The Baglioni Spa is set in the Baglioni Hotel opposite Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. This five star hotel echoes neo-classical charm and the bijou Spa is equally charming.
As recommended, I arrived 20 minutes before my scheduled appointment which allowed both a discussion of what my treatment would involve, as well as a screening health check. Once over, I changed into my soft luxuriant bath robes and relaxed for ten minutes in the steam room before my prescribed Deep Tissue massage commenced. The changing room can equally be described as bijou and more reminiscent of that in a gym with its rather limited range of toiletries. This massage is recommended “for those with aches, pains, muscle tension and stress” and this certainly fit the bill for a Friday evening at the close of work.
The therapist tailored her massage pressure perfectly to my requirements and advised on the residual muscle tensions that a lesser pressure would leave or longer period of therapy would alleviate. The therapy room was comfortable and fitted with luxurious finishing touches with the standard echo of new age relaxation massage piped in the background. The therapist maintained a warm, friendly, though taciturn manner and I certainly felt an ease of all the week’s tensions from my taut sinews as I slipped into a semi-set of slumber and flitted in and out of a soporific bliss.
The 55 minute treatment was followed by a limited period to recline and an unhurried sense would have put me at ease but I enjoyed the time to return to the steam room and then shower and then sit in the waiting area drinking green tea. I did feel a specific larger relaxation room with a lounge chair was missing and would have been a welcome provision.
Other massage treatments I could have availed myself of were the SPC aromatherapy massage (55 minutes-£85), Hot Stones Massage (85 minutes-£110). Other body therapies include for an additional touch of luxury is the SPC Detoxifying Ginger scrub and the SPC White Chocolate Wrap. Just as decadent as they sound. Perhaps that is for another time of indulgence.
Whilst not exactly a spa in the strictest sense, the exit back into the lobby of the hotel allows a further recline in a club chair, a non-alcoholic cocktail or better still sparkling water whilst you thumb through the latest GQ magazine.
Written By Stephen Foli
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