The best massages in London

Perfect for anyone up for a historical experience.

At the slightly unsettling sound of a seventeenth-century gong, the detoxifying body ritual begins. The initial salt body treatment, with a magnesium sulphate scrub sourced from Epsom, helps exfoliate the skin and remove excess toxins from the body. The salt is mixed with a mixture of detoxifying oils is used with the salt to soak into the body. After the private shower: time for the deep tissue massage. Elvedina, my therapist for the afternoon, chased each knot in my upper back quite intensely (as requested) and I came out feeling scrubbed, primed and massaged to perfection. Even though it was an experience (a two-stage, old-school ritual is very different to the run-of-the-mill back massage), it’s completely on your terms; from the type of oil to be used down to the type of music you want to be played during the treatment. The spa itself was beautiful, in the basement of the five-star Rosewood hotel in Holborn. There’s no pool, however, (since it’s a listed building) so don’t expect a fully equipped spa day when you’re planning your visit. 90 minutes, starting from £190.

Perfect for soothing every ache and knot in your body.

CBD is everywhere these days; in gummies, sleep remedies and tampons — so it's no surprise spas have started incorporating the stuff into aroma therapy oils. Cloud Twelve Spa in Notting Hill has done exactly this. The CBD oil massage kicks off with a foot bath and scrub before getting comfy on the heated treatment bed in a beautiful, dimly lit treatment room. The talented therapist pressed and unknotted my back intricately, and she was very adaptable to the type of pressure required. I left feeling relaxed, moisturised and not high - the CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and does not have a psychoactive effect on the body. You learn something new every day! £200 for 60 minutes, £265 for 90 minutes.

Perfect for quieting meddlesome minds. 

Forget everything you think you know about spa treatments. Here, in a quiet corner of the COMO Metropolitan on Park Lane, there are no water features, hot tubs or options to add prosecco to your treatment. Instead, you’re welcomed with an invigorating cup of ginger tea and ushered, in gentle tones, into a sleek and minimalist treatment room. The focus here is on lifelong wellness and taking a pause from your hectic city existence rather than snuggling in soothing fluffy robes (though the robes are super soft, FYI). Its signature massage is a lesson in really taking the time to reset. The long, assured strokes, with hands rhythmically moving along the entire length of your body (they recommend you go nude), create a powerful, almost trance-like sensation that will quiet even the most meddlesome of minds. After 90 minutes I felt feeling peaceful, refreshed and genuinely rebalanced. Almost ready to take on the Central line again. £145 for 60 minutes, £165 for 75 minutes, £185 for 90 minutes

Perfect for chilled vibes with a view.

The Four Seasons Spa in Mayfair is set on the tenth floor with floor-to-ceiling views over Hyde Park, so it almost seems a shame you’ll be lying face down for your massage. Everything is attuned to your body, from the pressure to the oil you choose (sweet grape is anti-inflammatory, while coconut has antibacterial properties). Then get ready to relax as the tension is kneaded from your back, arms, legs, feet and hands. Afterwards, you’ll practically float into one of the dimly lit relaxation pods where you can slip on a pair of headphones, sip a steaming cup of tea and let the calming effects of your treatment really sink in. £190 for 60 minutes, £255 for 90 minutes

Perfect for full relaxation in a very convenient location

If you flinch at the thought of a ‘deep tissue massage’ but start burning essential oils the second you feel stressed, this is the treatment for you. When you’re extra sensitive, even a ‘relaxing’ massage can make you feel like day-old dough that’s being kneaded by an angry baker. The Decléor Aromatherapy Full Body Massage, however, is very gentle and uses a blend of aromatherapy balms and hot essential oils that help release muscle tension the moment they hit the skin. The skilled massage therapists at Radiance in Fitzrovia are particularly good at responding to their client’s tolerance levels, always checking in to make sure the pressure is just right. The heavy scent of sandalwood and lavender in the air mean the chances of falling asleep are extremely high. The spa itself is very small, with the candle-lit treatment rooms tucked away in the basement. But the location – right on Charlottes Place in Fitzrovia – could not be better. The building shares a terrace with cosy cafes and lunch spots, so you can take yourself for coffee after the massage while smelling like a bowl of potpourri. £45 for 30 minutes, £80 for 60 minutes, £110 for 90 minutes

Perfect for anyone who’s in need of a little love. 

The deep tissue massage at this frighteningly trendy wellness studio starts with a full-body consultation. The whole experience is delicious: you stand before your therapist in a darkened room and tell her all your real (and imaginary) aches and pains while she examines you tenderly so as to tailor the session to your specific needs. It might be the attention that’s so nice. In all seriousness, before my therapist had even touched me, she had made me feel truly known. On the table, things just get better: slow and satisfyingly firm – deep tissue is one to go for if you want to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth – every knot is unknit; parts of the body that have gone untouched for decades come back to life (who knew ankles were capable of intense pleasure?). This is the most full of self-love I have ever felt. You will leave transformed. £59 for 25 minutes, £99 for 50 minutes, £145 for 80 minutes

Perfect for anyone scared off by fancy spa days. 

A shipping container might not sound like a nice place to strip down for a massage from a stranger, but it turns out it’s actually pretty delightful at Masaj. Set across three shipping containers at the Gossamer City Project, with a bright, greenery-draped courtyard at its heart, the aim here is to champion the power of touch as an antidote to city stresses. Its tagline is ‘come as you are’. For me, that meant late and slightly sweaty after rushing out of a meeting and across London to the appointment. Happily, my frazzled arrival at the space, simply decked out with calming tones and fresh interiors, was met with soothing words and a line-up of delightful, and 100 percent natural, oils to sniff. Each massage is tailored to the needs of each individual body, so after a chat about my aches, pains, preferences and the weird places I hold tension, we moved to the petite but cleverly designed massage studio, and my therapist began. The only downside was having to leave the cocoon of the container and head back into the real world ‘as I was’: sleepy, dishevelled and covered in that delicious-smelling oil. £56 for 30 minutes, £70 for 45 minutes, £95 for 60 minutes, £110 for 75 minutes, £125 for 90 minutes, £170 for 120 minutes

Perfect for spa sceptics. 

The spa at Lush’s vast Oxford Street store provides some much-needed respite from the crowds going wild for bath bombs on the floors above it. Tween-friendly price tags are left at the door of the country cottage-style oasis, but the fun factor is not. Treatments here come with a side serving of theatrics. For example, the 70-minute ‘The Good Hour’ massage is delivered to the sounds of reworked sea shanties from the ’50s and ’60s, and a masseuse will work your body like old ropes on a ship. But in a good way, using a trigger point technique to work out knots and plenty of pressure if you’re a sailor whose back has seen better days. The waves of steam that appear from under the table will rock the boat if you’re a massage purist, but if you’re looking for entertainment while you unwind, they’re a stroke of genius. £140 for 70 minutes

Perfect for really, really tense Londoners. 

Just behind Sloane Square, this Chelsea townhouse features treatments inspired by Southeast Asia. The expansive, dark-wood reception area has a slight boarding school feel, but that quickly evaporates when you head down to the petite spa, where zen vibes abound. There are seven luxurious massage therapies to choose from, with the added use of a pool and steam room if you want to make a day of it. We had the 90-minute Malay Massage, which focuses on toning and stretching and is a great tension release. Added benefits: the treatment finishes with a soothing coconut oil face massage and a cup of tea with sugared winter melon, shipped all the way from Malaysia. Tasty stuff. £180 for 90 minutes, £240 for 120 minutes

Perfect for anyone craving more balance.

While there are quite a few places to get a massage in London, there are far fewer places to experience an Ayurveda massage. The Hindu system of medicine – most commonly practised today in India, Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia – is more than 3,000 years old and is rooted in the idea of balance between mind, body and spirit. At this small but ever-so-professional spa in Kensal Rise, you can try synchronised abhyanga (an oil massage), Shiro abhyanga, also known as Indian head massage, and Shirodhara, where hot oil is poured onto your forehead for extreme relaxation (apparently it’s popular with stressed-out execs). I opt for the abhyanga: a classic full body massage. It’s excellent. Anu, who does my treatment, immediately finds the tense points in my shoulders (no doubt from all that Netflix-watching in bed). This isn’t a massage that involves aggressively pummelling out knots; rather, it focuses on easing you into a deep chilled-out state through a firm, flowing movement from head to toe. Who’d have thought you could have so much tension in the palms of your hands? This is a fantastic independent salon, and thoroughly worthy of a visit – whether you’re a stressed-out exec or not. £90 for 60 minutes, £130 for 90 minutes

Perfect for a total transformation. 

You might associate a massage with snooze-inducing relaxation. But don’t make that mistake with the Inner Strength Resilience Massage at ESPA. Though the treatment was inspired by the ‘Painted Lady Butterfly’, this is not a gentle flutter on the skin. Fueled by aromas of tea tree and eucalyptus-infused oils, the resilience is about waking up the body and senses. Once you’re wrapped up like a freshly made snack, the therapist begins to work your arms with gentle yoga stretches, moving into deep tissue massage to work out the knots that are locking up your muscles. This is the vaudeville of spa experiences: you never know what’s up next. Foot reflexology, gentle sinus stimulation and a long scalp massage are all thrown into the mix. It’s expensive, and very ‘wellness’-orientated (the therapist seems very concerned about sugar intake), but it delivers. By the end, you feel lighter, wide awake and weirdly erratic. Not unlike – yep, you guessed it – a butterfly. £375 for 120 minutes

Perfect for taking some much-needed time out. 

Reclining by a low-lit pool in a mosaiced room, you wouldn’t guess you were beneath the packed pavements of King’s Cross. The flash of car lights at the very top of the high window and the gentle rattle of train carriages are the only giveaway. Treatments here take place in intimate rooms with soft lighting and even softer beds. The spa’s signature all-body Aromatherapy Massage is a soothing, slow-paced and heavily scented experience that will no doubt result in softened shoulders and a calmed mental state. The real treat, though, is being buried away in this secret space, so close to the stress of commuters on the tube and travellers waiting for delayed trains. £140 for 60 minutes, £190 for 90 minutes

Perfect for alleviating serious tension. 

Amid the Broadway Market hubbub of hipsters, foodies and comedown moodies, Holistic Health is a sudden sanctuary. After the usual cursory form-filling, I met my therapist, Alan, who gave me a cup of water, led me to a bijou treatment room and inquired about my ailments. I bring your average desk-crabbed tensions to the table: knots in my shoulders and along my spine, nuggets that cluster like dried peas in an inner tube. Add to these an annoyingly chronic elbow injury, and I was able to give Alan something to work with. I have sometimes been an unsatisfied customer when it comes to massages, left with the sense that the treatment, like a kind of glorified stroking, has skated over the issue. In this case, an hour-long combination of acupressure, deep tissue and sports massage (which involves manipulating the limbs) not only addressed the stress, but genuinely helped my press-up elbow. There may be more luxurious or transcendental options around, but functional and effective was what I was after. I left as loose as a goose, and ready to recommend the Holistic Massage to the denizens of Hackney. From £70 for 60 minutes, from £105 for 90 minutes

Perfect for getting involved. 

Ten Health & Fitness might be better known for powerful reformer Pilates classes that’ll leave your muscles quivering, but it’s also the place to go for a full body massage. It’s worth noting that if you’re looking for dim lights, panpipe music and a blissful nap, this is not the massage for you. Ten Health & Fitness’s sports massage is a rigorous and deep massage that you know you will be feeling the benefits of long after the session. Expect bright fluorescent lights, low R&B music, and some participation on your behalf. You won’t be laying back and relaxing, but trust me, its worth it. My glutes have never felt such a sweet release. £60 for 30 minutes, £75 for 45 minutes, £90 for 60 minutes, £125 for 90 minutes

Words: Naomi Waring