The Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden

Pavanne

I recently paid 155 pounds for a Spa Retreat package at The Sanctuary spa, Covent Garden. Has anybody else been there? I'd be interested in your experiences.

See, the thing is, the website https://www.thesanctuary.co.uk makes it look heavenly, but I'm afraid it didn't live up to that image for me.

The Atrium pool is famed for its swing and for being "one of the most beautiful pools in the country". Well, it just looked like a normal pool to me, stuck out of the way, with people smoking over it! There were ledges which I suspect once held nice pots or plants but these were empty and dirty. The cascading plants shown on the website were way up high and not a feature of the pool. Basically it was a warmer than average smokey swimming pool with a swing over it. Nothing beautiful about that.

I had a "creme hair bath" treatment booked, which had the potential to be relaxing, yet all the while I have having my treatment I could hear a crowd chattering away. I'm not sure if these were the sounds from the restaurant or what, but surely a bit of relaxing music would have been a good idea.

Lunch was reasonably nice, I can't fault the cooking.

Anyway, after lunch I was booked into their new "colour relaxation studio" which the site says "ever-changing shades of blue and green fill the room " http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/the-spa-facilities-colour-relaxation-studio.aspx but all it is, is a room with lots of loungers and a fleece blanket to lie under which hasn't been changed from the previous user, a bit of music, and five panels on the front wall, a bit like a cinema screen, which change colour in sequence from green to blue and back again. The room doesn't change colour, just the wall panels.

Next I had a foot treatment with manicure. My therapist was all over the place unsure of what she was doing and even though I was careful with the nail varnish for the specified time it still ran and was ruined.

One other thing, I do feel there was a lot of pushing of their own products. Don't get me wrong, I love their products, but I felt very obliged to make a purchase.

I'd be interested to hear how other people found it. Indeed, if you have been, take a look at the site, particularly the colour studio and the atrium pool sections, and let me know if your experienced matched the descriptions.

LilacLillie

I've been a few times, but not in the last year. It was never as described in the booklets, I think they were just for promotional/advertising stuff, to entice us in!
In the early days, when it was more exclusive, it was pretty nice and always had a relaxing time. The changing rooms were always pretty dim. I agree there is to much noise (including chatting!), and thought that the way they pushed their own products, they must all be on a commission.
I liked the massage chairs (although last time I went I'm sure you didn't get as long in them), and the Turkish room.
I think the day spa packages are a bit misleading. This is why I started to go to a cheaper one nearer home. try complaining, you might get another day or some products free
LL

pudding

thanks for the info my friend wants to go for a pampering day but we live in the north of england and I think it's a lot for us to pay for a day as it is.....I think we will stick to one nearer to home for now.....

lily_the_pink

lol - I had a day there last year. It did me a lot of good at the time - stressful year due to death of a close relative - but well over priced.

I felt like a sheep most of the time - particularly in the colour treatment room. The body treatment I had was good - but facial nothing special. Big fish were nice to look at, pak choi interesting at lunch time, lots of mags in the seating area.

Would I go again? Only if I won a day there! Though I am glad I went

Is it worth travelling from the North of England? No! There must be some good spas up north - Harrogate? Probably as cheap to do a weekend in Budapest!

trippy

If you have £25 in clubcard vouchers you can change them into £100 Deals tokens and buy a Spa Day at the Swinton Park hotel just outside Ripon through buyagift.co.uk. We've saved up £50 which converts to £200 and spent them on a 1-day cookery course there for hubby and a spa day for me!

jenny_f

the spa days at centre parcs are apparently good and once done you can walk round the parc and enjoy!!!

Karnam

i really like the Green Room at the bodyshop. it's v personal and the woman in my local one (ilford) is a lovely woman who's chatty if you wanna be, or quietly concentrated. she gives wonderful advice, but only when asked to, and its nicely hidden away so there's no noise.

tipsychick

I live in London and agree with others who say it used to be fairly exclusive but in recent years they've been trading on reputation and packing in as many people as poss. I'd complain if I were you. As someone else said, you might get a few free treatments out of it, although would you really want to go back in the circumstances?

Isn't it the place where Joan Collins filmed her so-called raunchy film where she swung over a pool? (It was called something hunk or stud!) Also think they did the Lovers' Guide videos there. Probably not the classy establishment you were expecting really!

melancholly

Karnam wrote:

i really like the Green Room at the bodyshop. it's v personal and the woman in my local one (ilford) is a lovely woman who's chatty if you wanna be, or quietly concentrated. she gives wonderful advice, but only when asked to, and its nicely hidden away so there's no noise.

i'd never heard of the green room at the bodyshop - have just had a google and it looks great. can't afford it myself at the moment, but will try and 'subtley' leave it on the screen for OH to see!!!