What the Spabreaks.com team thought of a spa day at AIRE Ancient Baths London

From the moment you arrive at AIRE Ancient Baths London, it's truly incredible. Having got to Embankment on the London Underground, we wandered the short distance to the spa, where you're met by a classic stone building dating back to the 18th century.

Spa back in time

Head inside, and you're transported back in time. The property was once the home of JM Barrie, author of Peter Pan, and as a nod to that heritage there's a display case of books as you arrive. The interiors honour the building's past, while leaving you in no doubt that you're in a luxury environment.

The spa journey

Instantly greeted by a welcoming member of staff, we were then walked through the spa journey and how it works. There’s a maximum capacity of 18 people per session, with each session being two hours long. As a result, it's great for small groups but it's also lovely for couples or solo spa goers, and we noticed that there were several people who were there on their own, enjoying time to themselves. It was noticeable that they manage the space and times incredibly well, so it never feels crowded and it's always serene.

Attention to detail

Once the journey had been explained, we were taken down the steps into the spa area. Everything is lit by candles - they're in the walls, along the staircases lining the pathways, and in the pool area. The space is positively glowing with warm light, so it's incredibly soothing and atmospheric. Downstairs we were met by another member of staff who took us to the changing rooms. They were beautiful, with lots of products to use, all the GHD appliances if you need them, hairbands, L'Occitane hand washes - everything smells wonderful. We also asked about plus sized robes and they readily supplied them.

All is calm

When you've changed into your swimwear, robe and slippers, you're then led by a member of staff into the former wine cellar of the building, which now houses all the spa facilities. All the pools and thermal experiences are built into the original arches, and the walls are exposed brick, which creates a really sultry environment which makes you feel instantly calm. That reverential tranquility is enhanced as the staff members don't speak above a whisper in the spa area.

A suite of spa pools

The spa journey includes a variety of pools and you move from one to the next. You begin in the tepidarium (36ºc), then there’s a caldarium (40°c), frigidarium (14ºC and 10ºC), a vaporium (or steam room) - which is scented with eucalyptus, a balneum, thousand jet baths, and a flotarium. There's music playing gently in the background the whole time, with a kind of ancient melody, and there are mirrors everywhere reflecting the light. There's also seating throughout, including in the pools, and little nooks where you can stop for a while.

Degrees of heat

We started in the tepidarium, and then moved onto the steam room and cold plunges. Within the steam room there's a cold plunge pool, which is really special, but there are also two plunge pools outside the steam room as well - one's 10 degrees and one is 15 degrees, which doesn't sound cold, but it is after the heat! The caldarium felt a lot hotter than the tepidarium, with plenty of seating all around the pool. It's not uncomfortably hot though because you're not surrounded by the heat like you are in a steam room. It was also a slightly more conversational space where people were chatting a bit more.

Bubble therapy

The final two areas were our favourites. There's a Jacuzzi pool with individual sections where you can lie down and enjoy the jets, which are quite powerful and feel like a deep tissue massage. It really gets into your joints, and for one of the girls with Sciatica, she said it was one of the only things that helped.

Floating away

We then finished with time in the floatation pool, which is at the end of the spa journey. There's a shower and salt scrubs next to it, so you can use those before you get in the water and it's like a self-applied treatment. There are underwater speakers, so you can hear music playing, and between that, the temperature, and the lighting, it was extremely relaxing - just a beautiful way to spend time.

Refreshed and renewed

Dotted around the spa there are different relaxation areas to sit in and have a glass of water or peppermint tea. We had a drink included with our package - choosing from Cava or a juice, so we had a green juice each before heading back to the changing rooms. There are no clocks in the spa - instead, they ring a little bell every hour so you know when your time is up. We then went to change and get ready to head back into the outside world again.

We all agreed that we loved the spa. It's a truly special experience where you can forget everything outside. I can definitely see why someone would go there for an evening after work or as part of a city break where you also want to relax. In true Peter Pan style, it was magical and I would definitely go again!