With its array of luxurious spas, specialist clinics and one of the largest beauty destinations in the world, Knightsbridge has become an essential destination for grooming and relaxation

  Words: Evie Leatham    

Urban destination spas

  Bulgari Hotel, Knightsbridge   Complete with a 25-metre swimming pool, this is one of London’s most beloved spas. Treat yourself or someone else to the Augustinus Bader Exclusive Bulgari Facial or the new spa and tea experience in collaboration with British artist and designer Yinka Ilori. And for those anticipating new year’s fitness resolutions, A-list trainer Lee Mullins is in residence at The Workshop Gymnasium to ensure you to stick to them.   Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, Knightsbridge   After an extensive redesign by New York hospitality designer Adam D Tihany, this underground spa is cocooning, dark and moody. Nichola Joss is on hand with her Inner Facial, in which she manipulates the muscles in the jaw and cheeks from inside the mouth for a noticeable lift to the face, or book in with Bastien Gonzalez Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio, for a beyond-pedi that completely transform the soles.   The Berkeley, Wilton Place   Light, airy and laid back, The Bamford Wellness Spa is an uplifting contrast to dark and moody subterranean spa spaces. The big news is super facialist Teresa Tarmey is now in residence. Her celebrity clients (such as Suki Waterhouse and Poppy Delevingne) are testament to her handywork and her signature Ultimate TT Facial is a worthy pre-party investment, using radiofrequency to boost collagen without the mild redness sometimes caused by microneedling (another favourite tool of Tarmey’s).   The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner   The spa here is both excellent and seriously opulent. Treatments by ila and Tata Harper nourish the skin, but also offer a slice of the spiritual: two favourites are Tata Harper’s Grounding Yogic Facial or the wonderful ila CBD Immersion full-body treatment. Membership at the extensive fitness club is sought-after and exclusive, but hotel guests can use the second-to-none facilities.    

The style edit

  Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge   Smart shoppers love the curated feel of this stalwart store, and that includes its beauty edit. The slick offering means you can tick off your grooming to-do list: try Shavata Brows (appointments with brow-pro Shavata are few and far between, but her team are just as talented), Nail’d It manicures and The Light Salon.  

Beauty wonderland

  Harrods Hair & Beauty Salon, Knightsbridge   It’s always been iconic, but Harrods is now one of the largest beauty destinations in the world. Beauty obsessives/panicked Christmas shoppers can browse the extensive beauty hall, then head to the Hair & Beauty Salon. Over 16,000sqft is dedicated to beauty from Townhouse Nails (one of the best nail bars in London) to a hair extension library and everything in between.    

The laser specialist

  Debbie Thomas at D.Thomas Clinic, 25 Walton Street   One of the go-to skincare experts in London, Thomas knows how to wield a laser to achieve skin-perfecting results. Her tailored treatments cleverly combine mild peels, lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound and light therapy to treat anything from rosacea and redness to fine lines and pigmentation. Of course, such expertise means you’ll have to negotiate a waiting list, but it’s worth it to see the woman dubbed the “complexion transformer”.    

Best for brows

  Suman London, 305 Brompton Road   Known as the “Queen of Brows”, Suman Jalaf is the steady hand behind the most meticulously microbladed brows in London (and beyond – she travels extensively for her A-list clients). For the uninitiated, microblading involves using a fine blade to tattoo semi-permanent hair-like strokes onto skin to create full, defined brows. Jalaf’s background in fine arts has given her the eye to create balanced, proportioned, beautifully inked brows.    

The wellness collective

  Urban Retreat, 2-4 Hans Crescent   Housed in one of Knightsbridge’s most recognisable mansions, a former aristocrat’s pad known as The White House, Urban Retreat offers more than your average spa menu. Forget dashing all over London to see who’s who in beauty, Urban Retreat brings those independent practitioners under one roof to combine the usual treatments such as facials with sound therapy, crystal healing, reiki and tarot readings.    

The go-to skin doctor

  The Prager Clinic, 52 Beauchamp Place   While Harley Street was once the traditional go-to address for skin doctors, a slew of luxurious clinics have opened in south-west London. In 2019, Dr Michael Prager was one of the first to lead the way, opening The Prager Clinic, where he offers a host of hi-tech face and body treatments at his discreet boutique-clinic. The man to book when you don’t want to look ‘done’, Prager’s skills lie in making injectable treatments such as Botox look entirely natural.    

Hair Stylists

  Neville Hair and Beauty, 5 Pont Street   With all the expertise you’d expect of a top London salon, Neville retains the bustling feel of a neighbourhood hairdressers, albeit with suitably well-heeled clients. Expect the usual roster of cuts, colour and blow-dries with a real focus on the health of hair. The new Herbal Hair Ritual is the perfect nourishing antidote for winter-frazzled hair, and they also have a residency at the Bulgari Hotel Spa, London.   Errol Douglas, 18 Motcomb Street   A-list stylist and leading industry figure Errol Douglas and his team have real knowledge of caring for all hair types, which is still sadly not the case for many hair stylists. His salon is all laid-back luxury and many of his clients have been regulars for years, which says something about his (and his team’s) talents.   Michaeljohn Beauty and Medispa, 8 Motcomb Street   The ultimate groom-and-go spot to have on speed-dial, MJ, offers the type of maintenance skin treatments you’ll want to book as often as their blow dries. Think Skinceuticals, the brilliant Environ and CACI facials, which are all hard-working brands loved by beauty editors.