USP Earth-Spa is a pocket of tranquillity caught between frenetic Victoria and well-heeled Belgravia. Offering relaxation and essential body maintenance to all urbanites, its philosophy is to provide professional treatments that restore and revitalise, helping your body and spirit reach its maximum potential.

AMBIENCE Not until you go behind the scenes do you get a true sense of what this spa has to offer. Turning the corridor, I leave London behind me and step into a Moroccan influenced world, with burnt orange walls, sumptuous rugs, cushions, candles, ornate mirrors and an original Moroccan door leading somewhere… Earth has such an air of calm, that mid-sentence, I instinctively lower my voice to a whisper. The treatment rooms are gorgeous, clever use of mirrors and church candles give these palatial rooms an inviting, warm glow and are among the best I have encountered.

EXPERIENCE Earth-Spa is easy to find if you exit the right side of Victoria Station. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Arriving for my appointment late and feeling like an extra from The Living Dead was not a good start. However, once Susan (the co-owner and therapist) sat me down and talked me though the programme, I started to feel better. Clearly, I was in very capable hands - just as well, three days of partying and waking up each morning with the side of the tent stuck to my face after only two hours sleep had taken it out of me. I was in need of help. Fortunately, I had the foresight to book into Earth-Spa for a Restorative Package which, if it went to plan, would return me to the land of the living.

The first step in the “Restoration” process involved getting naked, putting on a rather skimpy pair of disposable paper knickers and then hopping on to the massage couch to be covered from head to toe in hot Hungarian mud (to help detox, firm, aid lymphatic drainage and relax). It is a very messy process and I started to giggle, but as soon as the heat sank into my exhausted muscles, I practically passed out with bliss. Then, instead of just leaving me on my own for 20 minutes while the mineral-rich mud did its stuff, Susan gave me a fabulous reflexology treatment, which helped to rebalance my body and mind; and I am sure she threw in a bit of Reiki, too. One power shower later, and my skin was silky smooth and I was starting to feel more human.

Step three, Shirin (also a co-owner and therapist) took over. Never in my life (and I’m a massage therapist) have I ever experienced a more confidently executed massage, that hit the right spots with the right pressure at the right pace. It was truly amazing.

IN CROWD Internationals; Earth-Spa’s founders have oodles of experience from their five-star hotel days and it shows; during my visit, one holidaying client was on her third visit in a week. They also do a roaring trade with nearby office workers who pop in for beauty maintenance, with the smart locals indulging in the more luxurious treatments.

WALLET WATCH If you are happy to part with anything from £100-£140 for one of their Essential packages, then do, as you will get more for your money. With the Pick Me Up, you get a manicure, pedicure, Earth-Spa facial and neck and shoulder massage – a bargain at £100. Facials come in at between £30-75. Essential body maintenance is pretty much the going rate for London (waxing from £10, pedicures from £35). The more specialised treatments are, as to be expected, on the more pricey side - for example, reflexology is £65 or a nutritional consultation for £80.

NEED TO KNOW Earth-Spa, 4 Eccleston St, London SW1W 9LN (020 7823 6226; www.earth-spa.co.uk)

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