Bannatyne Spa Perth

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A reliably luxurious spa experience

When you visit a spa which is part of a chain, you expect a certain level of quality. A fully-stocked gym area; a clean and spacious pool; modern spa facilities and a full range of treatments. As part of the famed Bannatyne group, Bannatyne Spa Perth (Scotland) does not disappoint.

Centrally located just off the Dunkeld Road, the spa is accessible in every way. Novice spa users can ease themselves in with a traditional salon treatment or a Gelish manicure, while specialised treatments such as pro-collagen facials, microdermabrasion and Ionithermie inch loss programmes are available for the more discerning visitor.

But where the spa really excels is in its range of treatments which are specifically catered to teens and men – two demographics which are frequently overlooked at boutique spas. Bannatyne Spa Perth offers two excellent facials for men – the Elemis Skin IQ and the Elemis Urban Cleanse, both of which can be tailored for your individual needs.

Meanwhile, teens can choose from a number of different facials, manicures, pedicures and make-overs, as well as spray tans, waxing and eyebrow treatments. The Elemis Acne Attack Facial has been perfectly formulated to clean, heal and repair teenage skin using essential oils and other natural ingredients – the perfect post-exam splurge.

Keep an eye out for seasonal packages and group discounts for hen parties or couples. If you’ve never been to a day spa before, this is the perfect place to start. And if you’re a spa aficionado who is looking for a professional treatment at a reasonable price, you may not be blown away, but you won’t be disappointed.

TREAT YOURSELF: to the Lava Shells Abdomen Treatment – a warm and relaxing treatment which can help digestive problems and relieve bloating around the waist.

PERFECT FOR: Your first ever spa day out, or a mother and daughter treat.

Bannatyne Spa York

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Big name brands for all budgets – you know exactly what you can expect from Bannatyne Spas.

Before he became a celebrity through his role on Dragon’s Den, Duncan Bannatyne was most famous for his eponymous range of spas. There are now more than 30 Bannatyne Spas situated all across Great Britain, offering quality treatments by big name brands at affordable prices.

At Bannatyne Spa York you know what you’re getting – this is the classic day spa experience with all the bells and whistles. The spa has five therapy rooms, including one dual treatment room for couples, a fully equipped gym and fitness area, a swimming pool and a sauna and steam area.

Treatments range from the cosmetic (the Wella Professional salon offers a full range of hair and makeup packages), to the therapeutic (deep tissue massages, Swedish massages and wraps), and from one-off splurges such as the Chocolate Full Body Indulgence Massage, to regular bespoke therapies such as the Elemis Skin Solutions Facials.

It also has one of the best men’s spa packages on the market – the Urban Retreat package includes an Elemis Urban Clean Facial, a deep tissue massage and access to a daily programme of fitness classes.

The only downside is that this is a day spa only – it closes between 5.30pm and 6.30pm most days (although it is open until 8pm from Tuesday-Thursday) so this is not the place to go for a long weekend or a luxurious break, although there is a hotel next door if you really can’t bear to leave Bannatyne Spa York.

TREAT YOURSELF: to the Elemis Escape package – a great deal which includes a 40-minute Elemis Exotic treatment, an Elemis Pick Me Up Facial and unlimited use of the spa facilities and health club.

PERFECT FOR: A few hours of pampering before a big night out.

Thai Square Spa

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Take a break from modern life in ancient Thailand

We all need to be a bit extravagant from time to time – and no one did extravagance better than the ancient Thai royals.

Thai Square Spa brings a little bit of this old luxury to the heart of Covent Garden in London, offering a suite of luxurious treatments that include a solid gold face mask, a hot jade stone massage, and a body ritual which was developed by Siamese courtiers.

Every guest to the spa is greeted with a cup of Thai herbal tea, a floral foot bath and a seat in one of the relaxation chambers. Infused with the scents of jasmine oil and Thai herbs, Thai Square Spa is doing its best to make you forget that you are in the middle of the busiest city in the world.

This has helped the spa to win praise from newspapers, critics and professional bodies for its attentive service and range of authentic treatments.

The one-hour neck and shoulder massage was named the best spa treatment for men in 2013 by the Evening Standard, although the Gentleman’s Hot Towel Facial and the Gentleman’s Collagen Recharge Treatment are also both intriguing options.

Speed is the name of the game and Thai Square Spa offers a whole host of treatments that can be completed in under an hour, making it a great choice for a lunch-break treat or a post-work pick-me-up.

For more special occasions, try the Spa Sampler package, or one of the full day or half-day packages on offer. They may cost a bit more, but between milk baths, massages, facials and scrubs, you should really get your money’s worth.

TREAT YOURSELF: to the Golden Maharani Facial Treatment – cover your face in a collagen mask made from 24ct gold, for the full royal Thai experience.

PERFECT FOR: an indulgent afternoon at the end of a tough week.

The Academy Spa

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A spa day that runs at your own pace, where you can do as much or as little as you wish

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to go on a spa day in the past where the itinerary of rushed treatments have left you feeling so ‘relaxed’ that you need another spa day to recover, The Academy Spa in Harrogate will offer you a refreshing alternative.

The opulent surroundings have been designed to combine the very best that the West and the East have to offer – the spa is a combination of everything on the planet that is designed to relax and invigorate.

The staff at The Academy Spa appreciate that everyone wants to relax and be revitalised at their own pace, and this is why they offer all visitors a personalised package of treatments. The beauty of this system is that if you decide to just take some time to soak up the calming influences around the premises, such as the ambient lighting and comfortable areas to sit and unwind, nobody will be rushing over to you to whisk you into your next session.

Once your facial or massage has finished, The Academy Spa also has plenty of facilities to help you burn some energy. Their fitness area is extensively equipped, and the site also hosts one of the most prestigious tennis clubs in the United Kingdom.

Bringing the kids is also a great idea – the adjoining childcare facility gives them a great (and above all else, soundproofed) day out while you kick back and relax.

TREAT YOURSELF: to a slow-paced, lazy day off where you can be selfishly indulgent.

PERFECT FOR: Couples that want to enjoy some pampering, as well as those who don’t want to feel guilty about their kids being left at home.

Spa 1877

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Experience a traditional Victorian Turkish spa – with the latest luxurious treatments

From its traditional hot and cold steam rooms to the dry heat of its modern sauna, from seaweed wraps to Indian head massage, Spa 1877 invites its visitors to enjoy a range of relaxing and invigorating treatments, all within the majestic setting of its restored Victorian Turkish baths.

But the pampering doesn’t end when you’re feeling good, Spa 1877’s Essential Beauty can help you look more amazing than ever with treatments such as eyebrow and eyelash tinting, eyelash extensions and threading to remove hair on the face and neck.

Set in Sheffield city centre’s Devonshire Quarter, Spa 1877 was the site of Turkish baths since, well, 1877. Now restored to its former glory, the spa combines the beauty and character of its Victorian architecture with state of the art technology and treatments to create a unique relaxation and pampering experience.

It’s Spa Day Experiences offer a wide selection of spa treatments, soothing holistic therapies and beauty treatments, with something to appeal to practically everyone. Among the Experience packages available include one tailored for mothers-to-be and one for men who want to de-stress and perhaps even discover spa treatments for the first time.

If saying goodbye to the Relaxation Lounge after your treatment is difficult, take comfort in the thought that you can also recreate your spa experience in the comfort of your own home with products from the Elemis Sp@Home Body Exotics range.

TREAT YOURSELF: to one of the spa’s signature treatments, the 1877 Victorian Rose Ritual. Benefit from the inspiring and uplifting aroma of Moroccan Rose essential oil as you experience this stress-relieving combination of massage and pressure point work.

PERFECT FOR: Mums-to-be who could do with a little pampering and anyone who needs to de-stress and relax into the pure indulgence of a little ‘me time’ in an elegant and historical Victorian setting

Aveda Institute

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Lose yourself in organic bliss at the Aveda Institute Spa & Salon

Aveda is one of the best-known names in organic skincare and hair care. Located on the fringes of Covent Garden, you will spot the glow emanating from the Aveda Institute from the end of the street. The Institute has it all – an organic café, a world-renowned hair salon, a range of organic products for sale, and of course, the spa.

Aveda’s philosophy is to use nothing but organic, botanical ingredients in its products, so high tech, chemically based treatments are never going to be available here. Instead, the spa has introduced a range of botanic ‘alternatives’ to popular treatments such as colonic irrigation and microdermabrasion. While they may not be as effective as their chemical cousins, the Aveda treatments are relaxing, environmentally friendly and kind to sensitive skin.

The Institute is constantly adding to its offerings. Recently, it launched a Grooming Station by Aveda Men, which caters exclusively for the health conscious yet busy men of London.

The hair salon offers a full range of barber services (including a cut throat shave), as well as a ‘Beard Perfection’ option, and a selection of 15-minute express treatments – perfect if you’re running late for a hot date, or want to smarten up for an interview.

TREAT YOURSELF: to the Botanical Skin Resurfacing Treatment – an all-natural alternative to microdermabrasion.

PERFECT FOR: Health nuts and eco warriors who want the spa experience without worrying about the environmental impact.

Gentlemen’s Tonic Mayfair

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A high-end barbershop with a twist in the middle of Mayfair.

Gentlemen’s Tonic is first and foremost a high-end barbershop in central London, but over the past few years it has begun to branch out into grooming services as well.

Here, men of any age can seek advice and treatment on skincare issues such as acne and rosacea, and other common male concerns such as hair loss and sun damage.

The spa is laid out like an old fashioned gentleman’s club, with leather, marble and wood creating a luxurious effect. Book yourself in for a haircut and you will be led to your own private booth, complete with an LCD television, so you can catch up on the news or watch your favourite show while your barber gets to work.

A range of traditional shaving options are also available, with all the branded Gentlemen’s Tonic products available for purchase after your treatment has been completed.

Body care treatments and facials are carried out in private spa rooms, where skincare experts will discuss all your needs and help you to create a regular skincare regime which suits your individual complexion.

Although it isn’t explicitly stated that women aren’t allowed, it is almost assumed, so don’t bring your wife along for a couple’s spa treatment. This place is just for the boys.

TREAT YOURSELF: to a hot towel shave – a rare indulgence that will make you feel as good as you look.

PERFECT FOR: Professional men who want a professional grooming service.

The Chelsea Day Spa

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A thoroughly modern spa experience which nails the trend for express beauty

The Chelsea Day Spa knows what its clients want. Situated on the King’s Road, it is a haven for tired feet and anyone with a chronic case of ‘shopping arm’, offering an express menu of spa treatments which last less than an hour. The Express Bar offers everything from manicures and pedicures to waxing, facials, massages and eye treatments, which will perk you up and give you a second wind.

However, for those with a little more time to spend on their skincare regime, there is a wealth of more complex, high tech treatments on offer.

A range of luxury facials include HydroPeptide treatments which are said to boost collagen production, and O2 Intraceuticals procedures, where skin is treated with pure oxygen in an effort to plump out dehydrated cells and slow down the ageing process.

These unusual treatments are requested by men as well as women, although a male-only menu of treatments is also available, titled “Grooming Mr Sloane”.

Every client is matched up with their own personal therapist, in order to personalise their spa experience.

Recently, the Chelsea Day Spa added New York Manis & Pedis to its repertoire, hoping to bring a bit of that NYC glamour to the streets of London.

TREAT YOURSELF: to one of the spa’s anti-ageing O2 Intraceuticals treatments, which are beloved by ageless celebrities such as Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake.

PERFECT FOR: Chelsea girls (and gents) who want a quick spa fix.

Amara Spa London

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Find the answer to your skin problems at Amara Spa London

Fulham-based Amara Spa has a solution for every skin type. Dry, flaky skin? Choose from two rehydrating facial treatments. Worried about wrinkles? There are five anti-ageing treatments to pick from. Acne outbreak? Treat hormonal imbalances with Dermalogica’s Clear Star products (designed specifically for teenaged skin), apply a clearing facial or treat ongoing pigmentation problems with laser therapy.

Amara uses both Environ and Dermalogica products to offer the widest possible range of skin treatments to its clientele. In fact, a trip to this spa is just a few doctorates away from visiting an actual dermatologist.

While Amara specialises in effective skin treatments, it also offers spa staples such as manicures, pedicures, massages, tanning, waxes and body wraps.

Get a full sense of what the spa can offer with the Complete Body De-Stress & Balance package – perfect for stressed out men and women. The package includes a full body massage and a prescriptive facial of your choice. Once you’ve found the facial that works for you, sign up for a course of treatments to keep your skin looking better for longer.

Amara Spa London is celebrating its ten year anniversary this year, so keep your eyes open for special deals and offers to mark the occasion.

TREAT YOURSELF: to a Head to Toe Hot Poultice Indulgence – a nourishing poultice is smeared across your body before you are wrapped up in muslin and given a full body massage.

PERFECT FOR: Local Londoners who are looking for regular skincare solutions and pampering