The Lanesborough Club & Spa

The Lanesborough is a vast white, neo-classical style mansion in the heart of one of London’s most exclusive areas. The hotel, club and spa sits between Knightsbridge and Mayfair on the edge of Hyde Park. If you’re not travelling by chauffer, take exit three out of Hyde Park Corner station and you’re in front of this historic building.  

The chic and exclusive club and spa has its own private entrance off Grosvenor Place. Head down a short flight steps and knock on the imposing black door which opens into spa wonderland...   

The spacious spa lobby is an expanse of white marble. Flickering fires, gilt-framed landscapes and plush armchairs create a clubby feel. Artfully tarnished floor-to-ceiling mirrors clad a rather grand manicure and pedicure suite in the centre. We were welcomed by an immaculate receptionist behind a large and glowing front desk, led to an armchair and given a consultation form to fill in.

The changing rooms are spacious and Art Deco inspired. In the centre of the room is a dark wood and silver vanity area with seating for six. Large double-sided floating oval mirrors are entwined with dangling tulip lights and strings of glass leaves. This area is stocked with all the products you could need and more – simply turn up with your swimsuit and you’re good to go. There are button buzzers here to summon your concierge if you need anything. Banks of light grey lockers are interspersed with mini chaise longues framed in golden drapes for changing. There are private changing cubicles, WCs, and large showers complete with their own changing areas.  

The thermal facilities at The Lanesborough Club and Spa are single sex and attached to the changing rooms. The glass-fronted wooden sauna has classical musical gently playing in the background, it seats six and reached a toasty 80 degrees on our visit. Cool down in the experience shower afterwards. Choose between warm rain, cool rain and our favourite – cool mist. This was delightfully refreshing and had an uplifting eucalyptus scent. The steam room has six mother-of-pearl mosaic tiled thrones. It’s is rather dark and steamy, so allow your eyes to adjust for a moment or two before finding a seat.

The mixed-sex hydrotherapy pool is next door. The atmospherically lit infinity edged pool runs the length of the room and is slightly raised with water cascading over one side. Head up a few steps and descend into the warm water. There are firm body jets along one side and seating with plenty of bubble jets opposite. Like most of the thermal experiences, we were lucky enough to have this serene space to ourselves on our visit.  There are six relaxation loungers here, each with their own pillow, towel, bell for the concierge and stack of magazines.

If you don’t fancy reading poolside, head to the spa lounge which has red and dark wood panel walls and an elegant fireplace. Comfortable armchairs surrounded by cream curtains are dotted around the room. Each have their own side table with a lamp and buzzer for the concierge. In the centre of the room you’ll find a drinks and snacks area. Choose from nuts, fruit and seeds, teas, berry-infused water or order food from the menu. 

The Lanesborough Club and Spa also has a rasul in the VIP suite and, if you’re lucky enough to be a member, you’ll have access to your own private lounge and the fitness suite.

We had Tata Harper Grounding Yogic Facial (90 minutes, £250).

Alexandra, my therapist, met me in the spa lounge and led me along a fragrant corridor lined with statuettes to a tasteful, low-lit treatment room. Alexandra could tell what my skin needed from looking at it – a little lift around the eyes and lips – swapping in products to bring the best out of my complexion. I appreciated her experience and knowledge.

She invited me to inhale the warm, herby Tata Harper organic oils and choose my favourite (the most enlivening one), then left me to disrobe and lie on the bed. The treatment began with a sound bath, a hypnotic hum of a prayer bowl then the deeper vibrations of the gong.

Alexandra cleansed my skin, applied a gentle scrub, then performed a lymphatic drainage facial massage. The first mask was a hybrid – one cleansing mask on my nose, hydrating patches on my cheeks. While that set, Alexandra gave me a relaxing scalp massage.

For the second mask, she poured warmed honey onto my third eye chakra – a sweet and sticky variation on the Ayurvedic Shirodhara – and spread it quickly over my face. I was surprised (and relieved) it was removed so easily with warmed mitts. Alexandra used a myriad of intense and intricate massage movements to lift and firm my facial muscles – the yogic part of the facial.

The third mask was pomegranate and as the fruit acids stimulated my collagen production, Alexandra massaged my arms and shoulders. Finally, she applied layers of Tata Harper serums and moisturiser, and ran cold jade rollers over my skin – as reviving as a splash of cold water.

After the treatment, Alexandra led me to the cosy lounge and brought me a pot of herbal tea. My skin looked remarkably toned and glowing with health. It improved further the next day partly thanks to a good night’s sleep, as Alexandra had promised.

The Lanesborough Club and Spa offers a range of Tata Harper and La Prairie facials and massages, as well as holistic wraps and scrubs using ila, and advanced skin rejuvenation facials, such as the Anastasia Achilleos ‘method’. For post-spa preening book in for a mani/pedi, Suzanne Martin’s ‘The Couture Brow’, or a blow dry in the hair salon.  

Lunch is served en robe either in the rather glamorous spa restaurant or you can eat in the spa lounge. The menu here is deliciously healthy; choose from a variety of salads and hot dishes such courgette spaghetti or coconut Dhal. We loved our beautifully arranged stack of soba noodles and refreshing pot of Lanesborough signature tea. There are options for breakfast and plenty of smoothies and sweet treats, too.  

We loved

Our treatment: Tata Harper is 100 per cent natural yet very effective, and Alexandra was a facial massage supremo. It’s proof that you don’t need chemicals to give your face a lift and glow.

The ambience: The spa is beautiful and serene, designed with your comfort in mind.

Personal space: The attentive staff aren’t hovering but can be summoned at the press of a button – very Downton – and numbers are managed well so you feel as though it is all yours.

We didn’t love

Hearing the exchanges between restaurant manager and chef during (an otherwise delicious) lunch.

The rich and famous: it’s a wonderful place to escape to and feel anonymous for a day  

Pampered health clubbers: if only we lived around the corner, we’d be there all the time.

Gentlemen spa goers will enjoy the exclusive member’s club design.

We awarded The Lanesborough Club and Spa a Good Spa Guide rating of Five Bubble Luxury. It’s an exclusive, private and supremely relaxing spa where you’re treated like a VIP. The customer service is outstanding, the results-driven treatments are excellent, the facilities are top-notch, and the healthy food is divine. If we could move in, we would!  

Savant Spy visited in October 2019 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.