London is fit to bursting with incredible beauty treatments and talented experts and over the years I have whittled them down to my favourites. My little black book of beauty treatments, as it were.
When it comes to treatments, London definitely isn’t the cheapest city in the world. It ain’t no Hanoi where you can get a full body massage for the equivalent of about £6, but if you’re in the market for a haircut or manicure and you’re going to be spending your well-earned money you’ll want to be sure you’re headed somewhere that won’t disappoint and that’s where this list comes in.
Keep scrolling for the best beauty treatments London has to offer.
Hair
Larry King
Lucy at Larry King is my go-to for when I want invisible layers, she is brilliant at doing undone, done hair that looks lived-in but holds its shape between trims.
Larry King, 34 -36 Harrington Road, London SW7 3ND
Percy & Reed
Adam Reed co-founder of Percy & Reed does an awesome "turbo trim" , where he trims the ends and skims split ends with an electric trimmer. This is what you need if you have thick hair that’s prone to tangling and you want to keep the length.
Nicola Clarke at John Frieda
Nicola Clarke is especially good at blondes, Madonna, Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett all trust her with their hair. She has a salon near Oxford Circus and her team are all brilliant. I go to Nicola once a year and she gives me blonde pieces that look even better as time goes on. I'll often get compliments on my colour for months after.
Nicola Clarke at John Frieda, 58-59 Margaret St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 8FN
Face
Dr. Sam Bunting
Dr. Sam Bunting, 41 Harley St, Marylebone, London W1G 8QH
Kate Kerr, Advanced Skin Therapy
Both Dr. Sam Bunting and Kate Kerr have helped me when I have at my wits end with bouts of acne. For anyone dealing with skin issues be it acne, rosacea, pigmentation or something else, these are the woman to go see.
Sunday Riley facial at Hershesons
The Sunday Riley facial at Hershesons with Iris Maglanoc includes LED light and takes-your-breath-away-cold Cryotherapy. It left my skin glowing and clear for two weeks after.
Hershesons, 29-32 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3LR
Pfeffer Sal
At Pfeffer Sal you can get everything from medical grade exfoliation and extractions to LED and laser. The team uses a bespoke combination of different brands which means each facial and the products used are tailored to your skin needs.
Pfeffer Sal, The Stables, 10B Warren Mews, Fitzrovia, London W1T 6BY
Mr Golchin at Rita Rakus Clinic for Botox
Mr Golchin is and ear, nose and throat doctor which means he has an intricate knowledge of the anatomy of the face. He managed to erase my forehead wrinkles, something other Botox practitioners have avoided as they feared my brows would drop.
Mr Golchin at Rita Rakus Clinic, 34 Hans Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1RW
Dr. Alexis Granite for Volite
I've had Volite with Dr. Granite, a series of around 40 small injections of hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate the skin for about 6 months. This would be especially great for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin. Besides Volite, Alexis is a fountain of skin knowledge (she consults for Kiehl’s) and is definitely an expert worth having on your radar.
Dr Alexis Granite at Mallucci London, 13 Crescent Pl, Chelsea, London SW3 2EA
Dr. David Jack for Dermarolling
Dr. David Jack has a wonderful bedside manner and is so knowledgeable in all sort so treatments from Botox and PRP to dermarolling and dermaplaning. I have been to him for Botox and had great results, I also went to see him for a dermarolling treatment. The needles Dr. Jack uses in his clinic are longer than the ones you can buy, so I was given numbing cream beforehand. I had a little redness for about 12 hours afterward, but my skin calmed down and started its repair process where collagen production increases and the complexion is left looking plump and pillowy. I still get ID'd buying alcohol at 34 so...
Dr. David Jack, Harley Street Ltd, 96 Harley St, Marylebone, London W1G 7HY
Body
Courthouse Clinic for Laser Hair Removal and Body Ballancer
I had a course of Soprano laser at Courthouse Clinic on my legs and bikini line. I’m a natural redhead so they weren’t sure it would work but they were honest and up front. I went ahead anyway and was lucky that it worked pretty well. The hair growth on my legs and bikini line is a lot sparser than it once was and I don’t have to shave as much as I did before. Essentially, it got rid of any darker hairs and left me with a smattering of blonde ones which are much easier to contend with. The treatment was pretty painless and I’d 100% do it again. You have a course of 8-12 treatments which takes around a year and then you can simply top-up as and when it’s needed.
Courthouse Clinic also offers the Body Ballancer treatment which involves being zipped up into a contraption that looks like an inflatable sleeping bag. Air is then passed in and out of pockets inside acting like a manual lymphatic drainage massage. If you’re prone to bloating or water retention then this treatment is quite miraculous. Great before a big event.
Courthouse Clinic, 30B Wimpole St, Marylebone, London W1G 8YB
Suzanne Wylde for Myofascial Massage
When I was younger I hurt my coccyx bone twice and it has left me unable to sit down properly for long periods of time without my tail bone aching. Riding a bike in Amsterdam is definitely interesting! When I was in London I used to go and see Suzanne Wylde for fascia massage at Triyoga in Camden. Fascia is basically a network connective tissue in your muscles and Suzanne does a combination of stretching and massage that loosens everything up. It’s so good and leaves me with a spring in my step for days!
Triyoga, 57 Jamestown Rd, Camden Town, London NW1 7DB
Elemis and Cowshed for Massages
Cowshed, 31 Foubert's Pl, Soho, London W1F 7QG
If you’re in need of a great massage, guaranteed, in a wonderful spa environment, then you can’t go wrong with either Cowshed or Elemis. In fact, they are both great for facials too (Cowshed uses Skinceuticals products).
Infra Red Sauna
Glow Bar offers circulation- and mood-boosting infrared sauna sessions alongside adaptogen Moon Milks in its cafe (I love Glow with rose, beetroot and schisandra - an adaptogen that helps you resist stress and boost energy). There is also a wellness store selling everything from jade rollers to Palo Santo. It’s the perfect place to while away a few hours.
Glow Bar London, 70 Mortimer St, Marylebone, London W1W 7RY
Nails at DryBy and Townhouse
Townhouse, 88 Great Portland St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7NS
For the best gel manicures and chic, subtle, nail art DryBy should be your go-to. It’s not cheap but it’s perfect for a treat. If you’re looking for something a little more affordable then pop around the corner to Townhouse which does a superb gel mani and nail art - ask for Monika Serafine.
Next up, check out my edit of the best skincare buys.
For teeth whitening or Invisalign Dr Rhona is so incredibly knowledgeable and gets great results. Check out my highlights for our recent teeth Q&A or swipe up for her guide to everything you can do to improve your smile from bonding to laser.