‘Greeted by the smiles of the three members of staff behind the egg-shaped desk, I was shown to the waiting area, where I sipped a fresh lemon and ginger tea and took in the views over the capital. From here, through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the four pillars of Battersea power station pierced the grey autumn clouds, while in the foreground joggers navigated the winding paths of Hyde Park. It’s only when you up on the tenth floor – higher than any other hotel on Park Lane – that you can appreciate how refreshing it is not to be in a hotel’s basement spa, hidden from natural light and disengaged from your location.
‘The changing facilities were minimalist and spacious, stocked with Organic Pharmacy products and kitted out with a straightforward electronic locker system. A heavy door led through to a dimly lit area with a sauna, steam room and vitality pool. This small pool with bench seating is filled with highly-enriched oxygenated water heated to a soothing 36C that instantly calms aching muscles. With some time to kill before the treatment, I opted to take five minute stints in the sauna – timed using the hands of Big Ben, visible through the slatted windows – regularly braving the ice-cold rainforest shower, which is a high-tech equivalent of the dreaded plunge pool.
‘Anne, my masseuse, led me through to one of the nine oval treatment rooms that look out over the treetops of the park. Oils and lotions are provided by ESPA, and a quick sensory test gave the opportunity to choose a bespoke selection to be used during my two-hour Advanced Back, Facial and Scalp treatment. This began with a 60-minute back rub using hot stones and firmly applied elbows. Unlike previous hot stone treatments I’ve experienced – where the stones were simply placed on pressure points – the stones were used to knead away knots and regularly replaced to keep the temperature at a surprisingly bearable 52C. Next it was time for face and head to receive an hour’s worth of light massage, with particular attention paid to the eyes and temples, before chimes sounded and I was awoken from my daze.
‘Heading straight back to the real world in such a sleepy, relaxed state did not seem sensible, so it was just as well the individual relaxation pods were on hand to ease me back to normality, with adjustable beds, 20 music channels and endless cups of steaming green tea.
‘Visiting midweek, it felt like I had the place to myself. Had I craved even more privacy I could have reserved the Sky Suite – an exclusive area with double steam shower, separate dressing room and double treatment room, as well as access to the state-of-the-art gym.
‘For a hotel that is constantly raising the bar and keeping the competition on its toes, this new rooftop addition is yet another string to the Four Seasons’ bow. With such an extensive treatment list, a team of expert staff and unrivalled views of the capital (that glowed with the setting sun), this spa can confidently take its place among London’s best.’
If you would like to make a reservation at the spa please call a lifestyle manager. We enjoy a very good relationship with Four Seasons Hotels and are currently offering our members free room upgrades at any of their properties around the world.
