Is This The Ultimate Way To Escape The City?
We tried the new City-to-Spa offering from chauffeur service Blacklane
Like all long-time Londoners, I often find myself craving a dose of countryside R&R to balance out the hustle and bustle of city life. And, thankfully, the capital is surrounded by a number of idyllic spas which can be reached in under two hours. But, being a non-driver, my weekend breaks tend to begin with me lugging my suitcase into town before squeezing onto a packed (and often delayed) train, then faffing around trying to find a taxi in a remote village – not so zen.
My interest was piqued, therefore, when I heard about the new City-to-Spa service from luxury chauffeur company Blacklane. The premise? Ensuring a break is stress-free from the moment you step foot out of your front door, meaning by the time you arrive at the hotel your journey has already put you in relaxation mode.
Keen to enjoy some downtime after a hectic couple of months of moving house and wedding planning, I set off to try it out, inviting a friend to join me on a getaway to five-star hotel The Grove in Hertfordshire, just over an hour’s drive from London.
A Look At C&TH’s Blacklane Experience
The ease of our Blacklane ride began from the moment of booking. The company has an app that allows you to book a chauffeur in just a few taps, and ahead of the journey I received helpful updates via text and email to keep me informed.
After a text to let me know the driver had arrived (plus an email containing helpful details like the estimated journey time), my travelling partner and I headed outside, where our first-class Mercedes EQS was waiting – along with our chauffeur, Jonathan. He greeted us with a warm smile and took our bags, before opening the door and guiding us inside the car. I immediately felt relaxed, knowing all I needed to do was sit back and enjoy the journey – no need to worry about which route to take, or navigating traffic jams.
After a small chat, our chauffeur confirmed where he would be taking us, and checked we were happy with the temperature in the car before setting off. The vehicle felt luxurious, with comfy seats and a sleek design, as well as being impeccably clean and stocked up with cans of water (both still and sparkling, with seat holders), ensuring we were hydrated throughout.
After a quick catch up, my friend and I were keen to get our heads into the spa mindset, so we requested some calming music and popped on our eye masks for a few minutes of tranquility (Blacklane kindly gifted us a mini wellness kit). We sat back in the comfy seats, and I breathed a sigh of relief, allowing the chaos of the city and the stresses of everyday life to melt away as we sailed through London.
Before we knew it, the red buses and skyscrapers had turned to quiet country lanes, and our chauffeur let us know we were just a few minutes away from our destination. We drove up the hotel’s grand drive, and our chauffeur opened the door for us before transferring our luggage to the hotel butler and bidding us a friendly farewell, reminding us he’d be back to pick us up the following morning.
Spa Review:
The Grove, Hertfordshire
A resort-style country retreat with a showstopping spa
Set within 300 acres of rolling greenery, The Grove is one of the UK’s best-loved countryside hotels. It’s home to four restaurants and a sprawling golf course – but of course our first stop was the luxurious Sequoia Spa. We donned our gowns and headed straight for the pool, a beautiful, 22-metre long space tiled in black mosaics. Other facilities include a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, plus treatment rooms offering everything from Bamford facials to Swedish massages. There’s also a well-equipped gym featuring state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, and a programme of classes ranging from pilates to indoor cycling.
On a sunny day, a few quiet minutes on the spa terrace is a must – ideally with a cup of herbal tea (or even better, a glass of champagne) in hand. But it’s also worth taking the short walk to the outdoor swimming pool, open exclusively to hotel guests: a beach club-inspired haven complete with day beds and a bar.
There are multiple dining experiences to choose from, including New Delhi-inspired cuisine at Madhu’s and British fare at The Stables, but we wanted a bit of everything so opted for The Grove’s first-class buffet experience, The Glasshouse. As seen on Netflix’s Million Dollar Buffet documentary, it offers an array of live-action food stations, from fresh pasta to pad thai and everything in between.
After a blissful day, we headed to our room to catch up on sleep. The hotel is home to 214 rooms, including 12 beautifully designed suites, one of which we were lucky enough to stay in. Our junior suite had plenty of space, a rolltop bath and scenic views of the estate: the cherry on the cake of our dreamy spa weekend.
The following morning, we woke up feeling revitalised – and happy in the knowledge that our transfer back home would be effortless. Having a fuss-free chauffeur return journey meant we could hold the spa experience with us for that little bit longer.
Book your stay: thegrove.co.uk
Distance from London:
30 miles
Blacklane journey time:
40 minutes
Distance from London:
45 miles
Blacklane journey time:
1 hour 10 minutes
Distance from London:
22 miles
Blacklane journey time:
40 minutes
Distance from London:
46 miles
Blacklane journey time:
1 hour 15 minutes
Distance from London:
21 miles
Blacklane journey time:
38 minutes
Distance from London:
30 miles
Blacklane journey time:
40 minutes
Distance from London:
45 miles
Blacklane journey time:
1 hour 10 minutes
Distance from London:
22 miles
Blacklane journey time:
40 minutes
Distance from London:
46 miles
Blacklane journey time:
1 hour 15 minutes
Distance from London:
21 miles
Blacklane journey time:
38 minutes
