The Sanctuary is a woman's only spa located in London. It was one of the first spas of its kind in London.

As stepped inside I thought how charming and intimate it is. I was greeted by a sales clerk asking if I had an appointment. When I said yes, she told me to go through another door, to the top of the stairs and I could check in there. When I got to the top of the stairs I was surprised to see a large reception with over a half a dozen desks checking in loads of women.  I started to go to an empty desk and was redirected to the end of a line. It felt like I was in a beehive with productive, efficient, organized bees buzzing all around. I was offered a cup of juice while I waited in line and drank it as I gazed around at the efficiency going on around me.

When my turn came up I was checked in and taken to the changing room. It had the feel of a women's locker room at the gym back home. I'd been given a fancy waterproof bracelet that acted as the key to the lock on my locker. You just hold it against the lock and Bobs your uncle, belongings are locked up tight.

I left the locker room and took a wrong turn, (the place is huge, you'd never know it from the outside of the building), and ended up waddling in my big robe through reception as I made my way to the Orchid Room. I was to have the Boreh Spice Body Indulgence treatment. An ancient remedy used by Balinese rice farmers after a long day in their rice fields. It is a traditional remedy that helps relieve aching joints and sore muscles. The Boreh is a mixture of warming and stimulating spices such as clove, ginger, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, formed into a paste which they use as a scrub. Here is where things got interesting. The treatment room was very simple with the exception of a private shower which is used during the treatment. My therapist explained to me what she was going to be doing and gave me a pair of paper underpants to wear during the treatment. In the states I can't recall ever having been given paper panties and I just figured it was a health department issue or European women were more modest than Americans. I undressed laid on the table and the treatment began.

After my treatment I wandered literally from room to room and floor to floor as I explored the Sanctuary. I had lunch in their spa restaurant, managed by Leith's, it is set in contemporary surroundings, once the rehearsal hall for the Royal Ballet. Fresh produce of the highest quality is carefully prepared on the premises and served with a selection of fine wines and champagne.As I sat down for lunch, I noticed  much to my shock and horror all the other women had on my ensemble, a white terry robe and the waterproof bracelet. It is either a new fashion trend for the ladies who lunch in London or we had all been brainwashed and unknowingly joined the cult of the cotton threads. Either way it was an interesting equalizer, suddenly people's faces and body language popped out. Making it very interesting to study the relationships and interactions they had with each other.

After lunch I wandered around took a Jacuzzi, swam in the pool. It is a great way to spend the day. There is so much to do besides all the wonderful treatments they offer.

Sleeping is the most natural way to heal your body from the stresses and strains of every day life... the Snooze Zone is their answer to the  perfect place to gently drift away.

Calm your senses into a state of bliss in our Colour Relaxation Studio. Lying on curved loungers, ever-changing shades of blue and green fill the room together with calming music and The Sanctuary signature fragrance.

The Koi pound is a great place to relax you can wander the bridges and walkways of the Koi Carp Lounge, or simply read, sleep and daydream as the Koi Carp swim gently by. You will thrive on the unique tranquility of the surroundings.

If movement is what you crave, there are steam rooms, an aqua gym with underwater workout equipment, and a spa store where you can purchase the products which were used during your treatment.

Make it a girls day, bring along a friend or two and plan on spending the day when you visit the Sanctuary. You'll want plenty of time to exploring all the delights the Sanctuary has to offer.

http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk
info@thesanctuary.co.uk
+44 (0) 870 770 3350

The Sanctuary
12 Floral Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9DH

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