With rooftop views of London and an exclusive collaboration with Irish brand GROUND wellbeing, this guests-only hotel spa promises to help visitors reconnect with nature...
Where is it?
Nestled right in the middle of Belgravia and Knightsbridge, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower faces onto Cadogan Place. One of the city’s most historic streets, it is named after the Earl of Cadogan, and also features in the Charles Dickens novel Nicholas Nickleby. Needless to say, the area is filled with elegant Grade-II listed properties that command exceptional prices. The fact that Harrods department store is around the corner doesn’t hurt, either.
Visiting friends and relatives often stay at Jumeriah Carlton Tower, a luxurious yet relaxed hotel with a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service. The Peak Fitness Club & Spa is located on the top floor - a light and airy space with beautiful rooftop views, and peaceful loungers for working or resting on, alongside a gym and sauna. It’s not open to the public – a plus, as you’ll never have to vie for space. Only hotel guests, or the few select health club members, are allowed inside.
What’s the hype?
Hotel spas often partner with different brands, but Jumierah’s partnership with GROUND goes beyond something skin deep. The company was founded by spa practitioner and expert Peigin Crowley, who was acting as a consultant for luxury hotels around the world when Covid-19 hit. "I could see everything dropping out of my diary - all my projects," she recalls, "and suddenly people were talking about homeschooling. I was like, Jesus, that's not for me, I’ve got to get away from that," she laughs. And so GROUND was born – a true kitchen table venture, built from her home, which formed the perfect base for endless tests and trials.
The company’s focus is on all things natural, so products are made with pure essential oils and packaging is wholly plastic free. Therapies involve a lot of acupressure, breath work and touch – but, and here’s where it gets interesting, its key focus is on the skin microbiome.
"We all understand why we should take a probiotic yogurt, kombucha, or kefir, but now we're understanding about the microbiome of our skin, as well as our gut," Crowley explains. Though research on the topic is still limited, she believes that the skin and gut talk to each other, "brother and sister to each other", as she puts it, and that helping your skin to reach the right PH can have myriad benefits, both internal and external.
Further to this, GROUND prides itself on training each therapist to a high standard. Their practitioners are knowledgeable on everything, from what to offer patients undergoing cancer treatment or transitioning to what therapies can work for every age of child. They’re educated on the vagus nerve, the lymphatic system and more. "If you have a massage with us, it’s not just arm, arm, leg, leg…" notes Crowley. Each approach is bespoke to whichever client the therapist is attending to.
What to have?
The Biome Facial is a must and is exclusive to the Jumeirah Carlton Tower for the next six months. The treatment uses specialist GROUND products to calm inflammation and reinforce the skin barrier, leaving complexions nourished and soothed, and it spreads beyond the face itself, incorporating scalp, neck, chest and arm massage as well as a massage and heat treatment on the gut.
Those who’ve flown in from far afield might also appreciate another exclusive treatment –The Jet Lag Ritual. This 90-minute massage aims to restore the body’s natural circadian rhythm – and, of course, it’s pretty relaxing too. Don’t forget to finish off with a dip in the spa’s tranquil pool.
Top tip
Crowley has also been working with Kayleigh Westgarth of Coral Spa Consultancy, a longtime yachting industry expert who has created exceptional spa experiences on board two of this year’s BOAT International cover yachts. It might not be long before you see GROUND products at sea, as well as on land. Meantime, any products you enjoy as part of the treatments are available via GROUND’s website.
Best by boat
For visiting superyachts at Butler's Wharf Pier and Tower Bridge Mortar, The Peak Fitness Club & Spa is just half an hour away. If you’re visiting London, however, you will undoubtedly find yourself in this part of town at some stage in your trip.