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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
A must-visit if you’re after British charm at one of the city’s most exclusive private members’ fitness and health clubs, The Lanesborough’s spa is the definition of a haven, and it’s incredibly chic to boot. A visit is worth it for the inviting pool alone, but it’s also the only hotel in the world that you can book in for a multi-modality facial with renowned dermatologist and founder of Royal Fern, Timm Golueke, MD. In fact, you can get pretty much every beauty treatment you can shake a stick at here: injectables, manicures, reflexology, and massages included.
What’s the vibe?
A lifestyle club for London’s well-heeled, it offers 18,000 square feet of underground peace—a stone’s throw from Hyde Park. What you’ll get here is the spa day you’ve been searching for, where pretty much everything you can dream of is on offer. Maybe you’re a “laze by the pool with a book” type; maybe you’d prefer one of Ground’s muscle-melting massages; or perhaps it’s time to pay a visit to Dr. Galyna Selezneva, who offers restorative facials, lymphatic drainage treatments, regenerative injectables and exosomes, and more. Pick your fighter, as they say.
The history?
Not far from some of London’s must-see landmarks, including Wellington Arch on Hyde Park Corner, which was built to commemorate Britain’s victories over Napoleonic France, the stately building is steeped in history. Though it opened as a hotel in 1991, it was built in the Regency period. After a multimillion-pound redesign in 2015, the interiors now pay homage to the style of the period, with chintz-canopied beds and ornate mahogany furniture, but the spa tells a different aesthetic tale, with a modern, minimal feel. (Just as well: Those in the Regency period actually deemed bathing unhealthy!)
What should you try?
The Time Travel treatment is 90 minutes of (noninvasive) multi-modality glow-getting, including everything from lymphatic drainage massage to sculpt and detoxify, to microneedling for smoother skin texture, to more simple cleansing and exfoliating. I loved experiencing Royal Fern’s signature treatment, which was as soothing as it was sculpting, with massaging, electromagnetic muscle stimulation, and the brand’s calming formulas.
How environmentally friendly is it?
With dedicated sustainability teams at each of the Oetker Collection’s hotels, the environment is front of mind at The Lanesborough. This translates to electric and hybrid cars, LED lighting within the hotel to reduce energy consumption, refills within bathrooms, and the use of local suppliers to reduce carbon emissions. Back of house, waste is well considered, and the hotel works in close collaboration with an external company to ensure the food that is thrown away eventually becomes soil.
What else do we need to know?
Nail aficionados will die and go to heaven upon visiting the Painting Room, London’s first plant-based and breathable nail bar—manicure stations have never looked so good. If the ornate mirrored room—complete with baroque wallpaper—isn’t enough, then perhaps the 24-carat pure gold and LED light therapy ritual and chemical-free paint thereafter will.
Possibly the most essential information to take away from this review? On your way into the hotel, see if you can spot Lilibet, the hotel’s resident Siberian Forest cat, who has a selection of staff taking care of her every need.
Who can go?
A membership to the Lanesborough comes with a number of benefits (including complimentary spa treatments and discounts on rooms and meals within the hotel), but you can visit the spa without being in the club—day access costs £150.
Booking details for Lanesborough Club Spa
Address: 2 Lanesborough Place SW 1, London SW1X 7TA, United Kingdom
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.