The Best Massages In London

Stiff back from sitting at your desk all day long? Feeling stressed? Or just fancy a bit of TLC? We’ve rounded up the best massages in London to book now.

Four Seasons Hotel London At Park Lane

Park Lane is synonymous with luxury in all of its forms – including wellness. At Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, that means there is a whole floor dedicated to wellness. And unlike many London spas which carve out space underground, this hotel’s spa takes relaxation to a whole new level, sprawling across the top floor. This is where guests can enjoy the fully equipped state-of-the-art gym with its floor-to-ceiling windows framing breathtaking views across London. For winding down, there’s a vitality pool, soothing steam room, cocooning relaxation pods and wood-clad sauna with its window peering over Hyde Park. In the treatment rooms, choose from a comprehensive menu spanning aromatherapy massages to jet-lag tailored treatments, stretching from 45 to 165 minutes – because the real luxury is time, after all. If you are looking for a facial, C&TH can recommend the 60-minute Deep Cleansing facial which harnesses the power of postbiotic Moor mud, harvested from the mineral-rich waters of Hungary’s Lake Héviz.

Address: Hamilton Pl, Park Ln, London W1J 7DR

BOOK IT: fourseasons.com

Dimple Amani’s Lymphatic Drainage Massage

After almost instantaneous, transformative results? Dimple Amani’s lymphatic drainage massage is just the trick. Combining Ayurvedic healing with Brazilian massage techniques, the one-hour massage focuses on activating the lymph nodes to rid the body of toxins and debloat you. You’ll be able to feel the results as you leave, lighter in your step – and the drainage continues naturally for a few days, leaving you looking significantly more sleek in your silhouette. Dimple also follows up her massage with a warm mug of her ‘miracle tea’, which is made up of a unique (and tasty) blend of Ayurvedic herbs and aims to support the digestive system while rejuvenating the skin.

Address: Locations in Victoria and in Harrods, see all locations here

BOOK IT: dimple-amani.com

MASAJ’s latest studio is now open in Islington. (© Bennie Curnow)

MASAJ

At bodywork studio MASAJ, the belief is that a massage should not be an occasional luxury but forms an essential part of modern life. If you are reading this, then, they are preaching to the converted. But the USP here is a membership model that keeps you coming back, nudging you to really make it a part of your routine. And, if you are prone to tight shoulders, jaw tension, low quality sleep or an overactive nervous system you struggle to tune out, regular bodywork is a tried and tested way to tackle it. As such, when you enter a MASAJ studio, of which there are three, it feels more like walking into a design-forward fitness studio than a spa. There is no faffing with dressing gowns, and in a favourite twist, you even get to choose the music along with the oil scent and preferred level of communication right at the start of the treatment. MASAJ’s expert practitioners take an intuitive approach designed to meet a wide range of needs, whether you seek a sports massage, deep tissue, pregnancy support or a restorative full-body treatment. There’s also soothing manual lymphatic drainage and Facework to release all the pent up tension we so often forget about.

Address: Venues in Islington, Marylebone & Shoreditch

BOOK IT: masaj.me

Iris Avenue

While probably best known for its luxurious mani-pedis mani-pedis and funky nail art, Iris Avenue is also home to a team of talented masseuses who can work their magic to release knots, relax muscles and send you off into a near-sleep state. A massage session can be completely tailored to you following a quick consultation with your masseuse, targeting the areas that may feel the most stiff or stressed. There are four treatments to choose from on the menu. If you’re pressed for time, the 20-minute Step Out massage should do the trick, working over the muscles in your back and shoulders – but if you have a bit more time to indulge, it’s well worth levelling up the experience with the Offline or Out Of Office massages. These full-body treatments range from 50 to 80 minutes and cover you from head to toe. Make the experience all the more relaxing with addition of hot stones, but just make sure your don’t drift off…

Address: 32 Store Street, Fitzrovia, London WC1E 7BS

BOOK IT: irisavenue.com

Away Spa At W London

The Away Spa, found inside the W London Leicester Square hotel, has collaborated with NEOM Organics to offer a new massage treatment to hotel guests and the public too. Combining the different therapies of cranio, Thai massage, meditation, shiatsu, trigger point and reflexology, choose between a 30, 60 or 90 minute treatment and be lavished in the the 100 percent natural fragrances of NEOM by the experts. The spa itself is a haven inside the glamorous hotel and has such an invitingly soothing interior that you’ll soon forget the fact you’re right off the high street in the heart of bustling central London. The 30 minute massage is such a treat after a long day at work; the fragrances used, touch of the massage therapist and noises and energy will leave you in a state of uplifting relaxation ready for a good night’s sleep and a productive following day. Alternatively, head here for a pre-hen do indulge – the waiting area is a stylish space to sit before a treatment with a chilled glass of champagne and a (quiet) gossip with the girls.

Address: 10 Wardour Street, London W1D 6QF

BOOK IT: awayspalondon.com

Flavia Morellato

If you’re after a functional massage, Flavia Morellato is the name to know. The Brazilian physiotherapist – whose clientele includes everyone from Ellie Goulding to Mille Mackintosh – uses a unique method called lymphatic drainage, designed to de-bloat and reduce water retention. Instead of the usual kneading and de-knotting you might expect from a massage, Flavia uses long, rhythmic strokes, designed to stimulate the lymph glands and guide the flow back to the circulatory system, helping to flush out water and excess toxins. After spending some time on one leg, Flavia asks you to lift it up and compare it with the other – you’ll notice a significant difference between the two, with one feeling far lighter. Though Flavia recommends going often to see long-term results, after just one session you’ll feel lighter – and with a noticeably flatter midline.

Address: Harvey Nichols (4th Floor), 109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1 7FJ

BOOK IT: flaviamorellato.co.uk

Facegym, NW8

Simply put, Facegym is a massage for your face, carried out by their Face Trainers. The treatment includes warm ups, cool downs, sculpting and muscle manipulation. Because why should your face miss out on all the massage fun? Founded by former beauty and wellness columnist Inge Theron in 2014, the first branch was a concession in Selfridges but Facegym has since gone global with a presence in NYC, LA, Sydney and Mumbai (as well as Manchester and Oxford on home shores). In London, you have nine venues to choose from.

Address: Branches in Chelsea, St John’s Wood, Coal Drops Yard, Richmond, Broadgate, Notting Hill, Covent Garden, Canary Wharf and Selfridges.

BOOK IT: facegym.com

Cloud Twelve, W11

Cloud Twelve is no stranger to Country & Town House spa round-ups with its sustainable ethos, first-class beauticians, and of course, heavenly skilled masseuses. The spa which is situated in the most charming of mewses in Notting Hill embodies serenity; behind glass doors you’ll find yourself enveloped by an air of calm – one simply cannot help but exhale the day’s stresses away. Gentle spa music – and not the annoying kind – together with an enchanting fragrance help chase away any remaining tensions. Like any spa worth its (Himalayan) salt, Cloud Twelve’s massage offering is long and hard to choose from, ranging from Ayurveda massages to more Western  options like an invigorating Swedish or balancing aromatherapy one. But if we’re hard pressed to choose just one it’d have to be the Holistic Deep Tissue one, where an expert therapist works out your knots, ease your aches and declutter your mind – you’ll leave walking on air.

Address: 2-5 Colville Mews, London W11 2DA

BOOK IT: cloudtwelve.co.uk