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Located on the second floor of the five-star hotel COMO Metropolitan London, the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape offers a quiet sanctuary on Park Lane.
With London’s first Nobu branch on the ground floor, the Como Metropolitan used to be a nineties celeb hangout. Nowadays the paps are long gone, and in fact the hotel now has a distinctly understated vibe. Perfect for anyone keen to fly – or indeed spa – under the radar.
Famous for:
The COMO Shambhala hotel chain was founded in Bali in 1997, and its spa franchise is known for advocating a proactive holistic wellness, combining modern science with ancient healing.
The Park Lane outpost is the only COMO spa in London, with an extensive offering of Asian-inspired therapies for body and face, focused on restoring balance and promoting long- term health and wellbeing.
The facilities
The sleek, minimalist interior ensures a clean-lined, peaceful sanctuary for those looking to escape the pressures of city life.
Don’t expect Balinese floral baths and extensive sauna and steam areas though, this spa is exclusively treatment focussed. There are six treatment rooms, two of which are doubles. One double and single treatment room have private steam facilities. Other than that though there are no additional facilities – no relaxation room and no pool.
The changing rooms are on the small side, yet come well-equipped with digital lockers for your belongings, a large shower and complimentary body creams, a robe and slippers.
It’s somewhere to come for a treatment, rather than while away a long afternoon.
The Tteatment
But, oh boy, are the treatments top notch.
I opted for the COMO Shambhala signature massage, a nurturing treatment using COMO’s signature blended massage oils to completely calm the mind and gently rejuvenate the body.
Based on the principals of aromatherapy, COMO Shambhala’s signature products used in the massage are made using high-grade pure essential oils, free from artificial substances.
The room was low lit and the bed incredibly comfortable. I like my massages a little firmer in pressure, and the skilled therapist duly obliged. I could feel my knots screaming and then disappearing. Just what I came for.
The verdict
There massages here are extremely effective and relaxing, and at a significantly more affordable price point than can be found in most of their five star Mayfair hotel neighbours.
If you’re looking for an excellent quality of treatment for your money, this is the place for you.
If you’re a spa junkie who likes to wallow around in towels for half a day shuffling from steam to sauna to pool and back again following your treatment, it’s best to keep on searching.
COMO Shambhala massage, 60 minutes, £115
comohotels.com/en/metropolitanlondon/wellness
