ESPA Life – an iconic urban sanctuary
I‘ve been a fan of ESPA for years and enjoyed some amazing ESPA spa experiences in the UK and around the world, but until last week, had never visited ESPA Life – the company’s flagship spa at London’s Corinthia Hotel. When a friend invited me for an afternoon session I was delighted to accept.
The modern five-star Corinthia hotel is a convenient two minute walk from the Embankment underground station and its two grand entrances open onto Whitehall Place on one side and Northumberland Avenue on the other.
Arriving to meet my friend in the Lobby Lounge, I’m mesmerised by the most spectacular contemporary chandelier I have ever seen, suspended from the glass domed ceiling and adorned with thousands of tiny twinkling lights.
Known as the Full Moon chandelier, this amazing piece of artwork was created by Parisian designer Chafik Gasmi and produced by Baccarat, the prestigious French crystal manufacturer. When my friend arrives, she is equally impressed.
Our afternoon of leisurely indulgence starts with a glass of bubbly in the Northall Bar before we take the lift down to the spa reception on the mezzanine floor. As we’re not having treatments, it seems a bit pointless to complete a health questionnaire, but we do and then a smiling therapist leads us down to the changing rooms so we can don our swimsuits. Everything else – towelling robes, towels, slippers and ESPA toiletries are provided.
The magnificent spa has the ‘wow’ factor in spades – a black marble no-expense spared sanctuary spread over four floors, with 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail studio, silver steel swimming pool, separate vitality pool with powerful massaging jets, steam rooms, amphitheatre glass sauna, ice fountain, heated loungers and private sleep pods.
There is also a state-of-the-art fitness studio with strength machines and cardio-vascular equipment, a spa lounge serving delicious, nutritious cuisine and healthy drinks and a Daniel Galvin hair salon, so you can finish your spa experience with a blow dry!
ESPA Life opened in November 2011 with the aim of improving wellbeing and vitality for guests within a luxurious spa environment. As well as luxury spa treatments, guests and members can benefit from complementary and alternative therapies including naturopathy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, nutritional advice and personal training expertise to help them achieve their health and lifestyle goals.
The afternoon was an indulgent way of whiling away a few hours, as we exchanged news and events in our lives. With no treatments booked, we spent the time enjoying the thermal facilities, especially the two pools and the heated loungers. It’s amazing how quickly time passes when you’re doing nothing!
Next time we must have a treatment and try out the individual sleep pods – taking a nap after a massage seems like the ultimate spa experience!
ESPA Life at Corinthia
Tel: (Spa)+44 (0) 20 7321 3000 Hotel +44 (0)20 7930 8181
Full day pass including lunch, glass of champagne or orange juice and use of facilities £150
Treatments from £130
Images courtesy of Klafs, ESPA Life and Corinthia Hotel
