The Best Nail Bars For Summer Mani-Pedis In London

Many a beauty editor won’t get their toes out in the summer before a visit to one of Cowshed’s cosy outputs for an award-winning pedicure. The gel manicures are just as good too. These are treatments that care for your hands, feet (and mind) as well as your nails, with tension-relieving massages for your shoulders and scalp included alongside all the exfoliating, buffing and polishing needed for an exceptional mani-pedi. A word of warning: you won’t want to leave your chair post-treatment.

If speed (and quality) are of the essence, Duck & Dry will have your mani-pedi sorted in a flash. When you need a last minute appointment, but you can still get lots of post-paint pampering should you wish, this is your go-to. The business was actually founded as a blow-dry bar, so if you have a party to attend, book in for back-to-back or concurrent appointments and all your prep will be sorted efficiently, and with ease.

Two things make Ruuby’s app-based mani-pedi offering stand out from the crowd. First and foremost, the mobile therapists come to you, including to hotel rooms and offices, so whether you are London-based or just visiting, your nails will be well-taken care of for all your events. Secondly, the app now offers BioSculpture – a gentler and long-lasting gel manicure technique – which has been accurately described as ‘Olaplex for your nails’. Convenience and quality combined.

From the décor and tastemakers you’re likely to rub shoulders with, to the Instagrammable nail art you can receive from industry-leading techs, a DryBy mani-pedi is truly luxurious. This is the place if you care about nail prep (and you should). Your nails will look healthier even before the polish is applied, and afterwards, the post-treatment massage is elevated using high-end creams and scrubs from La Prairie, Augustinus Bader and Dior.

You’re not alone if you’ve ever chosen a manicure spot purely based on proximity to your house, but paid the price in terms of quality. Luckily, Townhouse is London’s fastest growing nail bar franchise, meaning it’s likely you’ll see the classic pale pink signage up near you soon if you haven’t already. What’s more, if you always struggle to find inspiration, the Townhouse Lookbook is on hand, featuring the classic nudes that make beauty editors flock here, to chic seasonal nail art ideas.

Tucked away within H&M off Regent’s Street, Scandinavian nail bar brand Dashl is Central London’s hidden gem. For a fuss-free, gentle approach to flawless gel or polish manicures, all the nail techs use manual tools so you don’t have to worry about overly aggressive filing or buffering. It even offers a ‘nails on demand’ subscription service that provides unlimited appointments across the month (plus standalone appointments) so grown out nails can be a thing of the past.