London's Best Day Spas

Champneys Piccadilly
21A Piccadilly, London W1V 0BH
Neighbourhood: West End
Tube station: Piccadilly Circus
Tel: 020 7255 8000, 08703 300 300
http://www.champneys.com

The scene
Behind a discreet wooden door on London's hectic Piccadilly thoroughfare, Champney's entrance hall welcomes visitors in grandiose style - all deep reds and creams, adorned with fake Grecian sculptures. The spa itself is located in the basement and in the dimly-lit, narrow corridors, it's easy to lose your bearings at first. Once inside, you find a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, mixed spa pool, and ladies' sauna and steam room, complete with cold plunge pool and loungers. The piece de resistance is the ornate Grecian swimming pool. During the weekend, clients are a mixture of hotel guests and nouveau riche out for a day of pampering. During the week, the club caters more to corporate guests.

Services
People come here for an array of treatments; product lines include Carita, Clarins, Decléor and Elemis. I had the Decléor prescription facial (55 minutes for £49) and a 25-minute manicure (£22), both of which were superb. One of the best things about the well-designed changing rooms is the limitless supply of robes and towels - very handy when you're popping in and out of the pool or sauna. If you're feeling peckish, the attached restaurant serves reasonably priced hot and cold snacks all day.

The cost
Use of Champney's Piccadilly facilities is free for guests of the Meridian Hotel. Otherwise, prices vary for access and treatments. You'll also need a pound coin for the locker room, which is refundable.

Budget

Ironmonger Row Baths
Ironmonger Row, London EC1V 3QF
Neighbourhood: East Central
Tube stations: Old Street, Angel, Barbican
020 7253 4011
www.aquaterra.org

The scene
The baths, housed in a grand 1930s building, take you back to an old-worlde atmosphere of community and fraternity. Mothers come to escape their families for a few hours, and senior citizen socialise in the laundry rooms. Low lighting and dark wood create a quiet and relaxed mood in the changing and rest areas, and the baths themselves are a tranquil and refreshing experience. Although there are plenty of regulars, newcomers are welcomed, and eager staff will assist you in the Turkish Baths downstairs if you're not sure of what to do. You can take the baths with or without a bathing suit, but do bring a towel. The facilities, which are clean and safe throughout, are run by a charity dedicated to improving leisure in the area, and as a result represent great value.

Star treatments
The crown jewel of the facility is its modern 30.5-metre pool. Start off here for some exercise, then go on to the steam room (you can request to have the temperature adjusted) for about 10 minutes. From there, you have a choice of three hot rooms to bring your body temperature down before taking a splash in the icy plunge pool. There are marble slabs available for massage and body scrubbing, which you can book before your visit or upon your arrival from one of the independent, licensed therapists who operate in the Baths. Finish off on a bed and have a snooze if you wish, and repeat the process as often as you like. A normal visit lasts two to three hours.

The cost
Prices are up to £10 for a session, depending on the time of day and include a swim when the pool is available. An additional refundable deposit may be required for towels plus a coin or two for the lockers. Massage and body scrubs are extra but affordable, costing from £5 to £50.

Alternative

Hydrohealing, London Hydrohealing
216a Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill
London W11 1NR
020 7727 2570
info@hydrohealing.com
www.hydrohealing.com

This Notting Hill-based spa, developed by two pharmacists, eschews beauty services for treatments organized around a water theme - water cellulite massage, colonic irrigation, flotation therapy and more. Find out how iVillage rated it.

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