited execs who perch on leather banquettes, bloody Mary in hand (the spa’s trademark tipple), waiting patiently for their manicure, massage or eyebrow reshape. Upstairs, stone-tiled booths house the requisite barbers' chairs and plasma screens, but massages, facials and waxes are performed in appropriately clinical-looking treatment rooms in the basement. The new branch in Selfridges has similar facilities.
Gentlemen’s Tonic, 31a Bruton Place, W1 (7297 4343/www.gentlemenstonic.com). Green Park tube. 10am-7pm Mon, Fri; 10am-8pm Tue, Wed; 10am-9pm Thur; 10am-6pm Sat. Branch: Selfridges, Oxford St, W1 (7318 3709). 9.30am-8pm Mon-Thur; 9.30am-9pm Fri, Sat; 11.30am-6pm Sun.

Lounging around at Spa Illuminata

Jurlique
This frills-free Chiswick day spa offers various pampering packages – including the Touch of Heaven, £79.50. This treatment combines a stress-relieving facial with a blissful full-body aromatherapy massage (or deep-tissue if you prefer) with delicious-smelling lemon oil to stimulate the lymph and aid detoxification. All treatments use Jurlique’s organic skin products.
Jurlique Health and Wellness Spa, 300-302 Chiswick High Rd, W4 (8995 2293/www.apotheke20-20.co.uk). Turnham Green tube. 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-6pm Sat, 10am-6pm Sun.

May Fair Spa
This swish Eastern-themed spa in the heart of Mayfair is loved for its stunning wet room and Zen-like decor featuring serene statues. This summer the spa has introduced natural treatments, including the Hot Cinnamon Stone Massage, and Summer Strawberry Facial.
May Fair Spa, Radisson Edwardian May Fair Hotel, Stratton St, W1 (7915 2826/www.mayfairspa.com). Green Park tube. 9am-9pm Mon-Thur, 9am-8pm Fri-Sun.

Pacifica Day Spa
This west London beauty spot feels more like a traditional neighbourhood salon than a proper spa. Nevertheless, the massages – which include Swedish, deep-tissue and lymph drainage – are excellent and very reasonably priced. The deep-tissue massage is particularly good.
Pacifica Day Spa, 1 Courtnell St, W2 (7243 1718/www.pacificadayspa.co.uk). Notting Hill Gate tube. 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, Sun.

The Porchester Spa
One of the few ‘proper’ spas in London, the Porchester Spa has been has been serving west Londoners since it opened in 1929. Back then it was known as the Turkish and Russian Vapour Baths. Since a 2006 refurb it’s benefited from a new ventilation system, re-tiled steam room and bigger sauna, but don’t expect the fluffy-white towel and ambient-music experience. People come here for no-nonsense treatments at affordable prices, including wraps, facials and massages.
The Porchester Spa, The Porchester Centre, Queensway, W1 (7792 3980). Bayswater tube. Women only 10am-8pm Tue, Thur, Fri, Sun 10am-4pm; men only 10am-10pm Wed, Sat; mixed couples 4-10pm Sun.

Spa at Browns Hotel
This elegant Forte-owned Mayfair hotel, renovated to chic perfection a couple of years back, provides a thoroughly de-stressing experience. We love the seasonally changing signature pedicures which include a coordinated cocktail (ingenious idea!), Raspberry and Chocolate Radiance.
Spa at Browns, Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle St, W1 (020 7518 4009/www.brownshotel.com). Green Park tube. Open daily 9.30am-8pm.

Spa at Chancery Court
Beneath the impressive Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in Holborn lies this haven of urban calm and tranquillity, decked out in dark wood, limestone and aromatic candles. More than 40 treatments are offered. Luxury manicures and pedicures are available in a cosy, fragrant room to the right of the reception area (ask for spa manager, Jarmilla, if you want the very best.)
Spa at Chancery Court, 252 High Holborn, WC1 (7829 7058/www.spachancerycourt.co.uk). Holborn tube. 8am-9pm daily.

Spa Illuminata's grand steam room

Spa Illuminata
The entrance may be more Rodeo Drive than zen garden – a large shop, then a leopardskin chair next to a lion’s-mouth fountain on which to fill out forms – but this Mayfair spa delivers one of the best massages we have experienced. ‘It’s Swedish aromatherapy with a bit of shiatsu thrown in,’ the therapist told us on a recent visit, before smothering us in balm and digging out every recalcitrant knot with the vigour you always ask for but rarely get. Even palms and toes are attended to.
Spa Illuminata, 63 South Audley St, W1 (7499 7777/www.spailluminata.com). Hyde Park corner tube. 10am-6pm Mon, 10am-7pm Tue, Wed, 10am-9pm Thur, 10am-7pm Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, Sun.

Spa London
Billed as London’s affordable spa, Spa London offers luxury on a shoestring. The thermal experience includes hammam, plunge pool and monsoon showers. Signature treatment: Gym and Tonic designed for the post-workout body.
Spa London, York Hall Leisure Centre, Old Ford Rd, E2 (8709 5845/www.spa-london.org). Bethnal Green tube/rail. 11am-9.30pm Mon, 10am-9.30pm Tue-Fri, 9am-7.30pm Sat, Sun.

Spa at Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Oriental lives up to its reputation as one of London’s most luxurious spas. There’s a crystal steam room, sanarium and vitality pool, and mixed and separate areas for men and women. Arranged over three levels, the dark wood interior, highlighted with oriental blooms, water features and stone sculptures, is impressive. Clients are encouraged to book time rather than specific treatments to get a perfect bespoke treatment. The shiatsu-inspired ginger ritual, using a finger pressure technique to the body’s shiatsu points is the spa’s signature treatment.
Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1 (7838 9888/www.mandarinoriental.com). Knightsbridge tube. 7am-10pm daily.

Spa InterContinental
This newish hotel spa offers myriad decadent, ultra-relaxing therapies in plush, modern surroundings. The Elemis Cooling Hot Stone Body Facial features a rubdown with a mercifully unprickly cactus brush, some warm volcanic stones, a zingy cooling gel and some juniper and lemon aromatherapy oils (combinations depend on whether you want to relax, detox or recharge).
Spa Intercontinental, First floor, 1 Hamilton Place, W1 (7318 8691/www.spaintercontinental.com). Hyde Park Corner tube. 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun.

The Refinery
MEN
One of the capital’s first luxury men’s spas, The Refinery has retained its busy, upbeat feel, underpinned with a range of simply packaged grooming products packed with essential oils. The Refinery is also one of the few men’s spas that bravely tackles intimate hair removal, cleverly renaming each waxable body part with a planet (Mars, Saturn, etc) to avoid embarrassment when booking. Curiously, Uranus isn’t one of them.
The Refinery, 60 Brook St, W1 (7409 2001/www.the-refinery.com). Bond St tube. 10am-7pm Mon, Tue; 10am-9pm Wed-Fri; 9am-6pm Sat; 11am-5pm Sun.

The Sanctuary
What it lacks in luxury, The Sanctuary makes up for in size and value. In the middle of Covent Garden, it features two pools (there’s still a 1980s Timotei advert-style swing over one of them). Treatments include everything from a good old aromatherapy massage to body wraps, hot stone therapy, reflexology as well as manicures and pedicures.
The Sanctuary, 12 Floral St, WC2 (0870 063 0300/www.thesanctuary.co.uk) Covent Garden tube. 9.30am-6pm Mon, Tue; 9.30am-10pm Wed-Fri; 9.30am-8pm Sat, Sun.

Urban Retreat
By far one of the best things about Harrods is the mammoth 20,000sq ft super-salon up on the fifth floor. At its recently opened Medispa, Renew Medica, we can highly recommend the Blueberry Smoothie (dead skin exfoliant). An intensive facial which invigorates the skin with the use of gentle acid and blueberry extracts, it left our tester looking all glowy and rather impressively less lined (for a couple of days at least).
Urban Retreat, Fifth floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Rd, SW1 (7893 8333/www.harrods.com). Knightsbridge tube. 10am-8pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun.

The comforts of Wholeman Spa

Wholeman Spa
MEN
Wholeman’s compact two-floored men’s emporium is packed with manly elixirs, cult fragrances and own-brand supplements to crank up your potency. With a herbal dispensary and naturopaths on call, Wholeman’s spa treatments are focused on holistic wellbeing rather than a slapdash cosmetic fix. We tried the appropriately named Real Time Out: more than an hour of intense massage, foot-rubbing and toe-tugging, and a brief facial to relax and revitalise.
Wholeman Spa, 67 New Bond St, W1 (7629 6659/www.wholeman.co.uk). Bond St tube. 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, 11am-5pm Sun.