24 Hours In London: A Wellness Guide | The Chapel
London Lifestyle
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By Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock.com
London's daily grind can get you down at times; often you need to step back, recoup and carry on. But how can we be expected to do that in one of the busiest cities in the world?
It can be hard to choose from the plethora of activities to choose from in our capital, that’s why at The Chapel we have gathered together a guide where you can spend 24 hours getting back in touch with you. From casual tropical-inspired brunches and yoga classes to healthy restaurants and practical activities, why wouldn’t you check out our recommendations for the best healthy things to do in London?
When you need a break from all the rushing around that Londoners are so accustomed to, here are some ideas for opting for the more relaxed route.
7:30am - 8:30am: Stretch it out at Yogarise Peckham
Run by husband and wife team Sean and Emma, the studio is a perfect mix of the industrial, bustling space of the Bussey building and the expansive tranquillity of a yoga studio. Not only are you greeted with friendly and a complimentary cuppa if you fancy it, but the couple’s little dog, Misty, may pop in and say hello! The instructors are very informative and welcoming, and not too pushy when it comes to complex moves - you are encouraged to join in and do what feels comfortable.
133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST (The Bussey Building)
9:00am - 9:45pm: Indulge and refuel at Palm Vaults
From the enormous cheese plants to the luscious pink and green icing on the cakes, the vintage marble-topped tables and exposed brick walls right down to the pink paper in the till, every tiny detail is geared towards aesthetic nirvana. It’s been called ‘London’s most Instagrammable café.’ However, Palm Vaults is more than just a pretty face; it does the business when it comes to eating and drinking. Matcha frappés, avocado coffee and colourful rose, aqua and lavender lattes appear on the pegboard menu alongside five hot chocolates and nine loose-leaf teas. Ditching dairy? There’s a whole lot of vegan coffee combinations. It’s not the most affordable meal in Hackney, but for a tropical escape this winter it’s a rather cheaper than Miami.
411 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1HY
10:30 - Midday: Get cultured at Tate Modern
Image copyright: Tate Modern
The gallery devoted to modern art effortlessly pulls in the punters and locals as well as the tourists and ranks among London's most-visited attractions. Part of its appeal is the building itself, fashioned by architects Herzog and De Meuron from a vast disused power station on the Thames south bank. In addition to blockbuster exhibits and live events, the gallery invites a prominent artist every year to transform its turbine hall. As the end of the year approaches, the Tate will be featuring various Christmas themed exhibitions including their famous Winter Festival and Wreath Making, so be sure to pop in if the opportunity arises.
Bankside, SE1 9TG
Midday - 1:00pm: A relaxing dining experience at the Bread Street Kitchen
Image credit: Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen.
Gordon Ramsay's gorgeous brasserie in the One New Change shopping centre offers excellent cooking in a beautiful setting. You can barely see from one end to the other in the restaurant – with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, and a long open kitchen on the other. The menu is pretty huge too, with influences from Britain, Italy, the States and beyond; there’s lots of fish, but also pork chops and ribeye, and the likes of oriental duck salad. It’s a fun place to eat, with friendly and focused staff, and excellent cooking.
Bread Street, EC4M 9AJ
1:30pm - 4pm - Get into nature at Brockwell Park
Image credit: friendsofbrockwellpark.org
Brockwell Park is a much-needed slab of green (84 acres) just south of Brixton. Locals from Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, West Norwood and Brixton flock here in summer to sun worship (if they're lucky), fly kites, swim in the outside pool, play football and parade a stunning array with their pooches. It's big, diverse and interesting, with numerous areas to appeal to different tastes, from the calm, rolling meadows around Tulse Hill to the sloped football pitches by the Dulwich Road. Regular events include Zippo's Circus, summer concerts and the Lambeth Country Show, a sensational mix of city farm, reggae concert and vegetable sculpture gallery that draws crowds from miles.
Norwood Road, SE24 9BJ
4pm - 5:30pm - Rejuvenate at a Lush Spa
Image credit: By Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com
Meander past the towers of delicious smelling, neon-coloured cosmetics which fill this Oxford Street store and you’ll find one of Lush’s seven in-store spas. Sure, Europe’s busiest street hardly seems like the location for a day of relaxation, however as soon as you step into the quaint, country kitchen-style spa, where you can experience a mineral bath, a multi-sensory massage or a reflexology session all to a tailor-made soundtrack, the street’s shuffling tourists and tooting buses are forgotten. For the ultimate muscle untangler, we recommend stopping by for ‘The Good Hour’ (£90).
175 - 179 Oxford Street, W1D 2JS
6pm - 7:30: Refresh all of your senses at Sketch
Image credit: Sketch
Housed in an 18th-century townhouse on Mayfair's Conduit Street, Sketch is a London dining emporium like no other. Sketch was conceived by the Momo restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and is made up of a number of uniquely decorated spaces and tantalizing French dishes (including the Instagram-famous pink Gallery room). Of course, it's also worth a trip to the bathroom to see those infamous toilet cubicles, which resemble something like giant dinosaur eggs. And if you look up, there is a beautiful, multicoloured ceiling akin to a Rubik's Cube. The wine list is imaginatively chosen, and service is sweet and switched-on. Ten years on, this is still a place with wow factor.
Conduit Street, Mayfair W1S 2XG
8pm onwards: A luxury stay at COMO - The Halkin Hotel
After a busy day, you may be looking for somewhere to rest your head and participate in some ‘me-time’. Look no further than the Halkin Hotel. From the shiny, marble floors and crisp, white walls to the stylish, modern furnishings– there's definitely an air of glam to this chic hotel, so make sure you pack your finest glad rags. For the ultimate indulgence the Halkin offers access to COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, an Asian-inspired spa 5 minutes' walk away. Located on a peaceful street, 10 minutes' walk from the shops of Knightsbridge about 800 metres from Hyde Park. Its stylish rooms have a marble bathroom, free Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service.
5-6 Halkin Street, Belgravia SW1X 7DJ
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