Sometimes the best thing you can do for your mind and your body is take some time out. And what better way to do that, than with an afternoon of pure indulgence at a spa. But what constitutes a decent spa? This is a question I get asked a lot.
For some, spas are about treatments, for others, it’s about a large jacuzzi were you can wallow for hours. For me, I love an experience room. So I was super excited to be asked along to check out the new Dolphin House Club and Spa in Pimlico, London.
There's something really lovely about discovering a peaceful retreat in the middle of London. Particularly when the pace of the city feels anything but relaxing. But tucked away in a corner of SW1, Dolphin House Club and Spa offers a little oasis of calm, complete with a beautiful pool, an intimately designed thermal suite and treatments to help you properly switch off.
Despite being located inside the newly developed Dolphin House private members club, refreshingly you don't have to be a member to enjoy the spa facilities here. Non-members can book selected spa experiences and treatments, making it a great option for anyone looking to carve out a little ‘me’ time.
And from the moment I arrived, it felt like somewhere I could happily lose a few hours.
A little oasis in the city
First impressions count, and the design of the spa causes you to immediately slow down and breath easier.
Within the corridor passageway, the softly curved walls have a sculptural quality to them, with the flowing design creating the impression of a rolling wave that gently draws you poolside.
It's a lovely introduction to the space and feels very much in keeping with the spa's intention to encourage guests to slow down, switch off and feel restored.
And then there's the pool house.
Beautifully light and wonderfully tranquil, it reminded me of a miniature palm house, with lush green ferns and natural light pouring in through magnificent skylights. Even on a rather grey and rainy London day, the space felt bright, airy and inviting. Plus, plenty of loungers. Poolside there’s also a steam and sauna for guests to enjoy, but sadly no jacuzzi here.
Although the spa itself is relatively intimate, there's a lovely sense of breathing room. You can enjoy the surroundings without feeling on top of other guests, which is something I always appreciate.
The Thermal Suite: five ways to switch off
The Thermal Suite is where things get really interesting. Rather than simply sitting in a sauna for half an hour, the space brings together five different hot, cold and sensory experiences, allowing you to move between them at your own pace.
The salt therapy room
Lined with beautiful emerald coloured Himalayan salt bricks, this recreates the atmosphere of a natural salt cave. The experience involves breathing in air containing tiny, dispersed salt particles, known as halotherapy. Salt therapy has become increasingly popular in wellness as it is thought to support respiratory health and skin conditions.
The infrared sauna
Next up, the infrared sauna, which offers a slightly different take on traditional sauna bathing.
Unlike conventional saunas, which heat the air around you, infrared technology uses infrared light to warm the body. This means the temperature is generally lower than in a traditional sauna, although you still get that lovely feeling of warmth spreading through the body. Infrared sauna bathing is often associated with relaxation, temporary improvements in circulation and muscle recovery, although research into its wider health benefits is still developing.
The Stonebath
One of the more unusual experiences in the Thermal Suite, this is not a traditional steam room. Using a mechanical lever device, stones are heated in a metal grate and then plunged into cold water, creating an impressive burst of mineral-rich steam and that wonderfully distinctive hissing sound as the water meets the hot stones.
It’s quite a theatrical process, but also incredibly soothing. Steam bathing can help you relax and may temporarily ease feelings of muscle tension, while the warmth encourages blood vessels near the skin to widen. It's certainly a different experience from your standard steam room and one I'd recommend trying.
The ice fountain
Of course, where there's heat, there's the opportunity to cool things down. The ice fountain, allows you to introduce a burst of cold after spending time in a hot room. For anyone who enjoys contrast therapy, this is a particularly appealing addition.
Contrast therapy involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures, with the aim of creating a stimulating experience for the body. While research into its wider benefits is ongoing, many people enjoy the invigorating sensation and the feeling of alertness that follows cold exposure. To read more about contrast therapy see our article here.
The experience shower
Completing the Thermal Suite is the experience shower, which brings another sensory element to the journey. Combining different water temperatures, pressures, lighting and fragrances, it offers a refreshing way to move between the warmer experiences and cool down afterwards. It's a lovely finishing touch to the circuit and another reminder that the experience here is about more than simply ticking off a list of spa facilities.
Time for a treatment: Germaine de Capuccini
Of course, no spa visit would feel complete without a treatment.
I opted for a back, neck and shoulder treatment (30mins). Dolphin House Spa works with professional skincare brand Germaine de Capuccini, bringing its products and treatment expertise into the spa experience.
Founded in Spain in 1964 by Carmen Vidal, the brand’s philosophy combines skincare science and a sensory approach to beauty and wellbeing. One of the things that makes the brand particularly interesting in a spa setting is its emphasis on creating treatments that feel like a journey, rather than simply applying a series of products. Its Sperience collection, for example, takes inspiration from wellness rituals and traditions around the world, combining fragrances, textures and treatment techniques to create a more immersive experience.
Is Dolphin House Spa worth a visit?
If you're looking for somewhere to escape the pace of London without travelling miles outside the city, Dolphin House Club Spa is well worth considering.
What I particularly liked was the balance between its facilities and the atmosphere. The beautiful pool house, thoughtful architectural details and intimate Thermal Suite create somewhere that feels welcoming rather than intimidating.
It's also refreshing to find a private members' club that offers non-members the opportunity to enjoy its spa facilities.
Whether you're looking for a few hours of relaxation, an opportunity to experiment with different thermal experiences or simply some uninterrupted time to yourself, it's a lovely little London escape.
The Thermal Experience, from £99 for two hours; Mini Escape (combines a 30-minute treatment with Thermal Suite access), from £165. dolphinhouseclubandspa.co.uk
