London’s Best Spots for Beauty Gurus
Whatever your reason for seeking out a great beauty salon in London, we’ve got everything you need to know about finding the very best bespoke and luxurious beauty treatments anywhere in the city.
From facials, manis, pedis and deep tissue massage, to state-of-the-art anti-aging and skin rejuvenation treatments, London beauticians and aestheticians are ready and waiting to make you glow.
Best Beauty Salons in London
Depending on what kind of treatment you’re after, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect spa, retreat or salon to fit your needs. And in all of London, some of the most trusted and revered beauty specialists are located in one small area: Mayfair.
Spa Illuminata
Where? 63 South Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 2QS
What? Luxury spa retreat in the heart of Mayfair
Specialities: holistic treatments and packages, including facials, massage and acupuncture
Website: https://spailluminata.com/
Why you should pop in for a treatment: Nestled on Mayfair’s South Audley Street is the luxury Spa Illuminata. Voted London’s Best Day Spa by Conde Nast Johansens, this multi-award winning retreat makes for the perfect day out with friends, your partner or simply by yourself.
Get ready to receive truly 5-star service in this opulent yet tranquil setting, complete with white marble interiors, lush soft furnishings throughout and even an entire relaxation ‘temple’.
Treatments here include favourites such as massage, facials and general grooming, but where this spa excels is in its bespoke wellness and advanced services. For those who want to glow from the inside out, try cupping or acupuncture. There are also some fabulous treatments, such as the jasmine steam and purifying salt procedure, tranquillity scalp massage and foot reflexology services. Plus, you can combine treatments and enjoy entire packages, catered to specific desires or needs. These include the Wake Up Call, Sumptuous Mum To Be and Timeless Beauty packages, the latter of which is designed for you to discover the elixir of youth through various anti-aging techniques and treatments.
If you can’t get enough of Spa Illuminata and its incredible services, you can visit the boutique shop on site and pick up some wonderful beauty products, to help you recreate the warmth and relaxation of the spa at home. Spa Illuminata works with some of the world’s most decorated beauty brands, including E.Coudray, Babor and Bellefontaine.
Finally, those who fall in love with the spa can look at becoming a member, where you’ll receive the VIP treatment, including discounts on treatments and a free service every single month.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Where? 125 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 3NS
What? Flagship spa location of world-renowned skin doctor Barbara Sturm
Specialities: tailored skincare and spa treatments in a modern and chic setting
Website: https://en.drsturm.com/london-boutique-and-spa
Why you should pop in for a treatment: With locations in LA, Miami, St Tropez, Dusseldorf and Hong Kong, as well as her flagship Mayfair spa, Dr Barbara Sturm is one of the world’s best-known and revered skin specialists.
A qualified aesthetics doctor, Sturm is famed for her in-depth knowledge of skin care and her tailored, non-invasive treatments and products. In fact, all of Sturm’s beauty products follow the same ethos; that of not using toxic, harmful or aggressive ingredients and not attacking living skin. This makes Sturm a pioneer of holistic skin care, and fans of hers regularly sing her praises and thank her for the healthy, glowing, natural results she achieves with her treatments. So now that you know all about the woman herself, it’s time to visit her spa!
Located on the luscious Mount Street in Mayfair, the 2-storey Dr Barbara Sturm spa is a beautiful treatment centre that mixes classic Victorian architecture with uber-modern design, thanks to Sturm’s collaboration with Tobias Freytag, who also designed the LA and Dusseldorf spa locations as well.
Treatments here are truly bespoke, with expert aestheticians guiding you through Sturm’s exclusive skin care range and various services. We love the attention to detail, and the customer care at Sturm’s eponymous spa is unparalleled.
Treatments at the spa, as you might expect, are very much catered towards taking the very best care of your skin, and some of our top picks include the clarifying facial, light therapy treatment and the ‘Sturm Lift’.
The spa even features two Express Facial Rooms, where shorter treatments are offered to time-conscious customers, as well as four, fully-fitted treatment rooms where you can enjoy more advanced treatments that use the latest in anti-aging skin technology, such as Myolift microcurrent.
Finally, why not treat yourself to some of Dr Sturm’s innovative and effective beauty products? You can pick up some truly wonderful face creams, serums, shampoos, conditioners and even supplements, either in-store or online.
Duck & Dry
Where? 33 North Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 6ZQ,
What? Cute and quirky hair and nail salon with Prosecco bar, perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up
Specialities: Blowdrys, gel nail extensions, hen parties, own hair care products
Website: https://duckanddry.com/pages/mayfair
Why you should pop in for a treatment: Sometimes, it’s the simplest things in life that can make you feel at your most beautiful. For us, it’s that feeling you get when your hair looks at its best. And now, you don’t have to spend hours in front of the mirror with your giant brush in one hand, hair dryer in the other, and a load of clips randomly clinging to your person; just pop into Duck & Dry instead!
This cool, quirky and gorgeous beauty salon in London is your one-stop shop for all things hair, nails and all-out fabulousness. From signature blow drys and decadent updos, to gel nails, manicures and pedicures, this salon will make you feel like a queen from the moment you walk in the door.
Located on Mayfair’s North Audley Street, this vibrant and lively salon is a visual feast, with flock wallpaper, floral arrangements and even neon signs all tempting you in to play. And did we mention there’s a dedicated Prosecco bar? Yes, you read that correctly! Duck & Go don’t just want to look wonderful, they also want you to have a good time, and we love the offer of a cheeky tipple, along with their very tongue-in-cheek invitation of a ‘ducking good blowdry’.
Plus, Duck & Go is too fun to keep to yourself, so why not grab a bunch of your faves and head there for private events, blow dry workshops or even some pre-hen party pampering? With locations in Chelsea, Soho, Islington and now Mayfair, you and your friends are never far from your next amazing blow dry or cute set of nails.
Jo Hansford Hair Salon
Where? 48 South Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 2QB
What? Mayfair branch of world-famous hairdresser Jo Hansford
Specialities: Cuts, blowdrys, highlights, balayage, bespoke hair treatments
Website: https://johansford.com/pages/mayfair
Why you should pop in for a treatment: “The First Lady of Colour”, Jo Hansford is one of the world’s best-loved hairdressers, with a career spanning almost 30 years. So if you’re thinking of a big change to your hair style, then a trip to the Mayfair branch of Jo Hansford will guarantee you’re in good hands.
From highlights and balayage, to stylish, fashion-forward cuts and treatments, the team at Jo Hansford will give your hair the care it deserves. Located on South Molton Street, the ladies and gents of Mayfair have this salon to thank for their luscious locks and enviable style, and now you can join the elite with a trip to this salon.
This sleek and modern salon offers cuts, blow drys, hair extensions, colouring and some other truly fantastic services, including Olaplex’s bond-building treatment. But it’s not just about the hair at Jo Hansford. Guests here can also enjoy beauty treatments from industry favourite, Dee Stanford, including manicures, pedicures, facials, massages and even reflexology. So everything you need to look and feel fabulous is waiting for you at Jo Hansford.