The news that luxury wellness brand AIRE Ancient Baths was opening its first space in the UK was meant with much excitement in my group of friends, with one declaring that her visit to the Barcelona baths was quite possibly the best spa trip she'd ever had; high praise indeed.
Inspired by the ancient ritual of thermal bathing in ancient Greek, Roman and Ottoman civilisations, AIRE's original concept reimagines the tradition for the modern day, building their baths within restored historical buildings and incorporating the unique features and flaws of each into their design, creating a completely unique location with every new opening. The new space, near to Charing Cross, is housed in an 18th century town house once the home of J.M. Barrie, with a touching nod to the author in the form of a rare first edition copy of Peter Pan, housed in the reception area.
Working with the original architecture and all its quirks, the result is a 1,300 square metre bathing complex which is filled with unique shaped pools with plenty of private nooks and corners to ensure you feel like you're getting a private experience; it's very clever. The complex includes one pool at 36 degrees, one at 40, a steam room with 14 degree plunge pool, two further cold water plunge pools at 14 and 10 degrees, a hydrotherapy pool and a salwater floatation pool, and with a two hour session it's plenty of time to make the most of the candlelit subterranean space and seriously switch off.
The luxury experience is further enhanced by AIRE's excellent staff at every part of your thermal bath journey; from check in to the locker room attendant, to being collected for your treatments so you don't need to worry about time, it really adds to the experience. With prices beginning from £150 for a two hour experience including a 30 minute massage and running to £450 for The Wine Ritual - a signature treatment designed exclusively and involving a 30 minute submersion into red wine in a 17th century Venetian well bath, a 15 minute cranial massage and a 60 minute full body massage - it's an indulgent treat, yet by far one of the best spa experiences I've ever had.
AIRE, welcome to London, we're glad you've joined us.
