Sporting a clean white and blue exterior, it is all too easy to miss HydroHealing amongst the more glamorous boutiques and eateries lining the renowned Kensington Park Road. But forget aesthetic assumptions, because this establishment, which opened to the relief of many a stressed-out urbanite in 2005, offers a serene kind of health sanctuary unlike other typical city spas. More strictly speaking a self-confessed ‘wellness centre’, low mood lighting, recliners and plenty of holistic literature all work to slow guests’ breath upon entering. Yes, there are echoes of a doctor’s surgery about the interior, albeit one that boasts luxury pampering products and aromatherapy candles. But, unlike your average GP, individuals here enter treatment rooms smiling, not scared.

The treatment menu runs the entire gauntlet of upscale healing for the holistic lover. From facial acupuncture to reflexology, the entire offering takes a rounded approach to health and provides anything from a sensory, soporific Hydrosteam (incredible) to the surprisingly popular Hydrocolonic (interesting). Based on the idea that stress manifests in the skin, in the head and in the digestive system, each treatment takes a preventative approach to addressing related issues, whilst the friendly, expert therapists who administer them all possess the knack of making you (momentarily) forget why you visited in the first place.