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. A hotel, club and spa, it sits between Knightsbridge and Mayfair on the edge of Hyde Park, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. If you’re not travelling by chauffeur, take exit three out of Hyde Park Corner tube station to put yourself in front of this historic building.  

The chic, exclusive club and spa is located below the easterly wing of the hotel, with its own private entrance off Grosvenor Place. Head down a short flight of stairs and knock on the imposing black door. Alternatively, you can access the spa via the hotel - follow the signs from reception along the maze-like corridor and take the lift down to spa wonderland.

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

Changing rooms are spacious and Art Deco-inspired. You’ll find a dark wood and silver vanity area in the centre, seating six, with large oval mirrors entwined with dangling tulip lights and strings of glass leaves. This area is stocked with all the products you could need (and more): dry hair shampoo, anti-perspirant and GHDs come as standard - simply turn up with your swimsuit and you’re good to go. Summon a concierge at the touch of a button should you require anything further.

Banks of light grey lockers are interspersed with mini chaise seating framed in golden drapes for changing. There are three WCs – thoughtfully stocked with mouthwash for a pre-treatment freshen up - and four large shower rooms complete with their own private changing areas.  

The thermal facilities at The Lanesborough Club & Spa are single sex and attached to the changing rooms. The glass-fronted wooden sauna seats six and reached 80 degrees on our visit. You’ll find six mother-of-pearl mosaic-tiled thrones in the steam room which hots up so quickly we had to sit down to prevent our ears from burning. Allow your eyes to adjust for a moment or two before finding a seat.

You can cool down in the experience shower afterwards, choosing between warm rain, cool rain and - our favourite – cool mist. This was delightfully refreshing with an uplifting eucalyptus scent. 

A black door leads to a unisex hydrotherapy pool that is atmospherically-lit, infinity-edged and slightly raised, with water cascading over one side. Head up a few steps and descend into the warm water. There are 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 space to ourselves on our morning visit. Relax on one of six loungers afterwards, each equipped with a pillow, a towel and a bell to call a pool-side butler. Nice.

If you don’t fancy reading poolside, head to the spa lounge with its red and dark wood panel walls and elegant fireplace. Comfortable recliner armchairs surrounded by cream curtains are dotted around the room, each with its own side table, lamp and buzzer for summoning the concierge – a delightfully recurring a theme, it appears. Help yourself to snacks or order food from the menu.

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

We tried the Tata Harper Grounding Yogic Facial (90 minutes, £260)

Daniela, my therapist, met me in the spa lounge and led me along a jasmine-scented corridor to a tasteful low-lit treatment room.

Daniela asked me about any concerns before leaving me to disrobe and lie face up on the bed. The treatment began with a herb-scented Tata Harper organic oil, which I inhaled deeply, followed by a sound bath – the gong striking the prayer bowel filled the room with vibrations and left me feeling quite zen-like.

On examining my skin, Daniela pronounced it to be slightly oily with good elasticity (I’ll take that) and, after a cleanse, applied a gentle scrub to clear the pores. Daniela then used steam extraction to clear the congestion building up around my chin. 

Next up: the first of three masks: a detoxifying Tata Purifying Mask brimming with probiotics to help combat ‘pollu-ageing’. While this worked its magic, Daniela treated me to a relaxing foot massage.

For the second, Daniela applied a green Hydrating Floral Mask packed with 13-flower blends to soothe redness (something my skin is prone to), hyaluronic acid, and 18 vitamins and minerals. Daniela then completed a myriad of intense and intricate massage movements to lift and firm my facial muscles – the yogic part of the facial.

The third and final mask was a Resurfacing Mask with white willow, aloe vera and witch hazel to gently resurface the skin and leave a luminous glow. A heavenly scalp massage and layers of Tata Harper serums and moisturisers completed this result-driven facial.

After the treatment, Daniela led me to the cosy lounge and brought me a delicious pot of The Lanesborough Club & Spa Signature Tea, made in-house with turmeric root, apple pieces, lemon verbena and rosehip. My skin looked super clean, plumped and radiant – even my spa-buddy commented on my new post-treatment glow.

The Lanesborough Club & Spa offers a range of Tata Harper, as well as holistic wraps and scrubs from ila. For post-spa preening book in for a mani/pedi, a Suzanne Martin Couture Brow or a blow dry in the hair salon.  
 

Lunch is served en robe either in the spa lounge or the rather glamorous spa restaurant – all deep blue walls and rows of gold-framed botanicals. The menu here is deliciously healthy with a variety of salads and hot dishes such courgette spaghetti or coconut Dhal. We loved our super-fresh Asian salad with lemongrass chicken, tiger prawns and a wasabi and sesame oil dressing. This was washed down with a glass of Goodology CBD Shisho tea poured over ice.

If you’re staying overnight, book a table at the Michelin-starred Celeste Restaurant, set beneath an epic glass domed roof with a trio of spectacular chandeliers. We feasted on a curious, but delightful, appetizer of chicken liver pate wrapped in white chocolate and a very more-ish starter of Jerusalem artichoke risotto with rich truffle and citrus oil. We followed this with succulent glazed Suffolk pork belly with braised pig cheek, a dollop of celeriac puree and crunchy swirl of crackling, perfectly paired with sweet and sharp pickled rhubarb.

We managed to squeeze in a pear tart with stemmed ginger ice cream before throwing in the towel.

We loved

Our Tata Harper treatment: The combination of hypnotic sound bowl; triple mask; and yogic face, scalp and foot massage resulted in us floating to the spa lounge with a new-found glow. 

The ambience: The spa is beautiful, serene and ultra-glam. You may even get the whole place to yourself – relaxation guaranteed.

The spa butlers: The friendly staff can be summoned at the press of a button – pool-side Champagne, anyone? 
 

We didn’t love

The spa was busy with hotel guests on our evening visit, so no pool-side lounging for us. However, the next morning we had the place to ourselves.

The rich and famous: The Lanesborough Club & Spa is a wonderful place to feel anonymous for a day. We even spotted the odd celeb on our visit.   

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

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

We awarded The Lanesborough Club & Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury for its outstanding customer service, results-driven treatments, top-notch facilities and healthy, but oh so moreish, food. We would move in if we could. 

Scarlet Spy visited in January 2022 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.