Welcome to Vogue’s first-ever spa guide—a compendium of the 100 best spas worldwide, pulling from the expertise of our global editors. There is a lot out there in the world of wellness, and we are here to sort the cryo from the cold plunge, the infrared light treatment from the IV infusion. Or if your path is a more holistic one—there’s something for you here as well.
Why go here?
The real question is, why would you not go here? If the pursuit of longevity in the most luxurious of surroundings is high on the agenda, then Surrenne is the place for you. It’s an urban medi-spa that, in the words of its creative director, Inge Theron, “is the stop gap before going to the doctor. It’s the front line of medicine and wellbeing, with smart functional doctors that see things in a new way. Clubs like ours have a responsibility to help you fine-tune your well-being. You can’t just win on the hardware and the gadgets, the science has to match up and the programming has to work.”
What’s the vibe?
Surrenne is a members club with a hefty price tag, but what membership unlocks is more than worth its weight in wellness gold. Upon signing up, you will have access to well-being on tap, including a dedicated doctor focused on functional diagnostics ranging from blood work to cardiovascular and hormone tests, to microbiome mapping and epigenetic testing. The café has a juice and food menu developed by nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson, and the space hosts Tracy Anderson’s first London workout studio and a state-of-the-art gym. Weather permitting, wild swimming in the nearby Serpentine lake and run clubs in Hyde Park are an extension of its offerings. Little luxury touches feature throughout: The lap pool has an underwater sound system that will play podcasts or meditation music while you swim, and the neuroscientist-curated music piped throughout the space will purportedly induce calm. (AI has ensured that you never hear the same beat twice.) Alice Temperley–designed robes go up to size XXL (a particular bug bear in the historically non-inclusive spa industry), and there is an interactive yoga studio with a floor-to-ceiling screen, allowing for resident trainers to dial in and teach from all over the world.
The history?
As part of the well-established Maybourne group, Surrenne and its adjacent hotel, The Emory, are brand new. Surenne was built by digging four stories below the heart of London’s busy Knightsbridge to create this sensational space from scratch. What it lacks in historical storytelling, it more than makes up for in its impressive, brand-spanking-new modernity.
What should you try?
The treatment menu is a delight to navigate, but highlights include Shiatsu massage in a purpose-built room that allows the trained masseuse to walk on your back. Facials are care of FaceGym and Stella McCartney, and there is a snow machine for cold exposure and an expansive sauna for warmth. But a true must-try is the deep exfoliation of the Signature Purifying White Onyx Wet Spa Experience, executed on a white onyx crystal bed while being treated to a Himalayan Salt Scrub that leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean.
What else do we need to know?
No details have been ignored, which Theron explains is because, “we wanted coming to Surrenne to be a friction-free experience, so we have removed all the bug bears.” As such, membership comes complete with an Alo Yoga kit that can be freshly washed and laundered in time for your next visit (no going home or to the office with sweaty gym kit stuffed in your bag), as well as a beauty bag that is consistently updated with beauty newness.
Who can go?
If you are a guest of The Emory or The Berkeley, the facilities will be free to use.
Booking details for Surenne at The Emory
Address: Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP, United Kingdom
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.