London has gained a substantial new urban spa in Belgravia following The Peninsula London’s grand unveiling of its subterranean Spa & Wellness Centre.

Located beneath the new 190-room Peninsula London hotel, the facility’s opening marks the final stage of luxury Hong Kong hotel brand Peninsula Hotels’ seven-year project to create its London flagship.

Offering wellness and fitness amenities, the two-floor facility was designed by international architect and interior designer Peter Marino, alongside guidance from a Feng Shui master.

Marino defined the spa’s character using inspiration from two of London’s most famous parks – Hyde Park and Green Park – which neighbour the hotel.

The spa’s centrepiece is a double-height subterranean chamber anchored by a 25-metre pool and whirlpool, each complete with vivid turquoise tiles.

Guests can swim here while accompanied by music piped through underwater speakers, or lounge and enjoy healthy snacks and teas from chaises or three semi-private cabanas.

In keeping with the focus on nature, the spa entrance features backlit murals of trees while the pool area is adorned with mosaic tiles depicting tree canopies and overhead light panels that change throughout the day to simulate daylight.

The Peninsula London team opted to work with pool-, thermal- and wet area specialists Barr + Wray and Aqua Platinum Projects to realise its vision.

Additional facilities include male and female changing facilities – each featuring a sauna, steamroom and ice fountain – as well as two relaxation rooms, a Technogym fitness studio and a salon where Belgravia stylist Errol Douglas MBE takes appointments.

First-in-the-UK beauty brands

Treatments are conducted in the spa’s seven wood-panelled treatment rooms, where guests can experience heated robes, Gharieni treatment beds, Italidea linen and Zero Waste by Urb'n Nature amenities.

The spa’s varied treatment menu ranges from high-tech facials provided by Swiss pro-ageing brand Margy’s Monte Carlo to traditional Ayurvedic therapies supplied by Australian aromatherapy brand Subtle Energies.

Already established as The Peninsula group’s preferred spa partners, the two suppliers’ launch at the London spa marks their official UK debut.

Practitioners-in-residenceTo further support guests’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, the Spa & Wellness Centre offers access to a select group of therapists in residence.

The specialists are available for for one- to two-hour appointments, to guide guests in a variety of modalities ranging from acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to osteopathy and personal fitness.

Long-term vision

Heading up the new spa is director of spa and wellness Louise Molloy – a seasoned spa veteran with more than 20 years’ experience who has spent much of her career in Hong Kong and the UAE.

Molloy’s strategy is guided by Peninsula’s Life Lived Best brand-wide wellbeing initiative that's underpinned by physical health, emotional wellbeing and nutrition.

Launched in 2022, the concept provides guests at all 12 Peninsula properties with opportunities to pursue their wellbeing goals throughout their stay.

At The Peninsula London, these include the offerings at the wellness centre – as well as the inclusion of healthy plant-based dining options throughout the hotel, a Subtle Energies turndown service and a Wellness Portal offering guests round-the-clock access to wellness programmes like guided strength-training and meditation in the comfort of their rooms.

Thanks to the help of these wellness touchpoints and the spa's luxury facilities, Molloy predicts the customer base will be split equally between hotel guests and day visitors.

She currently oversees a team of seven therapists but has plans to increase this to nine, she told Spa Business.

A trained therapist herself, Molloy has worked hard to appoint a team of healers who “give treatments with intent”. She predicts her team will be capable of reaching 40 treatments a day once at full capacity.

Fresh programming Molloy revealed future plans for an exclusive wellness membership service as well as outdoor classes in the nearby parks to tap into the demand for nature-based experiences and group wellness programming.

“Connection and relationship building is a core component of Peninsula’s wellness philosophy,” she explained, “and consumers are much more aware of the importance of emotional health since Covid.”

Molloy also plans to roll out educational fitness programming, such as assisted stretching classes, to help equip guests with new knowledge about how to preserve and strengthen their physical health.

More about Peninsula Hotels

Established in 1928, Peninsula Hotels operates premium luxury urban properties in 10 cities.

Destinations include the flagship in Hong Kong, in addition to Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Istanbul, Bangkok and Manila.