Smash hit

Cost: from £19

Location: You can have a Marian Newman pedicure from one of her team at Charles Worthington Salons, 020 7631 1370. To get Marian herself book for the first Friday of every month but be ready to pay £100 for the privilege.
Jo Sugden

Beauty a la carte at Fortnum & Mason

The pedicure room is so discreet, tucked away on the shop floor, behind a door that could be employed by Colonel Mustard leaving the library with a candlestick. The room is decked out with swagged curtains, dripping crystals. From my perch in the massage-enabled chair I could hear traffic noise and the cars and people on Piccadilly, but the jazz from the Mac perched on the window ledge kept the mood relaxed.

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Experience: My therapist was interested in the health of my toenails and reminded me to never cut my cuticles. She filed and shaping my nails before soaking them, rather than after. Then she pumiced and scrubbed until my feet felt petal soft. Next came a tongue-lolling heel and lymphatic massage. My mind deliquesced like a cuticle in almond oil. The luxury pedicure includes a longer massage with the option of reflexology, and on Wednesdays Margaret Dabbs performs her famed surgical pedicure, from £85 for 45 minutes.

Cost: The Fortnum & Mason prescriptive pedicure, £45 for 55 minutes

Location: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER 020 7973 4094 www.fortnumandmason.co.uk
Jennifer Howze

The Yoga pedicure

You may not have realised you need to realign your feet's qi, but after this pedicure you'll be glad you did. This intimate spa decorated with Buddha statues and a water feature in trendy Notting Hill prides itself on highly qualified staff - think of them as swamis of pampering.

Experience: A yoga pedicure is 60 minutes of pure heaven. This pedicure is a combination of the spa's deluxe pedicure and a mini reflexology massage. Feet are covered in a hydrating mask and slipped inside heated booties which leaves them feeling soft and squidgy, before the beautification begins. Included in the price are Beech Sandals - yoga flip flops which by spreading the toes with four separators on each foot helps posture and balance - and also shows off your new feet nicely as you walk out of the spa. The sandals were a big hit on Oprah, apparently. The spa uses OPI products and polishes for pedicures.

Read the full review as well as Lucia van der Post's take

Cost: Yoga Pedicure £75 (the sandals can be bought separately for £25)

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