USP: Luxury pampering in one of the capital’s oldest and most historic hotels - Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first phone call and Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book here. Founded in 1837, this most establishment of Mayfair institutions reopened in December 2005 having been given a dramatic £24 million makeover by new owner Sir Rocco Forte. The spa – small but decidedly modern - is one of the many additions brought in as part of the ambitious refurbishment, carried out by Rocco’s sister, the hotelier Olga Polizzi.

Despite comprising just three treatment rooms (there are no wet room facilities), the spa offers hotel guests and non-guests alike all manner of treatments, from body wraps and hot stone massages to facials and head to toe “spa indulgencies” for both sexes. Particularly recommended are the seasonal pedicures, which change every few months and make use of largely natural products such as fresh fruit, vegetables and nut.

AMBIENCE: As in many posh London hotels, the spa is located next to the gym in the hotel’s basement well away from the bustle and business of the main lobby. The space was pristine when I visited and has a serene and well-cared-for vibe – not always the case in basement spas which can sometimes seem like an unkempt afterthought. Whether this was because there were no other guests in sight on the morning I visited I could not say, but certainly the spa’s compact size lends itself to a sense of tranquillity that can be missing in bigger spas with a larger number of guests passing through the doors.

White walls, dimmed lighting and scented candles contribute to the sleek minimalist effect – a world away from the heavy wooden fixtures, chandeliers and grandeur of upstairs. A welcoming smell of honey and apple greeted my arrival at the tiny reception, while the usual inoffensive mood music played at just the right volume; ie. not so loud as to be intrusive should you wish to nod off during your treatment. Therapy rooms maintain the distinctly low-key theme – each has its own shower and a small changing area, but there are few other distractions aside from a discreet corner where the therapist placed her products.

EXPERIENCE: I opted for the seasonal apple and pumpkin pedicure – described as warming and soothing for the feet in autumn. After filling out a few basic medical details on a form, I was shown into the treatment room and asked to change while the therapist left to prepare the Apple Martini that accompanies the treatment (guests who are teetotal or more health-conscious than me can instead sip a freshly pressed apple juice).

Martini in hand, the treatment began with a friendly and chatty South African therapist, Shareen, shaping my toenails and buffing my rather dry and sorry-looking feet while I lay on a heated bed. My legs were saturated in an orange gooey substance that was, I was assured, fresh apple and pumpkin sauce. Made that morning in Brown’s own kitchens by the hotel’s chefs, the mixture consisted of English Cox apples mashed up with pumpkin, and although it looked less than pretty, the mush soothed my tired pins seconds after it was rubbed in. The food theme continued as crushed pumpkin seeds and brown sugar were used to exfoliate, with the vitamin and mineral content in the seeds said to be nourishing to the skin while their high protein levels are believed to combat the effects of ageing. The massage that followed was suitably invigorating, although my legs did look as though they had been covered in (very healthy) baby food.

A second massage – carried out after my feet were soaked in warm vanilla-milk – dealt admirably with a minor ache I have recently had in my heel, and the skin on the underside of my feet did feel noticeably softer and smoother after the application of a paraffin foot wrap (This was, essentially, some hot wax contained in a plastic bag that was wrapped around my feet.) Layers of bright glossy polish were applied to my nails, which were then covered in a quick-dry spray and cling-film to stop them smudging when I put on my ballet pumps, although wearing flip-flops post-treatment would have been the better option, I was advised.

FOOD: Peckish spa-goers can splash out at The Grill, London’s first ever hotel restaurant, where recommended dishes on the menu include Potted Morecombe Bay Shrimps, Dressed Dorset King Crab and Roasted Rib of Scottish Beef straight from the carving trolley. Lighter, more calorie-conscious options are few, but then this is very much a grand and historic restaurant boasting big signature dishes rather than a footnote to complement the spa. Eat here and you will likely be greeted by one of the capital’s best-known restaurant managers - Angelo Maresca, formerly maitre d’ at the Savoy Grill. In keeping with the rest of the hotel, prices are not exactly on the low side, although the restaurant also offers a set lunch and pre-theatre dinner menu at £25 for two courses and £30 for three courses. Meat and fish are sourced from the UK, France and Netherlands.

IN CROWD: The spa is used by both guests and non-guests alike, including Saudi royalty, rich expats and business types looking for a break in between power lunches.

WALLET WATCH: The 90-minute Apple and Pumpkin pedicure costs £85, with treatments ranging from £55 for a half-an-hour booster facial to £120 for a 90-minute Thai massage and £430 for a six-hour “Red Carpet” treatment that promises head to toe pampering. Expectant mothers are encouraged to try out the spa’s range of maternity treatments which range from £45 to £95. The hotel has 117 rooms, 19 of which are suites. Rates for a Classic Queen room are £310 per night while the priciest and most lavish suites – including the Kipling suite where the author wrote The Jungle Book – can be booked for £2,700 per night.

NEED TO KNOW: The Spa at Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4BP (0207 518 4009; www.brownshotel.com)

Times recommends

• Travel advice: what to do if your flight is disrupted
• Top 10 unmissable events in 2010
• Seven spa breaks for January