Heathrow airport is the ultimate chill-out zone with a huge variety of spas, beauty sanctuaries and health studios. Terminal 5’s Be Relax spa is open to the general public and offers everything from 10-minute manicures and oxygen treatments, to seated and table massages, pedicures and longer ‘me-time’ experiences. And if you want to really relax and unwind away from the children, check out the free play areas at top UK airports.
Virgin's Cowshed Spa is a Room with a Moo
For a room with a ‘moo’, Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class and Gold card clients can use the airline's Cowshed Spa at Heathrow or Gatwick. The latter looks out over an internal rock garden, while at Heathrow, the spa is hidden behind a waterfall. Travellers can relax in the hydro spa pool and sauna or enjoy a massage, manicure or pedicure for a bit of pre-flight pampering. There is also a St Tropez tanning booth to kick start the bronzing process.
British Airways’ premium passengers can enjoy Elemis Travel Spas in its lounges at Heathrow’s Terminals 3 and 5. Complimentary 15-minute treatments include facials to combat dehydration during flying, massages, foot massages and hand re-energisers.
Over at Terminal 4, Etihad's premium customers can enjoy a range of 15-minute revitalising facials plus realignment and hot stone massages to ease away muscular tensions. Also at T4, the Wellness Centre in the Skyteam lounge provides Jet Airways and Alitalia passengers with showers and full-body massage chairs. A vegetable living wall by botanist Patrick Blanc adds to the calming experience.
Indian Head Massage and Reiki at Edinburgh Airport
Manchester Airport's Terminal 1 has a Be Relax spa and an Escape Lounge with a treatment room, where beauticians from the spa will provide facials, manicures and massages. Entry to the lounge costs £15 for adults, £7.50 for children aged two to 11 years.
Travellers can relax with an Indian head massage, aromatherapy massage or reiki healing at OMH Therapies, Edinburgh airport. Massages range from a 10-minute quick fix to a 30-minute massage.
Shower yourself – not literally – with a champagne package from Lounge Pass. Packages, which include a glass or bottle of bubbly, start from £22. Airport lounge entry costs from £13.50.
Reduce Jet Lag at the Oxygen Bar
Help reduce jet lag with a 10-minute session of pure oxygen from a disposable headset in the Skyteam lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4, or at the Be Relax Spa, Manchester airport.
Automated massage chairs at Birmingham and Edinburgh airports provide three minutes of kneading, rolling and tapping in shiatsu style. They cost £1 at Edinburgh airport.
Treat Your Hands to a Nail or Beauty Treatment
Pre-flight hand, nail and beauty treatments are available at the Cacoon Beauty Sanctuary at Heathrow Terminal 1. A 20-minute beauty treatment costs £15 and is redeemable against product purchases, as is the Dr Lewinns hand treatment. The Beauty Centre, also in Terminal 1, offers complimentary consultations and facials from its in-store treatment room.
Facials, massages and beauty treatments are available at the Clarins Studio situated in the south terminal at Gatwick airport. The Manicure Lounge at Leeds Bradford airport offers a range of express manicures as well as nail extensions, repairs and rejuvenation treatments.
Whiten Your Teeth
A two-miinute teeth whitening service is available from qualified dentists at Birmingham Airport. Smile Company has five chairs in Terminal 1 and the pre-bookable service costs £125. Richard Gill, head of market development, said: “This procedure offers huge savings over normal dental clinic prices and we are delighted to be one of the first airports to have a major trading outlet.”
Airport Hotel Spas & Health Clubs
The deluxe spa at the Sofitel London Heathrow, which has direct access to Terminal 5, offers jet lag specials such as the Skin Brightener Facial and the Regenerating and Firming Eye Treatment to relieve tired and puffy eyes. The Otium Health & Leisure Club at the Thistle Hotel East Midlands Airport has a swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and gym plus it offers a range of beauty treatments and massages.
Kathryn Liston - A Jill of all trades, my 30 years as a travel journalist has seen me carry out all jobs from writer, editor and sub editor to online ...
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