USP It’s a city spa, part of the enormous Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, but it has a calming atmosphere. It won the British Beauty Awards best day spa in 2002 and 2004.

AMBIENCE It has an oriental vibe, with orchids and pebbles aplenty. There are treatment rooms, including a VIP couple room, several saunas and two amethyst crystal steam rooms.

EXPERIENCE Wonderful scented oils, skilfully executed strokes from head to toe, piles of warm fluffy towels. Having two people working on you at the same time is an odd sensation, as each masseuse applies pressure differently to different areas. But it's extremely effective in relaxing tensed muscles.

FOOD Antioxidising berries and mint-flavoured mineral water. Hotel offers French cuisine and cocktail bar.

IN CROWD Lovestruck couples who are left alone in the treatment rooms, at least on Valentine's Day.

WALLET WATCH £500 for the Ashtaang eight-handed massage.

NEED TO KNOW Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, 252 High Holborn, London WC1 (020 7829 7058; www.spachancerycourt.com)

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