sandrine's profile

I’ve recently become an addict of Ten Pilates. The classes are fantastic as they really push you and work on your core muscles as well as flexibility. And booking your class, and choosing your instructor is extremely easy, as you can do it all online.

I had a Fabulous Facial at Bliss Spa, which was part of a Wahanda Mobdeal. I hadn’t been to Bliss in years, so had no expectations, but this was definitely one of the best facials I had in years ! It was an hour of pure facial pampering, with deliciously scented products, very comfortable bed, and wonderful massages of face, hands & feet. I left feeling incredibly relaxed, with a very glowy skin, a Bliss gift which was part of the Mobdeal, wanting to book my next appointment ! :-)

The Dorchester spa has now become my new favorite place! The spa is absolutely fantastic, with the most wonderful treatments, great staff & therapists, spacious treatment rooms & relaxation area, and an absolutely wonderful steam room which you can use before & after your treatment. The slight downside, is that it is quite pricey, but definitely worth every penny !

I went back to Charym over the holidays for an organic skin food facial which was absolutely amazing! It was one of the best facials I have ever had and loved every second of it; from the smells and texture of the products used, to the face, arms, shoulder and chest massage, as well as the extremely comfortable and warm bed you’re laying on, to the relaxing music. I felt nurtured and pampered by Lauren who was my therapist, and the spa in itself is truly beautiful and welcoming. So I would highly recommend the trip to this beautiful region of Litchfield County!

The Aquapura Hotel is quite a magnificent building in the heart of the gorgeous Douro Valley. The spa in itself is quite spectacular and luxurious with endless different treatments, indoor + outdoor swimming pool, various ultra modern showers with different settings, sauna, steam and gym, all with stunning views overlooking the Douro Valley. The treatment rooms are very comfortable with a lovely scent, and the staff could not be more helpful & professional. The traditional Swedish massage I had was lovely and relaxing. But the only critique I would have is that they almost went to far with the design, as you feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the space, design and gadgets, which is a true shame as it is quite pricey.

If you have dry and frizzy hair, and you're tired of spending hours straightening it, then look no further; Mari at Capa is your person ! She chemically straightens your hair, and it works wonders ! It is surprisingly enough very reasonably priced, but it does take hours. But then again, you will save hours never have to straighten your hair again (or at least for a few months) !
And if you are looking for a quick, easy and cheap haircut, then Mamoru at Capa is your man !

Tony at Real Hair has been doing my colour since I moved to London, which is about 8 years ago. I have been loyal to him because of his skills (obviously :-)), professionalism and efficiency. And he does make sure to always keep his clients happy.
The salon is bussing and the people very professional. They have a great reputation and they definitely live up to it !
I have recommended the salon to many of my girlfriends over the years for haircuts or colour with various stylist, and so far, no complaints !
The only downside is that the treatments can be slightly pricey, but then again, isn't everything in London ?

I had a facial & peel at Charym with Lauren which was fantastic ! She was extremely friendly & professional, and advised me on which facial I should have. It was my first peel, which I've heard can be quite unpleasant, but she talked me trough the entire process which made it completely fine. My skin was slightly red afterwards, but felt very hydrated and relaxed, and the benefits were definitely noticeable an hour later.
The spa in itself is beautiful and intimate, and the treatments are very reasonably priced.
Charym has also one of the most beautiful yoga studio's, as well as an integral health centre with a fantastic doctor called Malynn !

The Third Space is a fantastic gym ! It is clean, very spacious (as it spreads out onto 4 floors) and they have it all; cardio vascular, free weight training, pilates, swimming pool, spinning classes, yoga, martial arts, etc. The music is good and the people are friendly. And being linked to the health food store Fresh & Wild is definitely an added value !

I had a deep tissue massage at Hay Barn which was lovely. While I was laying face down on the massage bed, the therapist put a warm towel on my head as well as my feet, which felt incredibly soothing and comforting. The massage in itself was great, and the therapist very professional.

The place in itself is beautiful, the treatments very reasonably priced, and they also have a yoga & pilates studio.
My only critique would be the lack of showers after your treatment, which might feel odd, especially if you are planning to have a lovely lunch at the Daylesford Organic café after your treatment.

Linda Meredith is a small place on Beauchamp Place. Nothing glamorous about the space in itself, but comfortable. My facial with Chelsea was lovely and relaxing, but the creams used were to rich for my skin, and I do find the treatments very pricey ...

Very nice Spa with a lovely lounge area where you can sip your herbal tea, or flick through magazines in silence while waiting for your treatment. The treatments are fine, but can vary depending on your therapist. And the changing rooms are really beautiful with amazing high pressure showers and beautiful products for your use.

Unfortunately Spa NK Knightsbridge is definitely not as nice as the one in Notting Hill. It does not have the same soul, lovely lounge area or beautiful changing rooms.
The treatments are fine, but far from great. But I guess it so depends on your therapist, or maybe I was just to distracted by the very bad choice in music during the treatment.

The Chiva Som is perfect if you are looking for a serious detox. Upon arrival you meet with a health practitioner to discuss your overall health and goals, and you sign up for your daily massages as well as treatments. You exercise daily, pamper yourself, and the cuisine has no added sugar or salt (and you have the exact amount of calories next to every dish on the menu).
This sounds ideal if you either have health problems, weight issues or if you are extremely serious about your detox. Because if you are not, it might be slightly to intense, and you might start craving sweets and a fantastic cocktail (which you will never find) !

Matt Robert's is definitely London best personal training centre ! When you sign up, you have to pay for 25 sessions in advance, as well as a session with a nutritionist and physiotherapist, which makes the first payment quite pricey. But it is worth every penny, as the personal trainers are fantastic ! The advantage of having to sign up for 25 sessions is that you take it more seriously, and get into a serious routine.
I would recommend to try all trainers, so that you can pick and choose the one you prefer.
The space is very beautiful and clean, and there is a yoga studio which can also be used for boxing.

The advantages of The Berkeley are the swimming pool as well as the gym. Both are quite small, but very beautiful with amazing views of the park !
The spa is very nice, and the treatments, depending on the therapist, can be wonderful. The staff is very friendly and professional.
I would recommend arriving early to your appointment, so that you can use the beautiful steam room !

Bhutan is a magical country, and Uma Paro definitely makes your stay even more enjoyable. The spa is absolutely fantastic with very friendly and professional staff. They offer a variety of many wonderful treatments, as well as daily yoga sessions, and they have a beautiful pool with an outdoor area overlooking the Himalayas - Absolute Bliss !

The Como Shambala massage in itself is definitely worth it ! It is their signature treatment, and is a deeply soothing and relaxing massage. And when finished, you're being offered a delicious ginger & honey tea to sip.


For those who have been lucky enough to have experienced other Como Shambala destinations, you might be very disappointed by this London spa, as it is incredibly small, and does not have the same soul as the other Como Shambala's around the world.

This place is heaven on earth ! One of the most beautiful, inspiring and peaceful destinations. The spa is outdoors, down 350 steps, surrounded by tropical forest, with amazing treatments. Absolute bliss !

Illuminata is one of the most luxurious spa's in London ! The staff is very professional and friendly. The spa in itself is really beautiful and luxurious, and the treatments are fantastic. I would highly recommend the Decleor facial with a CrystalGlow Salt Purifying Steam before that.


Treatments are slightly pricey ...