London's Best Day Spas

Elemis Day Spa
2-3 Lancashire Court, London W1S 1EX
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Tube stations: Bond Street, Oxford Circus
020 8909 5060
http://www.elemis.com, elemisdayspa@elemis.com

The scene: Tucked into a trendy little cobblestoned courtyard alongside the Versace boutique and trendy bar and restaurant Hush, this day spa prides itself on providing a sensory experience for customers and exotic 'rituals' from places like Morocco, Thailand, India and Polynesia. The effect is an unusual East-meets-West vibe. The waiting room has a Western chic-ness with contemporary furniture and a stock of gorgeous coffee table books. Meanwhile, therapists wear black, Eastern-tailored uniforms and pad around in bare feet. Speciality treatment rooms include the Moroccan Moorish Suite with the heated Rasul room and the Balinese Suite with its slipper bath (pictured above).

Star treatments
The exotic rituals prove the most tempting: the Balinese Boreh Hot Spice Therapy uses clove, ginger, pepper and nutmeg to ease aches; the Japanese Silk Booster Facial combats the signs of aging with silk protein; and the Hawaiian Wave Four Hands Massage...well, do I really need to explain the appeal of that one? I had the Nurturing Massage for Mother-to-Be (£90 for 1 hour 15 mins). The therapist helped me lower myself into a low, sculpted beanbag and gently stroked my arms, legs and back while I lay first on one side then the other. My back thanked her for days afterwards.

The cost
The prices are as upscale as the location, so bring your credit card. Treatments start at £70.

Classic Spas

The Sanctuary
12 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DH
Neighborhood: Covent Garden
Tube stations: Covent Garden, Leicester Square 0870 770 3350
www.thesanctuary.co.uk

The scene
The Sanctuary is the grande dame of London spas: classic and storied, if looking a little Miss Havisham around the edges, despite a recent renovation. Still, I felt like I'd stumbled into a glorious combination of sorority and harem. Women wander around in robes and swimsuits; snooze and read in the Koi Carp lounge (beside a large pool of the Japanese fish); and blithely go from treatment rooms to sauna, swimming pools, restaurant and back again. I had a relaxing half-day that included a swim, lunch in the revamped restaurant, a heavenly foot treatment, a nap, another paddle round the pool and finally some tea and cake in the new upstairs lounge. The best way to enjoy the spa is to go with a friend or three, book a half-day or day pass and slot in your favourite treatments. Don't forget to bring flip-flops; the spa doesn't supply any.

Star treatments
The swing above the Atrium Pool practically has mythological status. While it's too close to the water for energetic to-ing and fro-ing, women of all ages have a go on it. My Marma Foot Treatment (£28) lasted only half an hour but was the most relaxing and luxurious I've had in recent memory. And a friend loved her Hot Sugar Body Polish (£49).

The cost
An evening pass for the spa facilities is £40; a full-day pass starts at £60. Multi-day passes are available. Treatments start from £25.