SPA INTERCONTINENTAL
Intercontinental Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, London W1J 7QY (020 7318 8691; londonspa@ihg.com; www.spaintercontinental.com)

USP This Park Lane spa has just undergone a complete makeover, so now is the time to visit. The five treatments rooms are arranged in an ellipse shape, which is strangely soothing, with under-floor heating, and the lights change colour, depending on the stage in the treatment.

The décor throughout is striking – dark polished granite, off-white walls with accents of brighter colour, lots of candles and imaginative flower arrangements – the look is contemporary, yet calming. The piece de la resistance is the steam temple, which glistens in a mosaic of gold and black and offers a stunning treatment for two people wishing to detox with a steam and mud wrap, then a powerful double rain-soak shower.

Wallet watch The 30-minute Wellbeing massage costs £35 and the facial, which lasts one hour and 15 minutes, costs £112.50.

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Top 5 London day spas

We've hand-picked five of the capital's best day spas for part-time pampering

Background

• Top 5 serene retreats

• Spas for real people

• Top 10 breaks to get you out of a rut

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• For more than 270 spa reviews

UTOPIA SPA
Alexander House Hotel, Turners Hill, West Sussex, RH10 4QD (01342 714914; www.alexanderhotels.co.uk)

USP A serious destination spa in the heart of Sussex that has nearly as many treatment rooms (25) as bedrooms (38) – and some of the latter have spa suite bathrooms with fancy walk-in three-way showers and a tub for two.

WALLET WATCH One-night spa escape packages from £185. Relaxation days from £89 for a half day to £295 for the Ultimate experience. Oatmeal and Orange Treat is £36 for 25 minutes and the Serenity massage is £60 for 55 minutes.

SEQUOIA SPA
The Grove, Chandler's Cross, Hertfordshire, WD3 4TG (01923 294294; www.thegrove.co.uk)

USP The Grove describes itself as “London’s country estate” and indeed, despite being just 18 miles from Central London, the grounds of the hotel would not look out of place in the Cotswolds. The Sequoia spa is adjacent to the hotel and offers a tempting menu of treatments and facilities include a vitality pool with therapeutic saline water and hydrotherapy jets; crystal steam rooms, saunas and tropical rain or cold mist showers.

WALLET WATCH Day packages start from £200 but individual treatments range from a Balinese body massage at £105 to an Espa body wrap at £70.

CALCOT MANOR
near Tetbury, Gloucestershire (01666 891225; www.calcotspa.co.uk)

USP Calcot Manor manages to blend sophistication and warmth without the dreaded British snobbery and austerity. The spa especially has been designed to maximise light and airiness. The views from the pool are beautiful and the outside hot tub, situated in a paved and decked garden, with a real log fire behind it, is the stuff of movies.

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