Thứ Năm, 2 tháng 1, 2020

The Best Day Spas in London

Escape the January blues and find some true relaxation in the capital this season. From the best massages and facials to the most innovative new spa treatments to try now, book yourself in for some me-time at one of the best day spas in London.

The Best Day Spas in London 2020

The Beaumont Spa

The Beaumont Spa

Where? The Beaumont Hotel, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF

What? By far one of the most elegant sanctuaries in London, the Beaumont’s spa is a black and white marble tiled Art Deco masterpiece that perfectly blends the classic with the cutting-edge. The space itself is intimate but perfectly sized: this small underground oasis somehow fits in a steam room, sauna, cold plunge pool, ice bar, relaxation area, heated hammam table and treatment rooms without ever feeling remotely cramped or full – instead, the vibe is of a private, secret haven far from the crowds just a few metres above. Choose from a vast array of the latest reading material while you relax pre and post-treatment on the plush, white cushioned loungers and sipping on purifying water infusions and herbal teas to detox.

The Treatments: A recent partnership with OSKIA has brought the unending benefits of the British brand’s award-winning pure nutritional skincare to the Beaumont – new facial treatments and therapies are carried out by OSKIA-trained therapists and formulated for each client’s individual needs and skin type. The Signature Glow facial in particular is a game changer – it’s carried out in a sleek black-and-white themed treatment room which hums relaxing music, perfectly heated to ensure ultimate relaxation. And it does what it says on the tin (and some), with a combination of skilful facial massage, cleansing, exfoliating and intense hydrating (where needed) resulting in a quasi-supernatural glow that lasts for days. The 75 minutes whizz by in unadulterated bliss, with a final light head, neck and shoulder massage providing that extra spring in your step as you regretfully re-emerge into the real world. 

To Book: thebeaumont.com

Mandarin Oriental London

Mondrian London

Where? Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

What? Disciples of Mandarin Oriental’s spa would be forgiven for thinking its decadent, brooding walls did not warrant a revamp. But Adam D. Tihany’s contemporary overhaul rolls in a fresh, elegant canvas for the Chinese elements to spill onto and that de rigeur 360-degree health philosophy to perform against. Spread across two basement floors in the hotel, the sound of trickling water blends into soft Chinese music and naturalistic setting. On top of the 13 treatment rooms, a new spacious Oriental Suite with two massage beds and a Rasul water temple blends heat, steam and mud for the ultimate mind and skin reset. A large, ethereally-lit jacuzzi is flanked by a metallic waterfall wall, feminine sculptures and a sauna and steam room. The new, spacious changing rooms are the paragon of foresight – Aromatherapy cleanser to mouthwash for the taking (essentially everything you’d forget on a spa day is provided). And if hairdryers are the barometer for a decent spa (and if you don’t spend too long in the lavish showers, their Dyson wands will whisk you to that 8.30pm dinner on time. For the gym bunnies, classes and PTs are available in the new fitness centre.

The Treatments: Every treatment at Mandarin Oriental is developed in consultation with specialists in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their signature treatments from the healing Japanese Reiki massage to the Digital Wellness escape are renowned for their eastern healing qualities and preventative insight. The new Oriental QI treatment is a near two-hour dose of pure euphoria, the ultimate ‘unwind and forget’ massage that works along the meridians with a personal choice of oil (mine is cardamom, lemongrass and coriander to flush out toxins). Their masseuses are truly masters in their craft, aware of the holistic approach required for de-stressing and guarantee a fine-tuned pummelling that will ease any physical and mental tension. The rosehip and goji berry red tea created by Mandarin Oriental to round-off the show is to re-balance my earth element (and tastes delicious to boot).

To Book: mandarinoriental.com

Ushvani Spa

Ushvani Spa

Where? Ushvani Spa, 1 Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, London SW3 2RJ

What? This is where those reluctant to share a sweaty steam or bump into a colleague post-massage come to switch off. Ushvani, tucked behind Sloane Square feels more like a discreet somebody’s subterranean escape than a spa… and that’s how they like to keep it. With only five treatment rooms, it’s rare that two guests will even cross in the Damai relaxation room as this ‘boutique spa’ works to a meticulous scheduling plan. After all, alone time with just the therapeutic trickle of water, an exotic fruit plate and undisturbed consciousness is what the overspun Londoner needs more than any quick fix massage. A spa since 2008, the warming wooden-panelled Cadogan building is a welcome antidote to the contemporary, clinical wash populating London’s spa scene. Silky walls in the relaxation room, spicy aromas and dark wooden furniture and figurines pay homage to the Malaysian ethos governing the spa and offer a comforting retreat from the plunge pool and steam room. Book in for a yoga class for the ultimate release.

The Treatments: The treatments play on that Malaysian spirit, with deliciously long and fruitful massages (though opt for the 90 minute Balinese, a welcome exception to the theme). The devil’s in the detail with Ushvani, from the lotions and potions in the changing rooms to the jewellery bags provided for guests, but the most impressive ‘extra’ has to be the meditative encased floral image greeting guests underneath the massage bed.

To Book: ushvani.com

The Spa at the Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square

Four Seasons Spa Ten Trinity Square

Where? Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ 

What? The Spa at Four Seasons Trinity Square offers a much-needed refuge in the heart of the adrenaline-fuelled city. The changing rooms are made to dwindle away the hours, with single-sex saunas and all the ‘extras’ you always forget to bring, from hairdryers to deodorant. Every wall and corner of this spa is smooth and ‘round’ so you don’t feel ‘boxed in’ but are instead curious see what lies around the corner. Designer Joseph Caspari has used a calming grey colour palette that is light enough to keep you awake. The columns around the pool and glistening mosaics are reminiscent of Roman Bath’s and a nod to the building’s grand history. There’s no awkward Jacuzzi sharing with strangers here – it’s huge.

The Treatments: The team here know what they’re dealing with, especially in the stress-powered city. Rather than a quick rub and ‘off you go’, they know there needs to be a holistic approach to guarantee results – there’s no ‘quick fix’. Signatures have therefore been designed exclusively for the spa, combining ancient therapies from both East and West, with modern day techniques. If you don’t have much time but are equally aware of the ‘quick-fix’ fable, opt for the full body massage with wild organic ingredients. The oils will calm you and the therapist will soothe and relax you, talking through your ‘tight areas’ after in a bid to pin down the cause.

To Book: For a spa treatment, call the Hotel directly at +44 (0) 203 297 9200 or online at fourseasons.com

Natura Bissē

Natura Bisse White City

Where? Natura Bissē, The Village Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, White City, W12 7GQ

What? The latest addition to the vast retail world that is Westfield White City will not be pressing you to indulge your consumerist habits, but invites you instead to step into a cool, calm, serene world of wellbeing – after all shopping can be highly stressful, so what better way to end your spree than lying supine in an oxygenated treatment room, while Natura Bissē’s expert therapists bring new life and colour to tired bodies and faces. It’s the much vaunted Spanish brand’s first standalone day spa in London (located in the Village area of Westfield, naturally) and it delivers its highly advanced bespoke treatments in surroundings designed by Spanish architect Juan Trias de Bes. So drop your shopping bags and let your shoulders drop too – in utter relaxation.

The Treatments: If you’re looking for a quick pick me up Natura Bissē’s express facials focus on a specific area of concern, and will have you relaxed, refreshed, and ready to hit the shops again.

To Book: naturabisse.com

South Kensington Club

South Kensington Club

Where? South Kensington Club, 38-42 Harrington Rd, Kensington, London SW7 3ND

What? A philosophy falling somewhere between Russian tradition and Mediterranean joie de vivre sets the tone at South Kensington Club. Or put simply ‘mixed doubles, a sauna and a stiff martini’ (it’s all about balance). This chic West London private member’s club has a spa with a refreshingly unique take on wellness. The layout is social, an ode to the traditional Russian bathhouse, with plush interiors more suggestive of a private residence than a large spa. There is a great emphasis here on the power of tea and simple relaxation, rather than peddling massage and treatment as the only way to unwind. Saying this, the treatment list – from banya to Himalayan salt massages – draws from a wide variety of traditions and cultures with notably friendly staff well-versed in lowering members’ cortisol levels. 

 The Treatments: The spa’s hero treatment at South Kensington Club is The Bathhouse experience. This includes a traditional banya treatment (a weekly ritual in Russia) where birch leaves are used at speed to manipulate the hot air over the body, stimulating circulation and allowing clients to quite literally sweat out your week. Breathers are recommended between these sessions in the communal banya and hammam, or with their specialised herbal tea and magazine in a quiet corner. There are various ‘steps’ that you can graduate to once you have pushed through the first two (it gets steamy in there), but the therapist will quickly gauge your limits. Opt for the mud treatment after to both exfoliate and nourish your skin with all the minerals the urban jungle deprives us of. 

To Book: southkensingtonclub.com

Ilapothecary

Ilapothecary Spa Shop

Where? 99 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LN

What? Instead of the perspex, glass and white leather in your typical city spa, at Ilapothecary you’ll find tall wooden cabinets and hundreds of drawers bursting with little curiosities, tinctures and herbs. The place’s herbal smell is the first sign that this isn’t your average beauty spa, but rather a holistic hideaway disguised as one of the many charming antique shops lining Kensington Church Street.  Through the use of natural medicine, energy healing techniques and traditional massage, Ilapothecary promises to combat the pressures of daily life – a promise they deliver on. Upstairs you’ll find a restorative space where talks and workshops are held, and at the back is a – secluded treatment room where music plays softly and therapists work their magic.

 The Treatments: Although their Beat The Blues Back Massage or Digital Detox Facial Therapy sound appealing, this is a place where it’s best to listen to the experts. Upon arrival you’ll fill in an extensive 50-point questionnaire on your physical and mental health, from this the therapists can draw up a diagnosis and offer advice on specific treatments which will serve your body best. 

To Book: ilapothecary.com

Bulgari Spa, Bulgari

Bulgari spa pool

Where? Bulgari Hotel, 171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW

What? A Mecca of subterranean calm, the Bulgari Spa offers the full Italian job: seamless, sleek furniture, marble-just-about-everything and a post-treatment power shower that will never leave you. The decadent, volcanic basement hosts London’s longest swimming pool, laced with white cushioned loungers more comfortable than any bed, and quaint table bells to call in elaborate quinoa salads. Potent eucalyptus oils permeate the steam rooms, clearing your sinuses, and warming your winter cockles.

The Treatments: The treatments here are based on traditional oriental practices one of the best being the renewing enzyme facial designed to boost cell regeneration and give you that ten-hour-sleep glow. And the best thing? The towels, you’re never without a towel or slippers as they’re scattered meticulously throughout the spa.

To Book: bulgarihotels.com

SENSE SPA® at The Rosewood, Holborn

Sense Spa Rosewood

Where? The Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN

What? SENSE SPA® at The Rosewood London defies the claim that switching off requires leaving the city. Cocooned in an urban hideout of bamboo walls and rippling water, you feel a million miles away from the London frenzy. A natural, organic theme pervades the products and therapies, using Australian skincare company Sodashi and body treatment products are plucked straight from the garden estate.

The Treatments: Rosewood London’s ‘24-hours with MAISON CAULIÈRES’ experience is the one to go for. It spreads oil’s remedial qualities across both massage and cooking, courtesy of these French apothecary wizards. Guests explore the healing power of MAISON CAULIÈRES’ cold pressed oils from the family estate in France through a 60-minute massage in the spa, as well as their medicinal qualities with a cooking class by one of the Rosewood London’s chefs, harnessing the delicate flavours of the MAISON CAULIÈRES oils for a cavalcade of nourishing dishes. Rounding off the light asparagus and basil, the moist hake and creamy yoghurt pudding is a decadent stay at one of London’s most beloved hotels, with breakfast to boot. Nothing like bedding in after a heavenly pummelling and nourishing supper.

To Book: ’24-hours with MAISON CAULIÈRES’ is available to book from £824/night. rosewoodhotels.com

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A Place to Heal by Arrigo

A Place to Heal Spa

Where? 118B Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA

What? Busy city dwellers rejoiced at the opening of acclaimed psychologist Fiona Arrigo’s A Place to Heal. Before the opening of its London outpost, followers of the highly personalised Arrigo Programme had to carve out time for a five day retreat in Somerset. On the treatment menu, instead of facials, you’ll find transmission meditation classes and Vedic mysticism so it’s important you arrive with an open mind (and heart). The space is expectedly calming but with a touch of West London style.

The Treatments: Focusing primarily on mental wellbeing, the holistic healing manifests mostly in workshops and classes rather than treatments. You can find lectures on anything from transformational breath to addiction counselling and philosophical enquiry. Plus, evening meditation sessions are free.

To Book: You can book in for a private consultation with Fiona Arrigo herself from £175. Alternatively, take a look at what’s on offer and choose whichever you feel applies best – either way, you’ll be leaving A Place to Heal with a new perspective. aplacetoheal.co.uk

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ESPA at Corinthia

The Pool ESPA Life at Corinthia

Where? ESPA Life at Corinthia, Whitehall Pl, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD

What? ESPA at the Corinthia is an unexpected oasis, buried in Whitehall bureaucracy and Big Ben keyrings. The white marble changing rooms warm you up for the impending relaxation, along with a weighty bathrobe and fluffy slippers. The spa has a volcanic feel to it, subterranean dark quarters with stone beds pressed up against a roaring fire, hot water bubbling against glass walls resembling ice. While not catering to lengths, the pool demands that you float and forget, the waves reflecting hypnotically on the ceiling.

The Treatments: ESPA has pioneered a Brain Power package, aligned with the hotel’s Neuroscientist in Residence programme, during which time neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart will be studying mental resilience and recovery as a major factor in achieving peak brain performance. The mindfulness massage aims to reduce stress holistically, through breathing, visualising and a scalp massage using warm rose quartz crystals. Then there’s Yoga Nidra, aiming to train busy minds to concentrate fully and fall into pure, unfettered relaxation.

To Book: espalifeatcorinthia.com

Cloud Twelve Spa

Cloud Twelve Spa

Where? Cloud Twelve Spa, 2-5 Colville Mews, Notting Hill, W11 2DA

What? In the hustle and bustle of Notting Hill and housed in a family members’ club is this unexpected haven of rejuvenation. Treatments range from the quick to the languid; a blow-dry to a green coffee sculpting treatment. The spa prides itself on results-driven treatments that fuse the best of Western and Asian philosophies, a philosophy which applies whether you’re in the mood for a high-tech beauty treatment or a sleep therapy procedure. Open for members and non-members, Cloud Twelve also boasts the use of all the usual spa facilities from a relaxation room to a sauna and salt room.

The Treatments: The holistic healing philosophy manifests in craniosacral therapy, cryotherapy, naturopathic nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine. For the sleep deprived, the spa’s Tranquility Pro Sleep Ritual combines aromatherapy, music and unique massage techniques to induce a deep state of relaxation. Before you leave, pop into the separate hair and nail salon for a quick manicure also.

Just in time for the summer season, Cloud Twelve have launched their detox programmes which promise to reinvigorate and re-energise through tailored nutrition, herbal medicine and the spa’s signature treatments. Book in for a consultation with herbalist, naturopath, and Cloud Twelve founder Jenya Di Pierro to discuss bespoke dietary plans and individualised herbal remedies. Or the spa’s green coffee sculpting treatment is a restorative combination of dry skin brushing and deep massage that facilitates lymphatic drainage and improves circulation – a session of self-improvement while also letting you imbibe in all the spa’s relaxation techniques including a sound bath, and heated massage bed… For the time-poor amongst us, an intravenous drip or intramuscular shot (administered by fully certified medical practitioners) can deliver nutrients and minerals directly into your bloodstream. Whether it’s detoxification, immunity, or anti-ageing you’re after, there’s be a shot for you.

To Book: cloudtwelve.co.uk

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Bamford Haybarn Spa at the Berkeley, Knightsbridge

The Berkeley Spa

Where? The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL

What? The Berkeley’s rooftop haven of whitewashed wood aims to bring a heavy dose of countryside serenity to central London. Unlike the 5* get up downstairs, the spa is covered in clean white and greys with that refined ‘rustic’ somewhat reminiscent of Soho Farmhouse. The main lure of The Berkeley’s spa is the rooftop pool, one of the best places to be on a sunny day in London, with white linen sun loungers dotted around the herby garden patio and champagne on tap. If the sun’s a no show, the pool transforms into a luxurious indoor setting.

The Treatments: They offer all the expected spa treatments, with a few curve balls and a pregnancy package that Mum’s-to-be swear by. Indulgent guests, seeking a move away from the organic, natural overtones can opt for the Gold Fine Body Wrap using grapes and champagne on the skin.

To Book: the-berkeley.co.uk

The Dorchester Spa

The Dorchester Spa

Where? The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA

What? The Dorchester’s spa doesn’t stray far from the hotel’s iconic British style. It does add a slap of Art Deco glamour though– indulgent interiors to reflect the extravagance treatments. Aromatherapy Associates work to alleviate life’s stresses, as do the aromatic steam rooms and slick relaxation quarters where time stands still.

The Treatments: The rejuvenating signature facials by Carol Joy London are worth stretching the extra mile for, relaxing tense facial muscles and completing your stress MOT. More importantly, the aptly named ‘Spatisserie’ serves 4 Bento Boxes of your lean green choice or simply a ‘guilt free’ Afternoon Tea. Too much ‘guilt free’ indulgence later, you can work it off in the Fitness Studio equipped with Swill Balls, cardio vascular equipment, and Medicine Balls galore.

To Book: dorchestercollection.com

The Spa at Four Seasons, Park Lane

Four Seasons Spa

Where? Four Seasons Hotel London, Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London  England W1J 7DR

What? Forget the archetypal subterranean lair housing most London spas and head instead for the 10th floor. Four Seasons Park Lane’s spa is a sky-high sanctuary, packing sweeping views over London’s rooftops and pulling in rays of natural light that immediately lift spirits and visitors high above the pressures of the city. This spa is compact, yet perfect. There is no vast pool but an enormous jacuzzi, hammam and sauna serving up killer views across the city while sweating out toxins. The relaxation area is dark, sultry and smug, entered through a separate door with bed and sound system duos which would enthuse even the well-seasoned first-class flyer. Aside from the plush changing rooms, slick facilities and progressive treatment lists, what sets this spa apart from the London abundance is the light permitted to spill in – and the sense of space and calm this brings.

The Treatments: Four Seasons 5* standards are reflected in the treatments available. A freshly curated list of results-driven options was rolled out in July 2019, featuring the Linda Meredith Oxygen Facial, an anti-pollution facial with crystals, and a herbal pouch massage (relieving aching joints and muscles and removing toxins with heat, oils of ginger and arnica). Mesmerised by the views? Stay for a Margaret Dabbs pedicure and you’ll get the best seat in the house.

To Book: fourseasons.com

Aman Spa, The Connaught

The Aman Spa – Connaught

Where?  The Connaught, Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL

What? Beneath the Connaught’s decadent Edwardian lobby lies the Eastern promise of blissful unwind. The pièces de résistance of the spa is undoubtedly the serene pool, its water ionised using a UV system and complemented by the crystal steam room plied with essential oils. It’s no shock that spa memberships at the Connaught are tricky to get hold of.

The Treatments: The signature experiences at Aman Spa derive from traditional rituals of renewal, notably from India, Thailand and China including herbal compresses, balancing and restorative treatments. More bespoke wellness therapies consist of postural and movement analysis for those bent over a computer all day, reflexology, and traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture.

To Book: the-connaught.co.uk

Akasha Spa, Café Royal, Piccadilly

Hotel Cafe Royal Akasha Swimming Pool

Where?  Hotel Café Royal, 50 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 5AS

What? Next time you hurry across Piccadilly Circus, think about the healthful relaxation you could be having in a secret space right under your feet. The Café Royal, now a sleekly modern hotel with a calm, Eastern influence to its décor, has been a centre of London dining and entertaining for over 150 years and has conserved its ornate, gilded, Belle Epoque public rooms. But the underground Akasha Spa has a 21st-century sense of luxury serenity.

The Treatments: Based on the four elements, with holistic treatments that link Western innovation with Eastern tradition, its natural materials, warm colours and fresh aromas exude wellbeing. Nine treatment rooms, including one for couples, a gym, fitness and yoga classes, a sauna and hammam and a beautifully lit pool with London’s first Watsu pool for private hydrotherapy sessions make this a place to linger.

To Book: hotelcaferoyal.com

The Lanesborough Club & Spa

The Lanesborough Club & Spa

Where? The Lanesborough Club & Spa, Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, London SW1X 7TA

What? London’s most sybaritic new spa ups the ante with Spa butlers who polish your shoes and press your clothes while you robe up for some serious treats.

The Treatments: There are massages designed to uncurl people who spend hours in front of the computer and customized facials curated by skin guru Anastasia Achilleos which feature cranial sacral massage (a light touch therapy that strokes points around the scalp and shoulders to releases pressure throughout the body) along with oodles of deeply relaxing facial massage that has even the most stressed souls levitating off the heated water mattress. For those who want to blow the budget book in the La Prairie Swiss Bliss Dream £300 a three-hour facial and massage medley. This September, they’re introducing a new residency from award-winning retreat specialists Bodhimaya, with a new number of new overnight retreats and one-to-one wellbeing experiences being launched.

To Book: lanesboroughclubandspa.com

Beauty & Melody Spa, M by Montcalm Shoreditch

Beauty & Melody Spa Interior

Where? M by Montcalm Hotel, 151-157 City Road, Shoreditch, London EC1V 1JH

What? An urban escape in the heart of buzzy Shoreditch with a wide range of beauty, aesthetic and spa treatments that won’t break the bank.

The Treatments: Thalgo face and body rituals have long been world leaders in marine spa and beauty treatments. The Polynesia Spa ritual consists of a full body scrub, foot bath and relaxing massage, finished off with Sacred Oil that will leave you looking sun-kissed for the rest of the day. The scents evoke the tropics, and you’ll soon forget that you’re actually below the bustling streets of Shoreditch. There’s a huge variety of treatments on offer, including the ultimate anti-ageing facial, Algae body wrap and a massage that’s created especially for pregnancy. Let the experience last as long as possible as you relax afterwards in the spa lounge equipped with sauna, steam room, large pool, jacuzzi and fitness centre.

To Book: beautyandmelody.co.uk

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, COMO Metropolitan London

COMO Shambhala

Where? COMO Metropolitan London, 19 Old Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1LB

What? An Asian-inspired sanctuary found within renowned Park Lane hotel COMO Metropolitan, based on the award-winning wellness concept Shambhala – which translates as “sacred place of bliss”. The spa itself is small, sleek and minimalist, with less focus on fancy showers and more on top quality treatments, with six sophisticated treatment rooms offering expert therapies for body and face. Couples’ treatment rooms with private steam facilities and baths are available to book.

The Treatments: Treatments at COMO not only pamper, they dig deep for long-lasting results, from facials to acupuncture to reiki. There are lots to choose from, all of which are based on Asian spa techniques. For those keen to brighten their skin, the Guinot Hydradermie is the ultimate hydration facial, designed to deep cleanse, oxygenate and reinvigorate the skin to create a glow that lasts for weeks. Massages range from the nurturing to the invigorating, with options for Shiatsu, a Japanese massage using powerful stimulation on pressure points to release muscular tension. For total body exfoliation, go for the COMO Shambhala Bath, which involves dry brushing, a full body scrub, moisturising and an invigorating bath, followed by a signature massage. Special treatments are also available for expectant mothers, men, and those suffering from jet lag.

To Book: comohotels.com

The Landmark London Spa and Health Club

The Landmark

Where? The Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 6JQ

What? An oasis of calm amid buzzing Marylebone, this spa is tucked away on the lower ground floor of iconic hotel The Landmark London.

The Treatments: It’s often the little touches that make a spa special, and there are many to note here, such as the complimentary mint-infused tea, fluffy towels and slippers, and choice of scent or essential oil to burn throughout your treatment. A wide range of facials, body wraps, massages and firming therapies are available, with products by Spanish skincare company Germaine de Capuccini. The Landmark London Tea Dreams is certainly dreamy: you’ll enjoy a full body massage followed by an energising facial, leaving you with supple skin, a radiant glow and a feeling of tranquility. If you’re after something more exfoliating, go for The Landmark London Elixir, a full buffing and polishing body treatment, followed by an facial and face massage designed to reduce stress. The Mediterranean Candle Massage is also a popular choice, which involves a full body massage complete with energising crystals, applied to the body’s Chakra points to create a sense of harmony. After your treatment, spend a leisurely afternoon relaxing at the spa’s facilities, which include a chlorine-free jacuzzi, 15m heated pool, steam room, sauna, sanarium and a gym.

To Book: landmarklondon.co.uk

MORE SPAS:Wellness & Spa Trends / The Best Alpine Spas / The World’s Sunniest Luxury Spas

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365 Days of Culture – The Best Shows in 2020

If you normally hear about those exhibition tickets after they’ve sold out, read Ed Vaizey’s guide to the best things to see, watch and do in 2020 – and never experience FOMO again.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, Marilyn Diptych

Riches galore await art lovers as we slip quietly into 2020. While politicians are #GettingBrexitDone, you will have lots of time to feast on blockbuster art shows.

For the first time in 20 years Tate Modern is hosting an Andy Warhol exhibition. You can enjoy his iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s soup tins alongside lesser-known works such as the Latino drag queens from his Ladies and Gentlemen series, not exhibited for 30 years. Warhol is, of course, a perennial crowd pleaser and long after his death remains a potent influence on the pop culture he effectively spawned. It opens in March – expect queues around the block.

At the other end of the spectrum, also opening in March, the National Gallery will show Love, Desire, Death – six paintings by Titian. All commissioned in 1551 by the future King Philip of Spain, they depict classical myths taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. What’s extraordinary is that these six paintings have not been in the same room for almost half a millennium – they were last together in the 1580s. Two are coming from Boston and Madrid, but amazingly one will travel just a couple of miles, from London’s Wallace Collection. Under the terms of the Wallace bequest, Titian’s masterpiece was never supposed to leave the building – but a recent court judgment has ‘reinterpreted’ the will, meaning Perseus and Andromeda can now join their long-lost relatives, albeit temporarily.

Other traditional delights await. Tate Britain, the dowager aunt to Tate Modern’s with-it millennial, will have a major show of British Baroque art, Power and Illusion, covering the restoration of Charles II in 1660 through to Queen Anne’s death in 1714. And autumn heralds a new JMW Turner exhibition – appropriate in the year he appears on the new £20 note.

Benedetto Gennari, The Annunciation

Astonishingly, the National Portrait Gallery will close for three years in June, in order to carry out a major £35.5m refurbishment, including a new entrance, so attending its two fantastic exhibitions in the first half of the year is an enjoyable way to say au revoir. A major showing of Cecil Beaton’s photographs, Bright Young Things, includes work from the 1920s, when he established himself as Vogue’s star photographer. It also features paintings from his circle of friends, such as Rex Whistler and Augustus John. Secondly, as with the Titian show, David Hockney: Drawing from Life reunites the artist’s drawings from all over the world for the first time in 20 years – including portraits of Celia Birtwell and his mother – in all about 150 works spanning 50 years.

As one door closes, another reopens. The Geffrye Museum returns this summer after an £18m refurbishment, which includes a new name. Since visitors couldn’t pronounce Geffrye, and had no idea what it was, the museum has been rebranded more prosaically as The Museum of the Home. Originally opened in 1914, this rebirth over a century later sees the museum double in size. As well as charting domesticity from 1600, it explores topical 21st century issues such as homelessness, immigration, mental health and the environment. And since its entrance is right opposite the hipsters’ gateway, Hoxton station, it could be the cool new venue for 2020.

Another reopening to celebrate is that of the Story Museum in Oxford. Originally a virtual resource, it found physical premises in 2014 and doors open in April for a fully whizz-bang, immersive experience for all the family. The museum will present distinct narrative worlds, participatory installations and gallery spaces that encourage visitors of all ages to connect with stories. It’s supported by many of the UK’s leading children’s authors and illustrators, with patrons including Malorie Blackman, Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo, Chris Riddell and Cerrie Burnell. Highlights include the Whispering Wood, where trees talk, and the Enchanted Library: eight immersive rooms in which visitors can step inside an iconic children’s story – whether it’s Horrid Henry’s bedroom or moving between worlds in His Dark Materials.

Electronic at the Design Museum

Electronic at the Design Museum

The Design Museum in Kensington is under new management, recruiting Tim Marlow from the Royal Academy to take over from director Deyan Sudjic. In spring it will focus on the design of the dance floor – but think rave and techno, not Strictly. Evoking the experience of a being in a club, this Electronic exhibition will transport you through the people, art, design, technology and photography that have been capturing and shaping the electronic music landscape. You’ll travel to dance floors from Detroit to Chicago, and Paris to Berlin, as well as the UK’s own
thriving scene. Lose yourself in a mesmerising 3D Kraftwerk experience and discover the stories behind the instruments that made it possible. It’s even got an age rating – no one under 12.

Enough of museums. You’ll want to take in a few plays. One of London’s newest theatres, the Bridge, opened by ex-National Theatre duo ‘the two Nicks’ – Starr and Hytner – has some compelling shows this year, including Roger Allam in a new Caryl Churchill play, A Number, about genetically modified people.

There’s also La Belle Sauvage, a stage version of Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust, in which there will be puppets; and Paula Vogel’s They Shoot Horses Don’t They?, co-directed by Marianne Elliot, in which there will be dancing – by the audience. You have been warned.

The National Theatre programme doesn’t disappoint, either. In Jack Absolute Flies Again, Richard Bean adapts Sheridan’s The Rivals, set during the Battle of Britain (2020 is its 80th anniversary year). The lyricist, novelist, poet and playwright Kate Tempest – one of my favourites – will make her National Theatre debut in June with Paradise, a potent and dynamic reimagining of Philoctetes by Sophocles. Lucy Kirkwood has a new play, The Welkin, which takes place in 1759 and stars Maxine Peake. And The Seven Streams of the River Ota will return home to the National, where it first played in 1996, to mark 75 years since the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.

Pretty Woman: the Musical is coming to the Piccadilly Theatre from America, produced by singer/songwriter Bryan Adams. And Whoopi Goldberg stars alongside Jennifer Saunders in Sister Act at Hammersmith’s Eventim Appollo, for just 39 performances this summer. Not to be missed – but given what else is happening, will you have the time?

MORE CULTURE: 

Best Art Exhibitions in London / Must-See Fashion Exhibitions / The UK’s Best Art Exhibitions

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New government plans could give you a 30 per cent discount for buying a home near your parents

Buying near your parents home comes with plenty of perks, free childcare, Sunday roasts and somewhere to take shelter when the boilers on the blink. But now local first-time buyers have the added bonus of getting 30 per cent off a new home.

Related: First-time buyers using Help to Buy could be forking out more for a new home

The new government plans for local first-time buyers were outlined in the Queens Speech. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick MP says: ‘We will also help first-time buyers get a foot on the property market with 30% discounts for local people and key workers.’

This is great news for local first-time buyers. Recent research by regulated property buyer Good Move, found that two in five Brits were pessimistic about their odds of ever owning a house in their hometown.

local home buyer

Image credit: Lizzie Orme

Nearly half of Brit’s between the ages of 18 and 24 years old believed the houses in their local area were to expensive for them ever to get on the property ladder.

People from in Cardiff were found to be the most pessimistic about there chances of buying a home in their home city. 51 per cent believed the house are too expensive. This was followed by Norwich and Belfast, with almost half of people believing they’d never get on the property ladder in their local area.

local home buyers

Image credit: Lizzie Orme

But while living near your parents may be a dream for some, it can be a nightmare for others. Research found that on average Brit’s would like to live 21 miles away from their parents.

However, those over 25 prefer a little more distance from the parents than the younger generation. Listing 24 miles as the ideal distance.

local home buyers

Image credit: Colin Poole

‘While a little bit of distance from family can be healthy, the majority of people would probably want to live in the same area and unfortunately house prices often prevent this from happening,’ says Ross Counsell, Director at Good Move.

‘A lot of Brits will feel attached to the place where they grew up so it’s a real shame that many are getting priced out of living there,’ he adds. ‘Hopefully new initiatives, like the one the government proposed recently, will help address the issue.’

Related: Dreaming of owning a house in 2020? Try these expert tips to help you save more money in the New Year

Would you like to buy a property near your childhood home?

The post New government plans could give you a 30 per cent discount for buying a home near your parents appeared first on Ideal Home.


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Veganuary: 3 Easy Vegan Curry Recipes

Award-winning author and chef Monisha Bharadwaj shares some of her favourite easy Indian recipes from her new book Indian in 7, a super easy-to-follow guide to a host of delicious dishes that can be cooked with seven ingredients or less. For Veganuary, we pick three easy vegan curry recipes from the meat-free selection, to get you started…

Easy Vegan Curry Recipes

Channa Masala Recipe

Serves 4

This simple recipe is one of the most popular ones at my cooking classes. You can make the curry sauce in bulk and freeze some, so that the next time it will take less than 10 minutes to make this curry. If you cook rice on the side and chop up some crunchy salad, a hearty meal can be on the table within 20 minutes. You can use other canned beans here – try butter beans or red kidney beans. The curry sauce can also be cooked with firm vegetables, such as potatoes, cauliflower or broccoli – these will go into the pan first, then the ground spices along with a splash of water, and lastly, the curry sauce can be poured on top and cooked until the vegetables are tender. The blended sauce has a creamy consistency without the need to add any cream.

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato purée
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon medium chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander leaves, to garnish

Method

  1. Heat 1½ tablespoons of sunflower oil in a heavy-based saucepan and fry the onions over a high heat for 4–5 minutes until they start to turn golden brown. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for a further 7–8 minutes until they are soft.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste (page 26) and cook for a few seconds, then add the tomato purée and fry for a minute, or until well blended.
  3. Remove from the heat, carefully transfer the mixture to a blender, add enough cold water to just cover the mixture, then blend until smooth. Set aside.
  4. Heat 1½ tablespoons of sunflower oil in the same pan and add the ground spices. Fry over a high heat for a few seconds until they change colour, then add 3–4 tablespoons of cold water and continue to cook until the water has evaporated. Add the chickpeas and mix well, then cook over a high heat for 3–4 minutes until the chickpeas have heated through.
  5. Stir in the sauce from the blender and season with salt. Rinse out the blender with 2–3 tablespoons of cold water and add this to the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5–6 minutes until the curry is heated through. Serve hot, garnished with the coriander with plain boiled rice or rotis.

Onion Bhajia Recipe

Serves 4

These moreish fritters are commonly called ‘bhaji’ outside of India, but in their native country a bhaji is a stir-fry of vegetables and not a fritter at all. Some Western chefs add egg to the batter – this is not necessary as the gram flour itself is sticky enough to be a binding agent. These gluten-free fritters are made from a particular variety of pulse called Bengal gram (see page 24). Gram flour becomes crisp when fried and is therefore used in many Indian snacks including Bombay mix. Ajowan or ajowan seeds – also called carom seeds – are added to fritters, such as bhajia and pakoras, as such dishes, along with gram flour, can be heavy to digest, and ajowan seeds are known to be a digestive.

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon medium chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • Pinch of ajowan seeds or cumin seeds
  • 5 tablespoons gram flour
  • 2 onions, sliced

Method

  1. Combine the chilli powder, turmeric, ajowan or cumin seeds and gram flour in a mixing bowl. Pour in a little cold water at a time and mix to make a thick, custard-like batter. Season with salt, bearing in mind that you will need a little more than you think, as it will be seasoning the onions that go into the batter as well.
  2. Heat enough sunflower oil (about 1 cm deep) in a large, deep frying pan over a high heat until hot.
  3. Fold the sliced onions, in batches, into the batter, evenly coating them with the batter. If you put all the onions into the batter at once, the salt in the batter will draw out the juice from the onions and make the batter loose. The batter should just coat the sliced onions.
  4. Test the temperature of the oil by carefully dipping a slice of raw onion into it. The onion should immediately sizzle if the oil is hot enough.

Bhoplya Chiamti – Pumpkin in Creamy Coconut Vegan Curry

Serves 4

I love pumpkin and almost always cook it with the skin on. This adds a bit more texture to the dish and the skin softens enough upon cooking to chew easily. It also holds the shape of the pumpkin pieces and stops them from disintegrating. If the pumpkin is very fleshy, you’ll have some pieces with no skin and they’ll just collapse a bit more than the others. I’ve used passata in this recipe, which gives a smooth sauce when combined with the coconut milk. You can use roasted cashew nuts for this recipe, or even add sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead, if you like.

Ingredients

  • 2 fresh green chillies, finely chopped (seeds and all)
  • 10 fresh or 15 dried curry leaves, chopped or crumbled
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 200ml passata (sieved tomatoes)
  • 400g deseeded pumpkin, chopped into small cubes with the skin left on
  • 400ml can coconut milk
  • 15 unsalted cashew nuts

Method

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of sunflower oil in a saucepan. Stir in 2 teaspoons of ginger garlic paste and the chillies and cook over a high heat for a couple of minutes.
  2. Add the curry leaves and cook for a further minute, then add the turmeric and cook for a few seconds.
  3. Add the passata and cook for 3–4 minutes until everything is well blended.
  4. Tip in the pumpkin, season with salt and then pour in 150ml boiling water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 7–8 minutes until the pumpkin is nearly tender, adding a few tablespoons of cold water if the pan starts to dry out.
  5. Pour in the coconut milk, then stir in the cashews. Cook over a medium heat until the curry comes to the boil. Serve hot with plain boiled rice or poppadoms.

 

Indian in 7 by Monisha Bharadwaj is published by Kyle Books, £17.99

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes from Peggy Porschen / Dishoom’s Okra Fries / Where to Celebrate Thanksgiving in London

The post Veganuary: 3 Easy Vegan Curry Recipes appeared first on What's On? By C&TH.


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Winter Decorating Ideas: Relax…Renew…Reset

This post is from the blog, InMyOwnStyle.com

If you recently put away your holiday decorations and are wondering what you can do to add some life back into your home, I have a few winter decorating ideas that you can easily implement in your own home. This time of year in the decorating world it is all about…RENEWING and RESETTING. These two...
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If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy the easy to follow DIY Decorating Tutorials and Creative Ideas on my blog, In My Own Style.com Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of Copyright law @2009-2019, all rights reserved


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Thứ Tư, 1 tháng 1, 2020

Happy New Year – With Some Big Thoughts About The Past And Future

Em 2019 1Em 2019 1

Happy new year. Hell, happy new decade. It feels pretty appropriately timed, actually.

This year I turned 40 and TODAY the blog turns 10 (more on that later), so my levels of self-reflection and toleration of bullshit are both at an epic high. You’ve all heard this – Turning 40 does something to you. You can recognize your successes, sure, but also see more clearly your failings and the growth you get from that is un-calculatable. This kind of growth is where life actually becomes interesting – like you are watching a movie of your own life, cringing at so many uncomfortable moments, sad for some of the characters, cheering on others. Sometimes you are bored, other times riveted but ultimately you can’t wait to see what happens – how does it all end????

Failing becomes a huge part of the plot, and like anything in life, it’s how you react (or not) that defines you. You’ll read all about it, in more in-depth “10 years of starting, building and running a creative business” series that I’m already deep into writing (it’s like my kind of self-indulgent porn). I started writing my “10-year blog anniversary post’ and it was already at 7,697 words so my team helped me break it up into the things you really care about – less full-blown memoir, more useful information – because you KNOW I can’t wait to share how I really think I got here, looking back what steps really helped build this business, and of course the mistakes/lessons I got to learn along the way.

Em 2019 2

I’m approaching this new chapter of my life and business with so much excitement, relief, giddy anticipation, and more confidence than ever, armed with a now tighter team of awesome creative women, an extremely supportive husband and a mountain load of GRIT. I may not have gone to business school, but let me tell you this – you can’t teach or learn how to do life/business/marriage at even the best ivy league university. Sure, they can tell you how to operate a “successful” business, but no one can teach you how to be fulfilled or even define what that means for you. I’m taking what I’ve done and learned in the last decade and flipping it towards the future. I’m using it as a friendly weapon, a proud ax to clear the brush, and break open something totally new for me, my business and yes, you if you want to stick around (please do, it’s going to be goooooooooddddd, and if not at least interesting?).

Just that.

Gosh, I really meant this to be a short ‘see you on January 6th’ post, but per usual I’m a wordy lady.

I’ll get more into this later, but I need to do a quick thank you so much for following along, whether its been just a few times, only the last year or from the beginning. My connection with you gives me and this blog purpose, typed with glassy, grateful eyes.

THANK. YOU.

See you next week, where the next chapter/act begins. I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens. 🙂

xx

Emily

The post Happy New Year – With Some Big Thoughts About The Past And Future appeared first on Emily Henderson.


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