Head west to one of London’s most relaxed hotels and spas… certainly the only one with a snow room
Located on the site of a former BBC recording studio, where the likes of Bob Marley, the Kinks and David Bowie once performed, the K West Hotel & Spa, is staying true to its rock’n’roll credentials and is the antithesis to the stuffy atmosphere of other high-end hotels.
From the moment you enter the vibrant foyer of the four-star boutique hotel, you get the sense that this is a fun, relaxed place but don’t be mistaken: although the approach is casual, staff are fully attentive.
The rooms are big – the smallest is still more than 200 sq ft – and good value. They feature large wardrobes (increasingly elusive in London hotels), smartphones and tablets.
There’s a tempting choice of cooked options for breakfast in the morning in the Studio Kitchen (which also serves really rather good dinners, plus the hotel’s own Glam Rock spin on afternoon tea) or head downstairs to the Studio Bar where there is a help-yourself buffet.
Most people staying come to splurge at the nearby Westfield Shopping Centre (a couple of minutes’ walk away and home to a huge array of high street and designer stores) or to see a concert at either the Hammersmith Apollo or the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – two of London’s best live music venues.
Indeed, it’s due to the proximity of these music venues that the hotel is a favoured place to stay for musicians – so keep your eyes peeled when you’re having dinner or enjoying late-night drinks in the bar (which has its own DJ on the weekends).
However, it’s the pristine wet spa that draws repeat guests and which includes London’s first ‘Snow Paradise’, with natural snow powder, which is surprisingly refreshing and will get the blood pumping. There is also a sauna, steam room, foot spas and a hydrotherapy pool. There is a £20 entry fee to the spa for hotel guests but book a treatment lasting 50-minutes or more and you’ll have access to all the above for free. Day guests are welcome too for a higher rate of £50, or by booking two hours’ of treatments.
It‘s worth it though: K-Spa is like an alpine oasis in the sometimes hectic city of London and you’ll feel all the better for it.
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