From holistic massage to cryotherapy and diagnostic testing, these are the best new wellness and beauty openings across the capital.
Self-care gets seriously chic with the newest wellbeing and beauty destinations across London. Indulge in a spot of pampering at Urban Retreat’s new townhouse home that offers head-to-toe treatments for mind and body, try the capital’s first bio-hacking clinic or spend a day in the hands of Linnaean’s award-winning team before nourishing yourself with a delicious meal at the health-focused all-day restaurant; these are the best new places to take some time out in the city.
Linnaean
Located in new riverside development Embassy Gardens, Linnaean is a health, beauty and lifestyle concept store which bills itself as a “complete, curated retreat for the busy urbanite”. Inspired by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus and designed by the internationally-revered Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS), it’s a unique one-stop shop focusing on hair and beauty, relaxation and self-care. The wellness and beauty space features four treatment rooms, offering the latest non-invasive and non-surgical treatments from the likes of Orveda, Susanne Kaufmann, Zelens and Skinceuticals, many using cutting-edge technology, alongside more traditional salon offerings, plus manicure and pedicure stations. The hair salon boasts an award-winning team, whose innovative colour technology includes the use of sustainable, vegan, ammonia-free products, while the boutique is a veritable modern-day apothecary stocking niche, globally-sourced brands. The all-day restaurant is designed to compliment the spa by offering a nourishing plant-based menu with gut-friendly pre- and probiotic options, alongside adaptogenic superfoods, such as Maca Root and Siberian Ginseng, and low GI alternatives. Embassy Gardens, Nine Elms, SW11, linnaean.co.uk
Onda
Onda, the Australian clean beauty retailer and spa set up by long-time friends Larissa Thomson, Sarah Bryden-Brown and Naomi Watts, has thrown open the doors to its first UK outpost, in Notting Hill. In keeping with Onda’s other branches in New York’s Tribeca, Sag Harbour in The Hamptons and Sydney, the Westbourne Grove store feels calm and welcoming, decorated in muted colours, natural woods and with big bunches of fresh flowers. Thoughtfully-curated brands line the shelves, including May Lindstrom, African Botanics, De Mamiel, Joanna Vargas, Guy Morgan and new brand on the block Kate McLeod. All the products are ethically-sourced, clean, non-toxic and organic – and every one has been tested by the trio and chosen for its efficacy, purpose, scent and goodness. There’s a treatment room downstairs offering Onda’s signature facials, which include exfoliation, extractions, a customised mask, facial massage and LED light treatment, tailor-made to the individual. 187 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W11, ondabeauty.co.uk
Urban Retreat
After closing its doors in Harrods, Urban Retreat has moved around the corner, occupying a 12,000 square feet, five-storey house on Hans Crescent. The brainchild of Urban Retreat managing director Reena Hammer, The White House offers medical and holistic doctors, anti-ageing practitioners and beauty experts – all under one roof. The basement is a detox haven, with the Khera-Griggs Cleanse Clinic offering diagnostic testing, results-driven Inner and Outer Body Cleanse programmes, infra-red saunas and extensive mind, body and spirit enhancing treatment sessions, as well as a private, soundproof one-to-one fitness studio for yoga, pilates and meditation. Spread throughout the rest of the building there’s a hair salon and men’s barber; flagship CND nail lab; SumanBrows brow bar, where eyebrow queen Suman Jalaf and her team will be offering microblading, threading, tinting and shaping; a body art studio; and IV infusion lounge. There’s also huge ground-floor retail space complete with consultation tables around the fireplace (giving it a private members’ club feel) as well as FlavoUR, a 40-cover restaurant serving up healthy goodness. 2-4 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, SW1, urbanretreat.co.uk
Apogii Clinic
During her career as an international show jumper, Danish Notting Hill resident Emilie Martinsen-Konigsfeldt recognised the importance of looking after the body and skin through regular, results-driven maintenance treatments. So she opened Apogii, a two-floor wellness clinic on Westbourne Grove, which offers myriad non-invasive options for skin and body, using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. The USP, however, has to be the Apogii Icelab – London’s first medical-grade whole-body cryotherapy at minus 110 degrees centigrade, that delivers a full body restoration. Often used by elite athletes, the twin-room chamber gives an intense three-minute adrenalin hit to supercharge your health. There’s also IV Therapy, Hydrafacial, Dermapen, Accent Prime and LED Light Therapy to revitalise, tone and sculpt; plus a comprehensive facial menu by brands including Esse and Dr Barbara Sturm, whose treatments are exclusive to the clinic (the ever-popular Instant Glow by Dr Barbara Sturm targets cell regeneration, resulting in a natural, refined glow); and for a quick beauty fix, you can book in for eyelash extensions, tinting, eyebrow threading and pain-free waxing. Afterwards, soak up the hygge vibe at the in-house café, which offers a nutritious menu. 105 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W11, apogiiclinic.co.uk
BelleCell
This brand new beauty, health and wellness clinic, in the heart of Mayfair, specialises in regenerative technologies and age management, using an advanced scientific approach to gain a precise understanding of your molecular characteristics and your state of wellbeing. Whatever your health and beauty goals, from longevity and cell health to radiant skin or hair loss control, you’ll start with an in-depth bio-analysis to fully figure out your body and how you should be eating, training and living – this could be anything from metabolic tests and 3D body scanning to a nutrigenomix and DNA test. The clinic then creates a hyper-personalised programme, across multiple treatment rooms, an infusion lounge and a diagnostic room, which can incorporate all manner of treatments administered by a team of specialists, including colonic hydrotherapy, IV infusions, carboxy therapy, fusion therapy, PRP, radiofrequency exilis, ozone therapy, aesthetic injectables, laser hair removal, LPG Endermologie, skin tightening and sculpting, women’s health and gynaecological rejuvenation… the list is impressive. 21 Arlington Street, St James’s, SW1, bellecell.com
