You can’t fail to be impressed with the new sumptuous and opulent ESPA Life at Corinthia with its fireplaces, marble, dark oak, textured leather and polished chrome taking the spa experience to a new level.

Housed in the luxurious Corinthia Hotel in London’s Whitehall, the 3,300 sq m Spa is spread over 4 elegant floors and include a Daniel Galvin Hair Salon, state-of-the art gym, nail studio, Thermal Floor and Spa Lounge with its handmade champagne coloured walls inspired by Chanel.  The female area is decorated in white marble, whilst the male area and Thermal floor is engulfed in a masculine black Italian marble.  Each changing area also has their own sleep pods for relaxing in between treatments.

The Spa menu is extensive and is tailored separately for women and men with signature and more traditional treatments.  I opted for a personalised 80 minute massage so I could get a treatment that suited my needs.  Having been shown to the plush male changing area (there is a separate one for ladies with sauna and steam room) I put on my comfortable bathrobe and slippers and waited to be collected by Agata, my charming Therapist.  She showed me to my therapy room, which was a unique circular shape, as are all the 17 treatment rooms, which are meant to be good for energy flow.  We sat down and discussed what would be the best type of massage for me and what sort of pressure I preferred.  Agata then rubbed two different oils on to each hand and asked me which one I preferred.  I chose the energising over the soothing.  I should just add that all ESPA’s face products are 100% natural whilst their other products are 98% natural.  I opted for fair amount of pressure as I knew my back, shoulders and legs needed some serious work from sitting at a computer for much of the working day and running.  I found the treatment pods to be cosy with just the right ambience and the relaxing music suited my taste.

Having completed my most expert and relaxing treatment, Agata then gave me some valuable feedback on my skin and muscle condition.  One useful hint I did pick up is that it is a good idea to arrive a little early prior your treatment and have a sauna or steam, as this relaxes you and opens up your pores before the oils are rubbed into your skin.

So it was back to the changing room and then down to the Thermal Floor for a swim in the 9 metre silver steel ozone pool (no added chemicals) which I fortunately had to myself.  I liked the rather novel Amphitheatre sauna which had 4 glass sides and was impressed with the large Vitality Pool and its air and water massage jets, particularly the airbed you literally lie in!  There is a black mosaic steam room, real ice fountain which you are meant to rub over your body and heated relaxation marble Cleopatra style beds.

The large gym area is equipped with LifeFitness cardio machines, free weights, Concept rowers, Trixter bikes and private personal training pods.

As well as offering individual treatments in their 17 multi-functional treatment rooms or pods, you can purchase a Day Spa Package and simply relax, pamper and indulge yourself.  There is no danger of getting bored as there is so much on offer.  The Spa Lounge has its own kitchen and chef offering an assortment of infused teas, juices, soups, salads and organic and biodynamic wines and champagnes.  The Spa also has its own medical team on site offering a one-stop integrated approach to natural healing.

The Spa is open Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 10pm; the weekend from 7:30am to 9pm.