Clive Long
17th-October-2005, 11:03 PM
If ever you are in the Bayswater / Hyde Park-ish / Kensington area of London, and are looking for a few hours R&R, then think about transporting yourself back to a place that looks like it has come out of an Art Deco film set.
The Porchester Centre (http://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisureandculture/sports/porchester.cfm)
The link gives the information but does not convey the style of the place. Bronze gilding on a high vaulted ceiling as you enter. To your table or bed service of tea, fruit juice, toasted sandwiches or salad. Hot and REALLY HOT steam rooms, sauna, optional scrubs and massages (at a cost), lounging areas, cold showers and COLD COLD COLD plunge pool. Tiled floors throughout and in fair state of decoration. A few bronze statues of sylph like ladies holding light globes. Access to large swimming pool.
Single sex entry on alternate days and mixed couples Sunday afternoon.
Price - just shy of £20 per head but much better value than anywhere comparable in London IMO.
I have been to a couple of steam rooms over in East London (IronMonger Row, York Hall) but they are fairly run down in comparison. Although the GLL Web site (http://www.gll.org/press/display.asp?id=166&type=press&cat=112) says York Hall is being refurbed - it needs it.
Has anyone tried the much delayed, over-budget "Grimshaw" Baths (http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/councilinformation/spaproject.htm) in Bath?
Clive
The Porchester Centre (http://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisureandculture/sports/porchester.cfm)
The link gives the information but does not convey the style of the place. Bronze gilding on a high vaulted ceiling as you enter. To your table or bed service of tea, fruit juice, toasted sandwiches or salad. Hot and REALLY HOT steam rooms, sauna, optional scrubs and massages (at a cost), lounging areas, cold showers and COLD COLD COLD plunge pool. Tiled floors throughout and in fair state of decoration. A few bronze statues of sylph like ladies holding light globes. Access to large swimming pool.
Single sex entry on alternate days and mixed couples Sunday afternoon.
Price - just shy of £20 per head but much better value than anywhere comparable in London IMO.
I have been to a couple of steam rooms over in East London (IronMonger Row, York Hall) but they are fairly run down in comparison. Although the GLL Web site (http://www.gll.org/press/display.asp?id=166&type=press&cat=112) says York Hall is being refurbed - it needs it.
Has anyone tried the much delayed, over-budget "Grimshaw" Baths (http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/councilinformation/spaproject.htm) in Bath?
Clive