Cupcakes, bubbles and manicures: Is it really possible to relax in Soho?

The kids are back at school, the summer holiday you saved for and looked

forward to for months has been and gone and the darker evenings and wet

mornings are looming.

Well I refuse to admit my summer is over! Ok, so Soho isn’t quite the

Seychelles, but I think it still has everything you could want to help you

relax and prepare yourself for the approach of autumn and the increasingly

early start to the run-up to Christmas. So why not take a look at these ideas a

suggestions to pamper and relax yourself, all in our very own Soho!

First stop for me would have to be The Powder Room on Marshall Street to be buffed, scrubbed

and polished before I go into hibernation for the winter. With luscious lashes,

busy bee nails, in a jiffy make-up and

Speedy hair dos starting from only £10, the perfectly pink wonders that are the

Powderpuff girls can transform you in a matter of minutes and all prices

include tea and biscuits at the weekend. Heaven!

Located not far from The Powder Room is The

Cowshed which is also great for those quick, but relaxing beauty

treatments. Featuring three manicure and pedicure stations and rooms which

offering their range of signature treatments as well as a range of speedy

treatments, starting from as little as £5, the Cowshed is perfect for that

lunchtime quick fix.

But if you need a little more R&R than the rest, then perhaps a day at a

spa is for you. Soho has plenty of spas, perhaps a reflection of the need to

relax in this face-paced and hectic square mile.

Contrary to popular belief, not all establishments in Soho offering 'relaxing'

massages end with the infamous offer of a happy finish, Soho has far much more

to offer with its many spas and salons. A good start is the Sanook, meaning “enjoy yourself” is a tranquil,

Asian-themed day spa in located in the basement of the Courthouse Hotel in Soho. This luxurious spa offers a range

of treatments in an all-glass treatment room suspended above the impressive

marble swimming pool. So if you fancy a little touch of luxury, then Sanook is

perfect to really indulge yourself. Try the chocolate facial or the ‘Back-up

Plan’ treatment for £55 which is a refreshing exfoliation scrub, cleansing back

mask and hot stone back massage – great for relieving tension in your back,

neck and shoulders.

Another great place to visit is Relax and just as the name suggests, their mission is help

you unwind and de-stress. Relax are great for those last minute massage whims,

lunch-time pep-ups and quick fixes, designed to leave you feeling pampered,

refreshed and revitalised in a matter of minutes. Massages start at just £12!

If you're looking for a real bargain, then you'll be hard pushed to beat the

salon at the London College of Beauty Therapy on Great Malborough

Street, where a full body massage costs just £20 and a mini manicure lasting

30mins is a staggering £5!

The Soho Salon is a great one stop shop if you want to

relax, unwind, and get your hair, makeup and nails done for a night on the

tiles. Situated on Carlisle Street, The Soho Salon offers all sorts of treats for both men and

women and all at a reasonable price for an inner city salon.

The Third Space in Soho houses one of the most relaxing

treatments I’ve personally enjoyed, guaranteed to sooth the stresses and

strains of the day. I’m, talking about floatation tanks, which force you to do

nothing, but to lie back in the warm water and relax. Combine with a deep

tissue massage and a Pilates class and you’ll feel ready to take on the world!

Strictly for men, Gino’s of Soho is a fantastic place for men to get a good

old grooming, in this old fashion style, Italian barbers, where gents can get a

traditional wet shave and a hair cut from these seasoned pros. Men can also

visit The Soho Salon for a great selection of spa treatments

designed specifically for men and Urban Well Being on Silver Place offers bespoke male

grooming.

Once you’ve been left peaceful, pampered and preened you might want to show off

your new look by treating yourself to a glass of rather posh tipple for a

change. If you fancy swapping beer for Bollinger, then why not try one of these

rather decadent bars, dedicated to the wonderful bubbly stuff, Champagne. Amuse

Bouche is situated on Poland Street in the heart of Soho and has a great

selection of champagnes to try from as well as an great menu of tapa style

nibbles to enjoy while you sip. The great thing about these bars is that you

can enjoy a good glass of Champagne without having to splash out on whole

bottle, so it’s the perfect way to treat yourself without breaking the bank.

You can get a glass of real Champagne (not the sparkling wine impostors

masquerading as the real thing) from just £4.00 or under £20 for the bottle.

Perhaps my favourite place to indulge in bubbly is Kettners on Romilly Street, if for nothing else but its

exquisitely decadent interior and beautifully presented food, they also serve a

great selection of Champagne to be enjoyed in the lovely surroundings.

I prefer nothing better than to follow a cold glass of bubbly with cake! In

fact, I like to follow everything with cake and Soho is chock full of fantastic

cake havens for sponge-addicts. One of most celebrated, with its very own

recipe book out, is the Hummingbird

Bakery. This wonderfully naughty bakery is located on Wardour Street, Soho

is perfect for treating yourself and your sweet tooth. Another favourite of

mine is Maison Bertaux on Greek Street, and one I often passed

every day after work, despite it being in the opposite direction to home!! This

cafe opened in the 1870s and has been serving Soho with deliciously fresh

pastries, sumptuous gateaux and éclairs since.

Now I don’t know about you, but I always love to treat myself to the cinema,

especially on a Sunday after a delicious serving of pancakes or Green Eggs and

Ham of course, courtesy of The Breakfast Club on D’Arbly Street, Soho. My favourite

cinema for a switch-off-and-relax experience is the Prince Charles Cinema on for an old school favourite that

you can mouth all the lines to or finally watch that Hollywood blockbuster that

you missed.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I think I’ve pretty much described my perfect

day in Soho, but I would really love to know what your idea of heaven would be

courtesy of our wonderfully eclectic Soho! Where would you head to recharge

your batteries or just to ready yourself for a big day? Post your suggestions

here!