The first UK outpost of luxury wellness hotel brand Six Senses has opened in Bayswater's Grade-II listed Whiteleys building following a £1.5 billion renovation by Foster + Partners. The hotel, located on Queensway, features 109 rooms and suites, a spa, and an exclusive members' social club.
A New Chapter for a Historic Landmark
Whiteleys was a department store in its 18th-century heyday, but in later years lost its sparkle. The renovation has transformed it into a cutting-edge wellness hotel with facilities including a biohacking lounge and a fermentation lab. Six Senses Hotels CEO Neil Jacobs has declared the property is 'unlike anything we have seen' in the British capital.
The global wellness economy is now valued at $6.8 trillion and forecast to account for nearly 7% of global GDP, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Six Senses, founded in 1995, has an ethos to 'take people beyond destinations and reawaken their senses so they can disconnect yet be reconnected … to themselves, others, and the world around them'.
Spa and Wellness Offerings
Guests can have consultations with a 'medical herbalist', spend time in a cryotherapy pod, have a full body MOT, or enjoy a range of spa treatments. The spa features a maze of poured-concrete tunnels with low lighting, state-of-the-art facilities, and sweeping Romanesque ceilings. The 20-metre pool is described as one of the best in the city.
The Alchemy Bar, inspired by traditional European herbalism, offers consultations where a herbalist assesses your body, lifestyle, and emotions before creating a unique blend, either as a tea or tincture, to take home. The sheer volume of what's on offer can feel intimidating, with cryotherapy, medical consultations, herbalism, treatments, and biohacking all available.
Rooms and Dining
The junior suite features soft lighting, muted tones, and a comfortable bed with sleep mist. In most rooms, the bath is encased in Crittall glass in the middle of the room, which looks good but may be less practical on privacy. The minibar is not included but is well stocked with fancy soft drinks, including Karma Cola and ginger beer.
Dinner at Whiteley's Bar was rated 10/10, with seasonal cocktails and a 'trust the chef' option that led to dishes like tuna tartare, Oxford Sandy & Black pork chop, and signature crispy smashed potatoes, paired with wines selected by director of wine, Eugenio Egorov. At dinner and breakfast, there is a wide range of pickles, kefir drinks, and ferments designed by the in-house fermentation specialist.
The wellness philosophy extends into Six Senses Place, the members' club within the building. After check-out, guests receive an email signed off with a note: 'London moves fast, but our doors are always open whenever you feel like returning for a different rhythm.'
Pricing and Considerations
Rooms at Six Senses London start from around £600 per night. Spa treatments and immersive wellness experiences are charged separately, with current packages starting at around £425 per person. Once you add dinner and drinks, a stay can easily reach a four-figure sum.
The hotel is located in The Whiteley at 1 Redan Place, Bayswater, West London, with the nearest Tube station being Queensway. The catch of modern wellness, as noted in the review, is that slowing down and investing in yourself can be wonderful, but only if you have the budget to do so.
