It’s been a long time in the making, but Claridge’s Spa finally opens today and, as you’d expect from London’s most glamorous hotel, it’s been well worth the wait. The sprawling subterranean space is exquisitely appointed, with a swimming pool, steam rooms, sauna and six treatment rooms, and – in true Claridge’s style – it will be home to some of the beauty and wellness industry’s leading names, including Josh Wood, Augstinus Bader, La-Eva and FaceGym. Here’s why the new Claridge’s Spa is the pinnacle of luxury.
If you’ve visited Claridge’s in the past few years, it’s likely you’ll have had absolutely no idea of the monumental work going on right below your feet. Since October 2015 (though the concept has been in place much longer than that), a building project of gargantuan proportions has been taking place beneath the gleaming Art Deco hotel.
The plan? To excavate five floors into the London clay, tunnelling down more than 30 metres beneath Mayfair’s pavements, to create a subterranean space that accommodates – amongst other things – the hotel’s first ever spa, which opens today to both hotel and outside guests. And what a spa it has turned out to be.
Situated three floors below ground level, the cavernous 7,000 square-foot space features a swimming pool, male and female steam rooms, a wet room complete with a hand-carved pink onyx stone bed, sauna and six treatment rooms. The Maybourne Hotel Group (who also own The Connaught and The Berkeley in the capital) tasked Andre Fu with the interior design, and the award-winning designer has drawn inspiration from the East, in particular traditional Japanese temples and the Zen gardens in Kyoto.
And so you have natural elements of limestone, wood and water throughout, employed by Fu to create a sense of calm serenity and make guests feel a million miles away from the bustle of W1 above. The flow of the softly-lit space is equally considered. A heated swimming pool takes centre stage, framed by a striking, multi-vaulted ceiling and stone columns, and lined with private cabanas where you can unwind pre- or post-treatment (all the 90-minute treatments include access to the pool).
The ensuite treatment rooms are no less impressive, their oak-panelling and pared back aesthetic providing a soothing environment for a treatment menu that draws on ancient Japanese healing rituals, restorative bodywork and the latest bio-innovation. Signature treatments include the Bamboo & Silk Ritual (£295 for 90 minutes) – an invigorating-nurturing combination of massage and facial – and the Body Detox & Sculpt (£280 for 75 minutes), a transformative sculpting treatment – or guests can go bespoke, inspired by the concept of omakase (‘leaving another to decide what’s best’).
This is Claridge’s and so it should come as no surprise that only the best wellness and beauty names have also been brought on board. Purpose-designed treatments by FaceGym – the first-ever workout studio for the face – include the signature Cryo Contour, Radio Frequency and Clean + Lift, but all with longer treatment times and additional stretches. Vitamin shots, cryo oxygen shots and hyaluronic acid roller application can be added too.
Luxury skincare brand Augustinus Bader brings The Method by Augustinus Bader to the spa, a series of bespoke professional treatments designed to amplify its proprietary TFC8®-powered technology. There are also body treatments by La-Eva, Louise Canham’s organic brand, which blends skincare with a holistic philosophy – think layers of fragrance, music and massage artfully combined to lift body and soul. Plus there’ll be an ever-evolving roster of visiting wellness gurus, including the much-in-demand nail artist Harriet Westmoreland (long celebrated for her modern take on the classic French manicure) and renowned acupuncturist Ross J. Barr, who specialises in women’s health.
But perhaps most exciting of all is the fact that Josh Wood will be taking up residency with Josh Wood at Claridge’s, his first home in Mayfair. The supercolourist and his dream team of stylists will offer appointment-only treatments spanning hair, nails and beauty, with colour and makeup available upon request. “This new space is not about the usual volume in a salon, but moreover about getting every strand right,” says Josh. “The best of the best, there’s nothing that’s too much to ask.”
This isn’t any spa. This is a space that’s been sprinkled with Claridge’s magic, a haven of wellness and tranquillity in the heart of Mayfair that sets the standard for hotel spas of the future. “We have created a spa here at Claridge’s where guests will find both holistic practices and results driven high-tech all under one roof,” concludes Maybourne Hotel Group’s Creative Director of Spa and Wellness Inge Theron. “Claridge’s has long been a temple of good living with a philosophy of enjoying life to the full, and so now, as well as pouring guests the perfect martini, we can also rejuvenate and restore with the perfect treatment, to strike that all important balance.”
Claridge’s Spa is open Monday to Sunday 8am-9pm. To book treatments call 0207 409 6565
claridges.co.uk
