The best affordable spas in London
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For most Londoners, the idea of finding true peace and quiet is somewhat of a myth. To counter the hustle and bustle of hectic city life, one must find a place that oozes zen, somewhere that has tranquillity built right into its core. London has a wealth of high end spas where you can easily spend a lot for a few hours of precious relaxation. However, it can be much harder to find more affordable options where you can switch off, unwind and recharge – because to really wind down, it helps that you're kicking back for a treatment that hasn't cost you an arm and a leg. Whether you want to soak in soothing hot baths, have an all-natural facial, sweat while looking across London's skyline or float in a sensory deprivation pod, these are some of the more pocket-friendly ways of treating yourself for around £100 in London. We have had treatments at all of these places and know how great they are.
Bamford Wellness Spa
Thanks to their blissful Brompton Cross shop and treatment room, you don’t have to travel to the deepest Cotswolds to get the full Bamford experience. With their signature organic products, white serene walls and an atmosphere to match, they offer a wide range of facials and body treatments. Choose from a rejuvenating 45-minute body scrub to a half day of pampering like the Skin Glow Treatment, which includes a 60-minute Signature Facial followed by 30 minutes of Light Therapy and lunch at the Daylesford Organic Café.
Treatment to book: 30-minute Express Facial for £95
Website: bamford.com
Rooftop Sauna
London is having a sauna boom at the moment, and one of our favourites is this serene rooftop oasis. Hidden on the top of Netil House in London Fields, this sauna set-up has the best views of any sauna in the capital with hot cabins and chilly plunge pools looking out over east London. The private saunas can fit up to four people, which is a lovely way to catch up with pals, but for the ultimate chill, book the whole thing to yourself for 90 minutes of blissful hot and cold therapy. A wonderful reset.
Treatment to book: Extended Sauna Experience (90 minutes) for one person – £40 off peak.
Website: rooftopsaunas.com
Simon Schmidtbig. Beauty
This elegant shop and treatment space in quaint Victoria Park village opened in early 2023. It has been making waves ever since thanks to its thoughtful curation of all-natural beauty products and specialised treatments. There’s a calm room at the back of the stylish store, separated by a curved glass brick wall, with one of the most comfortable treatment beds and a revolving series of skilled practitioners. There are divine massages, superior brow and lash treatments, holistic facials using their favourite brands , as well as the legendary facial acupuncture cosmetic facial that will leave your skin plump and glowing for weeks.
Treatment to book: Glow Up brow and lash facial for £88 or the acufacial for £130
Website: big-beauty.co.uk
People Care. Planet Care (formerly Haeckels)
Seaweed, glorious seaweed – that’s the (not so) secret behind this cult natural skincare brand which has changed its name to align more with its principles. Founded in Margate, the products take inspiration from the beach just outside the flagship space, using oceanic ingredients to nurture and nourish, which all feel and smell incredible. Their London outpost is on bustling Broadway Market, with a shop on the ground floor and a couple of Community Hub rooms upstairs where they offer immersive facials and body massages. To see what their products are capable of, try the Signature Bespoke Facial, a treatment tailored to your skin or a seasonal treatment like the warming Thermal Massage.
Treatment to book: Signature Bespoke Facial 45, a 45-minute treatment for £80
Website: haeckels.co.uk
Re:lax
Nutritional therapist and facialist Katie White set up Re:lax to help people’s skin through facials using natural products, nutritional therapy and lifestyle advice. It’s now one of the most popular spots to get your skin sorted thanks to its friendly and chilled atmosphere. The original salon in a series of shipping containers near Bethnal Green was so popular that they’ve opened a second spot in Borough Yards with a serene set of three new studios. Each of the non-invasive facials is tailored to whatever is going on with you and your skin. In the consultation, a therapist will advise on products to help you see the bigger picture of your skin. Techniques include facial massage, gua sha, LED light therapy, micro-needling, sculptural face lifting, cupping and buccal massage which will all leave your skin brighter and more toned. There are also specific treatments for face lifting, problem skin, and anti-ageing. Try the new Algae Peel, a natural and highly effective skin rejuvenation treatment that will leave you glowing.
Treatment to book: Express 30 minute Gua Sha Lift Facial for £49.
Website: relax-ldn.com
Floatworks
To switch off, give your senses a well-earned break by having a float in a heavenly salt bath. The private floatation tanks at the Vauxhall and Angel branches of Floatworks are filled with half a tonne of Epsom salts so you can’t help but rise to the surface. And at eight feet long and five feet wide, there’s plenty of room to glide around experiencing blissful weightlessness. Once settled inside the pod, pull down the lid and – if you want the full sensory deprivation experience – switch off the light for maximum escapism. Floating is said to help with stress and anxiety, pain and insomnia, but most of all, it’s one hour of pure uninterrupted relaxation. Afterwards, there’s a fully equipped shower to wash off the salt; be sure to leave time to continue to feel the chill with a cup of tea in the lounge afterwards.
Treatment to book: Introductory offer of 3 floats for £99 or individual floats are £69.
Website: floatworks.com
Banya No. 1
Does being thwacked by a bunch of twigs sound like your idea of relaxation? If not, don’t let that put you off a trip to the traditional Russian spa Banya No.1. Based in Hoxton and Chiswick, at Banya No.1 you get the full steam, sauna, plunge ritual. You'll also get a chance to experience the signature Parenie treatment, where you are wafted with fragrant bundles of birch, oak and eucalyptus twigs to help you feel the true heat of the steam room followed by a dip in the chilly plunge pool after. Sounds a tad bonkers – but it’s said to boost blood circulation and relieve muscle tension and will leave you tingling all over.
Treatment to book: Package No. 1 which includes a Parenie treatment and a 2.5-hour session with your own booth in the cafe and starts at £90.
Website: gobanya.co.uk
Aire Ancient Baths
With atmospheric thermal bath houses in beautiful historic buildings already across Europe and NYC and Chicago, Aire’s latest opening in Covent Garden is as wonderfully intoxicating as the rest of them. Based just off The Strand in the magical building where JM Barrie wrote Peter Pan, entering Aire is like stepping into another world with flickering candlelight and hushed tones. Book a session and you get 90 minutes to make your way around the different pools. Go from the 40ºC caldarium to the ice bath, stopping at the steam room and salt water floatarium along the way. For ultimate relaxation, add on a holistic ritual which includes a scrub, a 45-minute massage and a honey-hydrating hair mask. Lots of the experience packages are aimed at couples and the low lighting does make for a very romantic, but it’s just as dreamy going solo or with a good friend.
Treatment to book: Ancient Baths experience is £120 for 90 minutes in the thermal spa
Website: beaire.com
Ilapothecary
The first thing you notice when entering this quiet little shop in Notting Hill is the incredible aroma – the potent scent of natural essential oils fills the air, making you instantly more relaxed. And that’s before you even stumble to the back room to indulge in one of their luscious treatments. The all-natural products used in the treatments here do a lot more than just smell great – they can help restore hormone balance or boost your immune system. The signature scents are glorious too – opt for a Beat The Blues massage to be uplifted from your head to your big toe, or if you need an antidote to too much screen time (who doesn’t), treat yourself to a Digital Detox Facial. Each treatment is tailored to whatever you need that day – the biggest challenge is to leave the shop without buying one of everything.
Treatment to book: Digital Detox Facial Therapy is £90 for 45 minutes.
Website: ilapothecary.com
Soho HouseCowshed Spa
Soho House’s spa offering is just as premium as you’d imagine, but there are plenty of affordable treatments to book – which are now accessible to non-members too at their Primrose Hill branch. Here they have everything from a speedy 30-minute manicure (with the option of an additional shoulder massage) to a blowout 90-minute full-body lava shell massage. There’s also a big range of facials using light therapy, waxing treatments and a massage to suit every ache.
Treatment to book: The 30 minute signature massage which is £65
Website: cowshed.com
Still London
Originally an all-natural nail salon with a small treatment room at the back, over the last few years this stylish Dalston favourite has expanded. Now, the space includes three new calming treatment rooms, an infrared sauna and a thoughtful range of affordable holistic treatments. Pop in for anything from a 45-minute Soothe facial to a 90-minute Bliss massage. They also offer reflexology and LED light therapy, or you can just book in to recharge in the cedar infra-red sauna. And it is definitely worth booking an Icelandic Luxury Pedicure, which includes an invigorating salt foot scrub and foot massage with rosehip, sea buckthorn and red clover.
Treatment to book: Sweat and Rest which includes 25 minutes in the sauna followed by a 1-hour full body holistic massage for £108
Website: still-london.comPorchester Spa
For an affordable day of old-school relaxation, head straight to the beautiful 1920s Grade II-listed Porchester Spa in Queensway. This is London’s oldest spa and remains a firm favourite of west London locals thanks to its iconic decor, reasonably priced treatments and traditional Victorian bathhouse experience. The week is split into days for men and women with mixed sessions on Sunday. For £29.70, you get access to the two steam rooms, Turkish baths of varying heats, sauna, plunge pool and relaxation lounge. Leave your phone in your locker, bring some magazines, grab a lounger and chill out. There’s also a 30-metre pool if you’re feeling active, and two therapists offering a wide range of massage styles, facials, cupping and body scrubs.
Treatment to book: Time Out Spa Experience which includes access to the spa facilities, a Moroccan body scrub and a 45-minute full body massage for £93
Website: porchesterspatreatments.co.uk
Masaj
In need of a truly excellent massage by someone with healing hands? Masaj is the place to be. With branches in Shoreditch and Marylebone, Masaj is a celebration of the power of bodywork and there’s a treatment to suit every ache and pain. Their aim is to combat the negative impacts of London living and after an hour here, your body will thank you. The studios are simple and chic; this is contemporary pampering which focuses on the massages themselves. Release tension with a deep tissue massage, have injuries addressed with a sports massage, pamper your bump with a prenatal massage and book in for a new lymphatic drainage massage. If you need a few niggles worked through in your lunch break, you can now also stop in for a Chairwork session, a restorative fully-clothed seated massage with prices starting at just £25. They have also just started Facework, facials that focus on easing tension, sculpting and lifting.
Treatment to book: Deep tissue massage, from £56 for 30 minutes
Website: masaj.meSpa London
For a couple of hours of pure relaxation, Spa London is one of the most cost-effective chill-out sessions. With branches in Old Street, Chelsea, Bethnal Green, Kensington, Swiss Cottage, Waltham Forest and Wimbledon, book into the Thermal Spa Experience and you can gently rotate between hot rooms, saunas, plunge pools, steam rooms and relaxation lounges for two hours before floating back out into the world feeling refreshed. And that’s before you’ve even booked a treatment. There are well-priced massages, facials, scrubs and wraps on offer, as well as manicures, pedicures and waxing so find your nearest branch, book in with some friends and make a day of it.
Treatment to book: Thermal Spa Experience from £27 for two hours
Website: spaexperience.org.uk