Take me with you
Chuan Spa is part of The Langham Hotel just north of Oxford Circus. It’s a Grande Dame of city hotels, and being just over the road from the BBC it’s a good place if you love a sense of history… and celeb spotting.
Chuan is quite a traditional London spa with single-sex thermal facilities, and a joint pool area and relaxation room. The spa ethos and treatment menu, however, draw more on Chinese holistic therapy than London fashion. The décor is green, taupe, and dark wood with earthy landscape prints on the walls and statement pearlescent lights.
Shall we spa
You can access the spa via its own entrance just off the top of Regent Street or through the hotel itself – the Regent Street entrance is much simpler. Reception is welcoming and the start of the journey into the holistic-inspired spa. I was greeted, offered a seat and a warm tea that matched the ‘winter’ element, and asked to fill in a short treatment questionnaire. The cream marble floors, dark wood, and muted green finishing touches contrast with the wall of beautifully presented spa products.
The mid-size changing rooms are well stocked with amenities and there are towels aplenty, three-quarter size lockers (not quite long enough to hang a coat or dress), and a large vanity desk with a hairdryer, straighteners, and cleanser with cotton pads. Bench-style seating runs around the lockers and there are two footstools at the vanity table. Go past the three WCs and sink area to the thermal facilities. The thermal area has two yellow leather benches, three showers, and an infused-water station. The traditional wood-clad sauna would sit four comfortably, as would the white-tiled steam room. The large showers have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
Just next door to the changing rooms is the contemplation room, the main relaxation space. It follows the green and dark wood aesthetic with a bar with infused water, dried fruit and nuts on one side, and two curved green sofas which make a great place to stop and chat. Appropriately zen books are available if you want to curl up and read. The gym is just off the contemplation room with cardio, weights, and a free weight area. The noise of the cross trainers carries into the contemplation zone, where this spa spy mostly just considered lunch!
The dramatic pool area is down a set of stairs, though a lift is available for people with low mobility. Set in an old bank vault, the 16-metre pool has a feature wall with a large bonsai artwork at the end. The area is heated to a balmy 29 degrees and has three sets of rattan chairs around the end of the pool. Despite the pool noodles and floats aimed at children, we had the pool area to ourselves.
The spa is spotless and we regularly saw staff tidying and cleaning throughout the day.
Treatment talk
We had the Chuan Harmony signature massage (60 minutes, £175) and the Chuan Heavenly Jing Luo foot treatment (90 minutes, £250).
My therapist, Ernestino, met me in the contemplation room and took me to our treatment room. Ernestino talked me through the treatments, discussed my areas of concern, and left the room while I settled on the warm treatment bed.
The harmony massage started with a breathing ritual (think deep breaths in time with an Om mantra). Ernestino massaged pressure points on my face before moving on to my décolletage, the front of my arms and legs, and then asked me to roll over. Ernestino then focused on my tense, sore shoulders before finishing the massage with a much gentler massage on the backs of my arms and legs.
Ernestino moved on to the Heavenly Jing Luo treatment which was unusual but deeply relaxing. Using elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the treatment uses acupressure and the meridian lines that run along the bottom of the feet to stimulate and detoxify the body. Ernestino wrapped my feet in a warm detoxifying mask and massaged my scalp while the mask worked its magic. She unwrapped my feet, cleaned the mask off with warm towel mitts, and began the acupressure massage. Ernestino used a small wooden tool to stimulate the acupressure points along the meridian lines, then moved into a more relaxing foot and lower leg massage. She also used lymphatic drainage massage to move the fluid that tends to pool at the feet.
Ernestino gently gave me time to come round from the very relaxing treatment and took me back to the contemplation room where she gave me more tea and a granola bar. I left the treatments with much looser shoulders, heavenly feet that had never felt so good, and blissfully relaxed.
Spot of lunch
Lunch – or indeed afternoon tea – was in the Palm Court restaurant. The Langham was the first hotel to offer afternoon tea in 1865 and still serves one of the best in London. The large dining room has Art Deco features; engraved glass panelling, a pearlescent domed ceiling, and vast glass pendants hanging from the high ceiling. With a bar open to the room on one side and jazz playing, this space is more chat than hushed enjoyment.
You’ll need to dress before you head to the restaurant, and it’ll take a few minutes to find your way through the hotel corridors from the spa. Our festive afternoon tea included turkey, cauliflower, and classic cucumber sandwiches followed by sweet treats including cassonade shortbread (made with soft brown sugar), mandarin charlotte, and coffee and chocolate opera slice. Finally, there were light and fluffy scones and truffles.
Got all day?
Spa until early afternoon and then head for afternoon tea. There are plenty of amenities in the spa changing rooms if you want to take the time to dress up and enjoy the buzz of the Art Deco Palm Court restaurant with friends.
Short on time?
Head straight for the treatments – they’re unusual, interesting, and oh-so relaxing.
Take me with you
Chuan Spa is part of The Langham Hotel just north of Oxford Circus. It’s a Grande Dame of city hotels, and being just over the road from the BBC it’s a good place if you love a sense of history… and celeb spotting.
Chuan is quite a traditional London spa with single-sex thermal facilities, and a joint pool area and relaxation room. The spa ethos and treatment menu, however, draw more on Chinese holistic therapy than London fashion. The décor is green, taupe, and dark wood with earthy landscape prints on the walls and statement pearlescent lights.
Shall we spa
You can access the spa via its own entrance just off the top of Regent Street or through the hotel itself – the Regent Street entrance is much simpler. Reception is welcoming and the start of the journey into the holistic-inspired spa. I was greeted, offered a seat and a warm tea that matched the ‘winter’ element, and asked to fill in a short treatment questionnaire. The cream marble floors, dark wood, and muted green finishing touches contrast with the wall of beautifully presented spa products.
The mid-size changing rooms are well stocked with amenities and there are towels aplenty, three-quarter size lockers (not quite long enough to hang a coat or dress), and a large vanity desk with a hairdryer, straighteners, and cleanser with cotton pads. Bench-style seating runs around the lockers and there are two footstools at the vanity table. Go past the three WCs and sink area to the thermal facilities. The thermal area has two yellow leather benches, three showers, and an infused-water station. The traditional wood-clad sauna would sit four comfortably, as would the white-tiled steam room. The large showers have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
Just next door to the changing rooms is the contemplation room, the main relaxation space. It follows the green and dark wood aesthetic with a bar with infused water, dried fruit and nuts on one side, and two curved green sofas which make a great place to stop and chat. Appropriately zen books are available if you want to curl up and read. The gym is just off the contemplation room with cardio, weights, and a free weight area. The noise of the cross trainers carries into the contemplation zone, where this spa spy mostly just considered lunch!
The dramatic pool area is down a set of stairs, though a lift is available for people with low mobility. Set in an old bank vault, the 16-metre pool has a feature wall with a large bonsai artwork at the end. The area is heated to a balmy 29 degrees and has three sets of rattan chairs around the end of the pool. Despite the pool noodles and floats aimed at children, we had the pool area to ourselves.
The spa is spotless and we regularly saw staff tidying and cleaning throughout the day.
Treatment talk
We had the Chuan Harmony signature massage (60 minutes, £175) and the Chuan Heavenly Jing Luo foot treatment (90 minutes, £250).
My therapist, Ernestino, met me in the contemplation room and took me to our treatment room. Ernestino talked me through the treatments, discussed my areas of concern, and left the room while I settled on the warm treatment bed.
The harmony massage started with a breathing ritual (think deep breaths in time with an Om mantra). Ernestino massaged pressure points on my face before moving on to my décolletage, the front of my arms and legs, and then asked me to roll over. Ernestino then focused on my tense, sore shoulders before finishing the massage with a much gentler massage on the backs of my arms and legs.
Ernestino moved on to the Heavenly Jing Luo treatment which was unusual but deeply relaxing. Using elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the treatment uses acupressure and the meridian lines that run along the bottom of the feet to stimulate and detoxify the body. Ernestino wrapped my feet in a warm detoxifying mask and massaged my scalp while the mask worked its magic. She unwrapped my feet, cleaned the mask off with warm towel mitts, and began the acupressure massage. Ernestino used a small wooden tool to stimulate the acupressure points along the meridian lines, then moved into a more relaxing foot and lower leg massage. She also used lymphatic drainage massage to move the fluid that tends to pool at the feet.
Ernestino gently gave me time to come round from the very relaxing treatment and took me back to the contemplation room where she gave me more tea and a granola bar. I left the treatments with much looser shoulders, heavenly feet that had never felt so good, and blissfully relaxed.
Spot of lunch
Lunch – or indeed afternoon tea – was in the Palm Court restaurant. The Langham was the first hotel to offer afternoon tea in 1865 and still serves one of the best in London. The large dining room has Art Deco features; engraved glass panelling, a pearlescent domed ceiling, and vast glass pendants hanging from the high ceiling. With a bar open to the room on one side and jazz playing, this space is more chat than hushed enjoyment.
You’ll need to dress before you head to the restaurant, and it’ll take a few minutes to find your way through the hotel corridors from the spa. Our festive afternoon tea included turkey, cauliflower, and classic cucumber sandwiches followed by sweet treats including cassonade shortbread (made with soft brown sugar), mandarin charlotte, and coffee and chocolate opera slice. Finally, there were light and fluffy scones and truffles.
Got all day?
Spa until early afternoon and then head for afternoon tea. There are plenty of amenities in the spa changing rooms if you want to take the time to dress up and enjoy the buzz of the Art Deco Palm Court restaurant with friends.
Short on time?
Head straight for the treatments – they’re unusual, interesting, and oh-so relaxing.
Take me with you
Chuan Spa is part of The Langham Hotel just north of Oxford Circus. It’s a Grande Dame of city hotels, and being just over the road from the BBC it’s a good place if you love a sense of history… and celeb spotting.
Chuan is quite a traditional London spa with single-sex thermal facilities, and a joint pool area and relaxation room. The spa ethos and treatment menu, however, draw more on Chinese holistic therapy than London fashion. The décor is green, taupe, and dark wood with earthy landscape prints on the walls and statement pearlescent lights.
Shall we spa
You can access the spa via its own entrance just off the top of Regent Street or through the hotel itself – the Regent Street entrance is much simpler. Reception is welcoming and the start of the journey into the holistic-inspired spa. I was greeted, offered a seat and a warm tea that matched the ‘winter’ element, and asked to fill in a short treatment questionnaire. The cream marble floors, dark wood, and muted green finishing touches contrast with the wall of beautifully presented spa products.
The mid-size changing rooms are well stocked with amenities and there are towels aplenty, three-quarter size lockers (not quite long enough to hang a coat or dress), and a large vanity desk with a hairdryer, straighteners, and cleanser with cotton pads. Bench-style seating runs around the lockers and there are two footstools at the vanity table. Go past the three WCs and sink area to the thermal facilities. The thermal area has two yellow leather benches, three showers, and an infused-water station. The traditional wood-clad sauna would sit four comfortably, as would the white-tiled steam room. The large showers have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
Just next door to the changing rooms is the contemplation room, the main relaxation space. It follows the green and dark wood aesthetic with a bar with infused water, dried fruit and nuts on one side, and two curved green sofas which make a great place to stop and chat. Appropriately zen books are available if you want to curl up and read. The gym is just off the contemplation room with cardio, weights, and a free weight area. The noise of the cross trainers carries into the contemplation zone, where this spa spy mostly just considered lunch!
The dramatic pool area is down a set of stairs, though a lift is available for people with low mobility. Set in an old bank vault, the 16-metre pool has a feature wall with a large bonsai artwork at the end. The area is heated to a balmy 29 degrees and has three sets of rattan chairs around the end of the pool. Despite the pool noodles and floats aimed at children, we had the pool area to ourselves.
The spa is spotless and we regularly saw staff tidying and cleaning throughout the day.
Treatment talk
We had the Chuan Harmony signature massage (60 minutes, £175) and the Chuan Heavenly Jing Luo foot treatment (90 minutes, £250).
My therapist, Ernestino, met me in the contemplation room and took me to our treatment room. Ernestino talked me through the treatments, discussed my areas of concern, and left the room while I settled on the warm treatment bed.
The harmony massage started with a breathing ritual (think deep breaths in time with an Om mantra). Ernestino massaged pressure points on my face before moving on to my décolletage, the front of my arms and legs, and then asked me to roll over. Ernestino then focused on my tense, sore shoulders before finishing the massage with a much gentler massage on the backs of my arms and legs.
Ernestino moved on to the Heavenly Jing Luo treatment which was unusual but deeply relaxing. Using elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the treatment uses acupressure and the meridian lines that run along the bottom of the feet to stimulate and detoxify the body. Ernestino wrapped my feet in a warm detoxifying mask and massaged my scalp while the mask worked its magic. She unwrapped my feet, cleaned the mask off with warm towel mitts, and began the acupressure massage. Ernestino used a small wooden tool to stimulate the acupressure points along the meridian lines, then moved into a more relaxing foot and lower leg massage. She also used lymphatic drainage massage to move the fluid that tends to pool at the feet.
Ernestino gently gave me time to come round from the very relaxing treatment and took me back to the contemplation room where she gave me more tea and a granola bar. I left the treatments with much looser shoulders, heavenly feet that had never felt so good, and blissfully relaxed.
Spot of lunch
Lunch – or indeed afternoon tea – was in the Palm Court restaurant. The Langham was the first hotel to offer afternoon tea in 1865 and still serves one of the best in London. The large dining room has Art Deco features; engraved glass panelling, a pearlescent domed ceiling, and vast glass pendants hanging from the high ceiling. With a bar open to the room on one side and jazz playing, this space is more chat than hushed enjoyment.
You’ll need to dress before you head to the restaurant, and it’ll take a few minutes to find your way through the hotel corridors from the spa. Our festive afternoon tea included turkey, cauliflower, and classic cucumber sandwiches followed by sweet treats including cassonade shortbread (made with soft brown sugar), mandarin charlotte, and coffee and chocolate opera slice. Finally, there were light and fluffy scones and truffles.
Got all day?
Spa until early afternoon and then head for afternoon tea. There are plenty of amenities in the spa changing rooms if you want to take the time to dress up and enjoy the buzz of the Art Deco Palm Court restaurant with friends.
Short on time?
Head straight for the treatments – they’re unusual, interesting, and oh-so relaxing.
Summer Spy
17th December 2024
Spy Likes:
Warmth and sunshine; spas which take me away to another country; fruit infused waters; beach-worth pedicures; deep tissue massages.
Spy Dislikes:
High footfalls; treatments that over promise and under deliver; heavy lunches; loungers drapped in used towels.
