Looking to take the edge off? This handy guide has got you covered with the top massages in the capital.
We can’t quite think of anything more rewarding after a day in our lovably grimy city than indulging in a soothing massage. The same applies for anyone who’s had a particularly stressful week in the city.
From the luxury goodness of a treatment at a high-end hotel (Yes, The Four Seasons does a heavenly massage) to the invigorating pleasure of detoxifying lymphatic drainage or Ayuveda-inspired therapies at COMO – you simply can’t beat 90 minutes on the massage table to get back to baseline.
Puzzled about where to get pummelled into a knot-free puddle of relaxation? Start with these…
The Best Massages in London
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel – OTO CBD Massage
Knightsbridge
Few places in London say luxury like the Mandarin Oriental. You can pretty much tell from the glitzy exterior that a hotel like this is going to have some serious spa therapies on offer. You wouldn’t be wrong.
In our books, the OTO CBD Massage is top of the line. For an hour and a half you’ll be massaged with CBD oil infused with aromas of orange, grapefruit and juniper berry while they play relaxing noises of OTO sound therapy.
It’s the massage we keep coming back to – particularly as you can kick off the whole experience with some time in the Mandarin Oriental’s fabulous spa, which comes complete with a hydrotherapy pool, several saunas and a cosseting relaxation room for some serious downtime.
What’s OTO? A doctor-proven technique that uses a crystal’s inner rhythms to help you feel grounded. It’s really nice, but in our humble opinion, this massage really comes into its own when they whip out a bamboo roller to get to your deep tissue.
Akasha Holistic Wellbeing at Hotel Café Royal – Four Elements Massage
If you’re a workaholic prone to bad posture and stress-inducing habits, this deep tissue massage in London at the Akasha Spa is the treatment for you.
By applying pressure to the various kinks your everyday schedule provides and alleviating the strain from within, you’ll be ready to take on the world with a tension-free outlook on life.
From your stiff neck to your knotted back, your body will thank you after a powerful upper body pounding.
The Akasha Spa has something of a reputation for being a true escape from it all. Tucked in a subterranean enclave under the frantic streets of Piccadilly Circus, it feels, quite frankly, like a different world.
Still, it’s the treatments where this spa really comes into its own. If you’re a workaholic prone to bad posture and stress-inducing habits, this 120-minute massage at the Akasha Spa is the treatment for you.
They use traditional Ayurveda techniques and unite them with the four elements to create a massage that’ll leave you ready to take on the world with a tension-free outlook on life.
It starts as a warm-water back massage to loosen you up and then moves down to your feet (that’s the Earth element) then back up your body with hot stones (fire) to culminate in a scalp massage and the job of easing your tension done with finesse.
COMO Spa – Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Mayfair
If you’re looking for the type of massage that’s going to leave you feeling refreshed and reinvigorated you want to try manual lymphatic drainage. It works your muscles in a way that drains toxins and lactic acid away – essentially the massage version of a detox.
It just so happens they’ve got a pretty fantastic one at COMO Spa. The place is an ultra-modern retreat in the heart of London – a fact you’ll be quick to forget when you’re deep into your therapy.
Their MLD massage is less intense than other massages you might find around London and comes in packages of 60, 75 and 90 minutes. The latter is only £180 – not a small amount of money, but as massages in this city go, quite a bargain.
You should also keep an eye on the spa’s Monthly Wellness Specials, where they run an ever-changing package deal with some very enticing prospects…
The Four Seasons Park Lane – Black Pearl 24k Golden Suspendisse
Mayfair
Have you ever wanted to be massaged with gold? To be honest, we didn’t even know that was possible until recently but now we know, well, sign us up.
This therapy could really only come from a place as Ritzy as the Four Seasons (or the palace of Croesus). Their highly trained therapists will be massaging you with 24-carat gold-infused oils.
They say it’s great for your circulation and skin health and best of all, you can tailor your massage to suit the parts of your body that need tension relieved the most.
K Spa at K West Hotel & Spa – Mediterranean Candle Massage
Kensington
With a description like an “oasis of calm” on their spa brochure (a promise that they more than deliver on IRL), the K Spa is sure to submerge you into the luxe world of laidback living.
Whether you’re looking to spend the day with your loved one, or even just by yourself, try the Mediterranean Candle Massage. It takes the form of a 50-minute session of pure indulgence via a Pinda massage – a technique derived from the Ayurveda form of traditional Indian medicine.
The massage is given to your choice of scented candle, the oils of which are then dripped all over your body to heighten the experience. There’s really nothing else like it.
Aman Spa at The Connaught Hotel – CBD Massage
While just walking into the lobby of the Connaught Hotel seems to drain away our worries and woes, the massages at Aman Spa are where the establishment truly shines.
We’re big fans of their CBD Massage. It uses natural oils and La Rue Verte CBD technology that’s at the cutting edge of an emerging CBD industry to enhance what’s already a pretty divine massage.
The massage itself is focussed on lymphatic drainage, designed to drain toxin build-up and other ailments. They do this with a combination of reflexology techniques that reduce inflammation in the body and creates a sense of calm and inner balance in the mind.
The Greenwich Spa – Hot Lava Stone Massage
With a fantastic array of massages to choose from, The Greenwich Spa is the place to be for an afternoon of relaxation.
If you’re looking for a treatment to heat up your day significantly, the Hot Lava Stone Massage is a session that will have you sweating your way to a better mood.
With various benefits, such as relieving muscle pain, this tingly treatment involves the massage therapist using smoothed lava stones as extensions of their own hands.
The pain relief element is enough that it’s even used to soothe arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, but even if you’re already feeling tip-top you’ll find it an incredibly relaxing experience.
Agua Spa at the Sea Containers – Custom Hot Stone Massage
The Southbank
Hot stone massages are a great way to relieve muscle tension and aches and pains around your body. At agua Spa (this place doesn’t capitalise the A) they offer a great one.
It’s done with only organic oils harvested from plants known to have therapeutic or relaxing qualities. They also give you the choice to tailor the hot stone massage so you can pick out the achy parts of your body that need the most attention and get the therapist to work them over.
Given that, it’s a great option for anyone who’s tweaked something doing sport or got a niggling repetitive strain injury from spending too much time at a desk – but that doesn’t mean anyone who doesn’t tick either of those boxes can enjoy it for indulgences sake…
Sense Spa at Rosewood London – Organic Sea Magnesium Massage
For a top-tier massage in the city centre, you can’t go wrong with the calm yet captivating surroundings of Sense Spa at the Rosewood Hotel.
The therapists use a mixture of traditional massage techniques, essential oils and elemental treatments to get you feeling totally zen. The Organic Sea Magnesium Massage is our go-to.
It’s designed especially to release tension and increase blood circulation (which in turn activates brain activity. This is done by the introduction of a little magnesium to the massage process and a mix of deep-tissue and light-pressure massaging.
It’s a great one if you want to relax and rejuvenate but you want the energy to carry on with the rest of your day once your treatment is over.
Re:treat Medispa – Swedish Full Body Massage
Wandsworth
Getting massages in London can be an expensive habit. It’s common for one session to run into the hundreds of pounds. Not so at Re:treat Medispa. They offer a Swedish massage for a very reasonable £56.
It’s a full body massage that promises to deliver on both relaxation and easing any tension you might have in your muscles. They’ll work you from head to toe for 60 minutes and send you on your way feeling as good as new.
If you particularly enjoyed your experience you can book yourself a package of five appointments for £280 and save yourself some money for another relaxing day out.
Raffles at OWO – Four-Hand Imperial Massage
Westminster
Why settle for a massage with two hands when you can have four? This luxury treatment at the Raffles Hotel draws on one of the other luxury treatments we love at their spa but doubles up the hands that deliver it.
That treatment is the Imperial Relaxing Massage – a therapy that pays tribute to Eau de Cologne Impériale, a relaxing citrus scent that’s used during the massage to ease your stress and help you feel relaxed.
The work they do in the massage promotes oxygenation of your muscles and increased blood circulation so you’ll spring off the table feeling light and free of tension.
AIRE Ancient Baths London – Ancient Argan Massage
With spaces resembling ancient temples and the mood of a candlelit sanctuary making wellness treatments feel like a religious experience, AIRE Ancient Baths London is an excellent place for a massage.
You’ll have a wonderful experience with the signature Ancient Argan Massage. A ritual centred around the natural powers of Argan oil, this body moisturising massage has been used by Berber women since time immemorial to care for skin and ease tension. Let us tell you, it’s still just as effective in the present day.
yue float – Zero Gravity Chair Massage
Wandsworth
While yue float is primarily known for its floatation therapy sessions, the Zero Gravity Chair Massage at this establishment is a great option if you only have a short amount of time to spare.
Spend just fifteen minutes in this seemingly otherworldly seat, and you’ll experience a wide range of full-body massage mechanisms to take your treatment to the next level.
This massage is adjustable to your specific problem areas and plays soothing sounds to help you spend the afternoon in a cocoon of solitude. Best of all it costs just £15 so you won’t break the bank on your relaxation.
Claridge’s Spa – La Eva Sensory Immersion
In 2023, Claridge’s was given the number one position in the UK’s 50 Best Hotels list, thanks in part to the quality of its newish on-site spa, La Eva.
If you’ve not been before, sign yourself up for some sessions pronto – you are missing out. The one we think you should really be looking out for is the Sensory Immersion body treatment.
It combines music, fragrances and lotions for an experience that relaxes you not just through massage but through your sense of hearing and smell too. You’ve got options of 60 or 90 minutes depending on just how much relaxation you need.
Map
Practical Tips to Help You Book Your Massage in London
- Book beforehand – Let’s face it, we’re all stressed at some point. So, to ensure you time your massage perfectly with that upcoming deadline, book well ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
- Look out for special deals – Taking care of yourself might be a necessity, but it can come with a hefty price tag. Keep your eye on running specials at your favourite spas to ensure you get a tranquil treatment without breaking open your piggy bank.
