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Tempus puts plush private members venue Lanesborough Club & Spa to the test
By Rachel Ingram | 23 January 2018 | Culture, Food & Drink
Known as ‘a lifestyle club for the modern Londoner’ The Lanesborough on Hyde Park Corner is the ultimate relaxing spa destination – but does it live up to the hype?
* The Lanesborough on Hyde Park Corner spa & restaurant
With one of the most prestigious postcodes in the city, The Lanesborough on Hyde Park Corner combines the exclusivity of Knightsbridge with the history of Mayfair. When the hotel opened its new health club and spa – a private member’s venue whose ‘on request’ membership price is as protected as its list of clients – it immediately gained glowing reviews. Everything about The Lanesborough Club & Spa has been carefully considered, from its pristine decor to the personalised service. Starting in the golden changing room, we discover an opulent aesthetic with glass chandeliers, lockers filled with fluffy slippers and robes, and one of the most effective steam rooms in London – just five minutes inside and your skin glistens as the toxins of the city seep out of your pores. There’s also a stunning mixed hydrotherapy pool and a relaxation area for before and after treatments. Take a seat on a comfy arm chair or day bed and enjoy fruit, nuts and snacks, washed down with cucumber water. Next to each seat, there’s a golden ‘service bell’ – press it and within 10 seconds a member of staff will be at your side. >>
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* The opulent ladies’ changing room
When it comes to the treatment menu, wellness reigns supreme. We opted for the Deep Tissue Potli – a therapeutic massage using hot stones, healing herbs and oils from organic British brand ila. The age-old technique of Potli is having a moment in the spa world right now as therapists realise its effectiveness in alleviating pain and promoting all- round wellness.The treatment begins with a consultation, during which therapists determine the source of your aches and pains. These are then worked out using a series of sweeping and targeted movements with the air of hot volcanic stones – known for reducing inflammation and joint stiffness – and heated herbal pouches, which rejuvenate and nourish strained muscles.
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Interestingly, the technique requires clients to be fully naked (bar a minimal covering to protect your modesty) as the therapist works the whole body from top to bottom, guiding energies to the right places. The result is a feeling of internal and external rebalance. After the treatment and a tea in the relaxation area, it was back to the golden changing rooms where vanity tables await laden with products, from ila cleansers to Schwarzkopf hairspray, and more – perfect if you’re heading out after your visit. If you’re not in a rush, check out the rest of the club, which features a restaurant where you can enjoy a healthy lunch and a well-equipped gym. So, does this golden gem on the corner of Hyde Park deserve its glistening reputation? We certianly believe so.
Read more in the latest issue of Tempus, available now
* Treat yourself to a Deep Tissue Potli in the relaxing treatment room