It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas parties, family gatherings, long cosy evenings, and an abundance of good food and festive cheer.
Indulgence rules in December – and we wouldn’t have it any other way – but sometimes the present buying and back-to-back parties can leave us feeling festively frazzled. If you need a wellness moment to reset and relax, then we’ve got you covered.
Rejuvenate at one of London’s most luxurious spas, refuel with sustainable food, and stretch out tired muscles with skyline views.
Sleep Better with Anatomē
There’s no escaping the shops at Christmas, but there are some which offer a calmer, healthier, and all-round more enjoyable experience. Take London Apothecary, Anatomē, for example. The luxury skincare brand sells organic beauty products, essential oils, and supplements in their Piccadilly store, but it’s the added extras that make the store so special.
In-store nutritionists are on-hand to answer any nutrition-related questions (appointments can be booked in advance and vary in length and price). Or if you’re interested in learning more about your body and mind during sleep – and getting more of it – a 6-minute Sleep Bar consultation uses smells and colours to build a personalised ‘Anatomē Sleep Map’. Next, the team will recommend a bespoke sleep oil and an action plan to address your sleep needs. There are also in-store wellness talks and events throughout the year. I know where I’m heading for my presents this December!
Revitalise at the Akasha Spa
Regent Street is the pinnacle of Christmas shopping madness, but beneath the tourists and hordes of Christmas shoppers, you’ll find Hotel Café Royal’s Akasha Spa – a luxurious and rejuvenating escape. The subterranean wellness club and spa offers nutritional advice, meditation, and an extensive menu of treatments. Mood lighting, restorative sounds, and uplifting aromas all help to create a sanctuary of wellness and calm.
For an invigorating treatment to reset both body and mind, try the 23 Carat Gold Signature Hammam. Step one of the private hammam starts with a full face and body cleanse with traditional black olive soap infused with 23-carat gold minerals. Next, it’s a top-to-toe exfoliation that leaves your skin squeaky clean and rids you of any dead skin cells – hello Christmas glow! Lava clay is then used to cleanse and condition the hair and scalp. Step two of the treatment allows you to choose between a muscle-melting Gold Shea Butter Massage or a nourishing 23 Carat Gold Facial. Go with friends or enjoy some well-earned Me Time.
Skyline Stretch with Core Collective x Sea Containers London
Working out during December can be a real chore. Quaffing cocktails and hitting the shops for last-minute gifts take priority, and exercise slips down the agenda. But, a bit of gentle movement can do wonders for both our physical and mental health.
Boutique fitness studio Core Collective has teamed up with Sea Containers London to offer low impact classes with stunning views. Every two weeks Sea Container London’s luxurious rooftop bar, 12th Knot, will be transformed into a unique yoga studio (mats and towels are provided) with sweeping views across the London skyline. Classes will alternate between Stretch + Mobility (45-minute) and a slightly sweatier Power Yoga (55-minutes). All classes are taught by Core Collective’s top instructors, and a smoothie from Neat Nutrition can be purchased (£5) after class – your body will thank you later.
Wellness Wednesday’s with Sweaty Betty
Inject some happiness into your hump-day and join a wellness event at Sweaty Betty’s London flagship store. This December, the team is hosting a special Wellness Wednesday festive event – Ditching Diet Myths Over Christmas – hosted by nutritional therapist Isa Robinson. The 1-hour talk will focus on how to enjoy the Christmas period to its full potential, with a discussion on the anxieties which can often surround food. The talk will encourage us all to enjoy a Christmas of wellness and balance.
Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Sweaty Betty’s three-storey flagship store is more than just a showcase of their latest collection. In addition to wellness events, there’s also pilates classes from Heartcore, healthy and delicious food from Farm Girl café, and a Duck & Dry blow-dry salon to transform you sweaty post-pilates locks – you’ll be Christmas party-ready in no-time.
Dine Sustainably at Ugly Butterfly
If your diary is quickly filling up with dinner dates and festive catchups, why not book somewhere that’s both sustainable and for a good cause.
Chef Adam Handling has recently opened Ugly Butterfly on the King’s Road – a zero-waste restaurant on a mission to inject some luxury into the sustainable restaurant scene. All dishes are made using ingredients that often get discarded, the four most-wasted being – eggs, milk, bananas, and bread. Much of the ingredients will come from Adam Handling Chelsea, the chef’s fine dining restaurant on Sloane St. Expect an inventive and slightly bizarre menu which includes: deboned crispy fried chicken feet with caviar, Adam Handling’s iconic cheese doughnuts made with cheeseboard leftovers, and crispy potato peelings.
As well as pioneering sustainability within the local community – there are free talks and drop-in sessions twice a week – the restaurant will also be donating 2.5% of takings to food charity The Felix Project. A good dinner for a good cause.
Any Questions or Tips to add?