A hotel in the heart of the West End may not initially scream ‘serenity’, but W London is flipping that notion on its head. The five-star hotel launched its Intentions Stay in line with the Spring Equinox last month (March 2024), approaching hotel wellness more holistically, both inside and outside of the spa. I headed to the W London to try out their Intentions Stay; read on for my review.
The hotel
Sitting right at the entrance to Chinatown, the W London makes its presence known with a bold and beautiful ‘W’ statue at its entrance. As you take the lift up to reception, you’ll notice the time of day is indicated with ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’, or ‘good evening’ flooring in the lift; it’s little things like this that demonstrate the W’s attention to detail from the off.
While I was here to relax – and more on that later – the hotel itself is very vibey. It is styled on the notion of ‘Soho nightlife‘, and boasts an impressive 667 disco balls throughout the hotel, including the largest disco ball in the UK. From the point of check-in to check-out, the service was exceptional, delivered with a smile or laugh, and very personable.
The Intentions Stay
Contrary to the Soho streets outside, and the vibes in the lobby, the hotel room offered the opportunity to shake off the chaos of the journey. I was pleasantly surprised by just how soundproofed the windows were: while I could see thousands of people below, I couldn’t hear a thing. Adding further to this sense of serenity was a selection of in-room products provided specifically as part of the W London Intentions Stay, curated by wellness and psychology expert Roxie Nafousi.
The products selected by Roxie include a reed diffuser, mantra cards, a Manifest Deck, and a journal; all used to promote a holistic approach to self-care. The scent of the reed diffuser set any racing thoughts at ease, and the products selected were pretty helpful in mindfulness practises. The journal in particular was very detailed, with a selection of prompts that truly make you put self-care first. I could even create a tranquil setting myself using the hi-tech iPad, which controlled everything in the room (lights, sound, heating, TV, and room service).
Alongside the in-room services, the Intentions Stay experience stretches down to W London’s dining. The Perception Bar has collaborated with DIRTEA to curate a selection of hot drinks that are mood boosting and energising, and wow, it is a strong offering. I’m talking Tiramisu tea to DIRTEA Cacao latte. I’m a cocktail girlie though, so I checked those out instead; they were just as unique, as each was named after a famous film. My fave was the rum-based Shanghai Noon, served in cool cat crockery.
As for the food, what I loved about my Asian-inspired meal at The Perception Bar is that it was filling, yet everything was light. You didn’t leave feeling bloated, but rather re-energised. A big shoutout goes to the crispy chicken bao bun, which despite its large appearance comprised a light, super soft bun offset by the crunch of the chicken’s coating. This perfect balance extended to the flavour too: it was creamy yet lightly spicy. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t give the dessert a miss, as the sticky toffee pudding was something special. The shards of honeycomb gave it a real oomph, especially with the soft pudding beneath it.
The spa experience
Of course, a wellness stay would be incomplete without a visit to the spa. The Intentions Stay invites visitors up to the sixth-floor AWAY Spa for a menu of meditations and massages. The meditation sessions and breathwork classes are on certain dates, specifically for those on the Intentions Stay; they aim to uplift moods and reduce blood pressure.
If you opt for a treatment, you are first encouraged to step into the sauna and steam rooms to open your pores, ready for your treatments. As I learnt on my visit, the spa will provide everything you need. Much like in the rest of the hotel, the attention to detail in the spa is incredible; even the paper towels are monogrammed.
I opted for a massage and facial as part of my stay. This started with a ginger shot (drunk, not injected), and what followed was an hour of pure bliss. I really valued that my therapist was communicative, especially with the facial. She was particularly knowledgeable when it came to advising on stretches to help my back (hey, I’m hunched over a laptop writing this review right now!) The massage was a suitable pressure, while the facial was delicate; and all the products used smelt amazing. I left the spa as if I was floating on a cloud.
To conclude this review, the Intentions Stay at W London is a great reset. It does, of course, cost a pretty penny, but I’d argue it’s a nice treat if you truly need some pampering. While the food and treatments were fab, my particular highlight was the great service; it really was the cherry on top and already indulgent cake.