Six Senses London has officially opened within The Whiteley, the historic former department store on Queensway in the Bayswater area. The brand's vision aims to reconnect people with themselves, others, and the world, expressed through the concept of Urban Sanctuaries—peaceful retreats in the heart of the metropolis. This reflects the brand's growth direction in major cities worldwide, marking it as the first Six Senses in the United Kingdom. The project harmoniously blends emotional service, wellness concepts, and sustainability with British craftsmanship to create a new rhythm of life for this vibrant city.

The hotel is just steps away from the lush Hyde Park and close to the colorful buildings of Notting Hill. It features a total of 109 rooms and suites, many with private balconies, along with 14 Branded Residences. The interior design showcases glass-walled showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and deep blue tones contrasted with warm wood accents, embodying clear lines with Art Deco curves. Additionally, on the hotel's top floor, the Whiteley Suite boasts a 125-square-meter rooftop terrace and can be customized for private use.

Nick Yarnell, the General Manager of Six Senses London, stated, “We want Six Senses London to be a hotel that provides warmth from the moment guests step inside, allowing them to feel sincerity and authenticity while maintaining meticulous service standards and attention to detail. As part of The Whiteley, this hotel emphasizes the heritage of British craftsmanship and innovation while creating new experiences that support the community and deeply connect with the area.”

Design that Connects People with Place

Six Senses London is designed as a space for discovery, where each step gradually reveals details in sequence. Every area is arranged to unfold stories. The design by AvroKO in collaboration with EPR Architects preserves the original facade of The Whiteley, which is listed as Grade II, maintaining the essence of Art Deco style. It draws inspiration from William Whiteley’s passion for the Great Exhibition of 1851, a significant event reflecting the fusion of industry, craftsmanship, and innovation, which continues to influence the hotel's design today.

The heart of the building features a grand staircase that has been reimagined, once a key element of the original department store. This staircase has been reconstructed, expanded, and crafted by Devon by Foster + Partners in collaboration with The Hub, now connecting all three floors of the building to the glass dome ceiling above.

Adam Farmerie, co-founder of AvroKO, remarked, “Six Senses London is inspired by the aesthetic concepts of The Great Exhibition era, often emphasizing contrasts of black and white tones. Instead of directly mimicking those tones, we chose to incorporate deep green shades into the marble in the lobby and architectural details to convey that era through a perspective more connected to nature. However, the display vitrines remain, but their role has shifted from showcasing objects to displaying plants. The transparency of the spaces, from the central staircase to the glass showers in the rooms, allows natural light to flow freely, transforming the area from a ‘display’ into a more immersive experience for visitors.”

Escape the City’s Chaos to True Relaxation

Six Senses Spa London embodies the rhythm of city life through experiences that connect movement and tranquility, tailored to the rhythms and needs of each guest. Spanning over 2,300 square meters, this spa accommodates both serious workouts and relaxation, promoting sustainable wellness transformations.

In addition to London’s first magnesium pool, which aids muscle recovery and balances the nervous system, there is a 20-meter indoor pool, a 325-square-meter gym, and dedicated studios for yoga and mindful movement. The wellness area comprises 13 zones and 6 treatment rooms, covering a variety of health programs such as Cryotherapy, Flotation therapy, Red-light therapy, traditional Hammam, and a Sensory suite to provide diverse relaxation experiences. For those seeking targeted physical recovery, the Biohack Recovery Lounge integrates technology and science to create an efficient pathway to body balance and recovery, offering personalized programs that utilize various technologies such as electromagnetic therapy, sound therapy, air pressure therapy, lymphatic stimulation, electrical muscle stimulation, vibration devices, and back stretching machines.

The comprehensive wellness center offers personalized consultations along with health assessments, such as Biomarker analysis and lifestyle evaluations, which are essential for sleep care, metabolic health, cognitive performance, and stress management.

The Alchemy Bar in the spa area, overseen by Charlotte Pulver, the head of recipe creation, is designed to resemble a contemporary apothecary. Inspired by the Anglo-Celtic calendar, guests can participate in selecting seasonal local herbs to create concentrated herbal extracts and herbal drinks, which can be used in treatments, dining, bars, as well as steam and hammam experiences.

On the first floor, Six Senses London has partnered with HUM2N, a longevity clinic founded by Dr. Mohammed Enayat, to enhance the hotel’s health services. They offer in-depth blood analysis, IV nutrient therapy, hormone balancing, and health programs aimed at enhancing physical performance. Additionally, there is a Hyperbaric Chamber designed to simulate high-pressure conditions, stimulating cellular adaptation under the supervision of experts in a properly controlled environment within the hotel.

British Refinement Meets Creative Boldness

Like all Six Senses properties, the wellness concept is woven through every aspect of the stay, from quality sleep to the food on each plate. The Eat With Six Senses principle emphasizes seasonal ingredients through the selection of sustainable and natural local produce, ensuring guests feel even better upon arrival. This concept is expressed through contemporary British cuisine, reflecting the creativity of the kitchen, bar, and café teams at Whiteley, inspired by the innovative spirit of William Whiteley and aiming to become a significant landmark in the area.

Executive Chef Eliano Crespi and Chef Jose Jara present a menu focused on vegetables, integrating preservation techniques and cooking with fire to convey traditional culinary wisdom from a contemporary perspective. The restaurant also features a dedicated fermentation area, supporting the production of house-made fermented and pickled ingredients, from fruits to Japanese koji starter, enhancing flavor dimensions, promoting digestive balance, and reinforcing the restaurant’s sustainability ethos.

For the hotel bar, cocktails are crafted to be enjoyed both with and without alcohol, prioritizing the quality and purity of ingredients. One of the signature menus is Clouds Over Islay, which combines Bruichladdich whisky with sweet sake (Amazake) and lemon hydrosol, developed in collaboration with the Alchemy Bar. The wine selection is sourced from UK producers and independent winemakers, focusing on wines that reflect the terroir and align with the kitchen’s seasonal menu concept.

Six Senses Place, the First of Its Kind in the World

Above the lobby area is Six Senses Place, the first of its kind in the world, designed as a members' club that integrates social dimensions and wellness care, extending the brand's concept of reconnecting people with themselves to fit the context of a big city. This space allows members to take a break from the chaos while participating in experiences focused on rejuvenation rather than outward appearances. Activities are designed according to the Almanac calendar throughout the year to align with seasonal and cultural contexts, alongside discussions and communal dining aimed at promoting self-development and inner healing.

Nature Integrated in the Heart of the City

Six Senses stands out for its integration of wellness concepts, sustainability, emotionally attentive service, and meticulously crafted experiences, reflecting the brand's unique identity by adhering to genuine intentions rather than conforming to traditional forms.

Earth Lab, a sustainability learning space available in every Six Senses hotel worldwide, presents practical conservation approaches while aiming to inspire sustainable change. In London, there are hands-on workshops focusing on repurposing materials and preparing plants for various benefits. Meanwhile, the hotel allocates 0.5% of total revenue through the Regenerative Impact Fund to support environmental and social projects at the community level.

Six Senses London is part of The Whiteley London development project, which has achieved BREEAM certification and operates without single-use plastics. The project features structural systems that support sustainability concepts, such as rainwater harvesting systems, energy-saving systems, and over 1,150 square meters of green roofs designed to promote biodiversity and reduce urban heat. The rooftop planting areas also create habitats for pollinators, reflected in the choice of the “British butterfly” as the hotel’s emblem.

A New Chapter in Development

The Whiteley London is a large mixed-use development project, encompassing over 1 million square feet, including 139 residential units, over 60,000 square feet of amenities, and 19 leading commercial brands. In addition to the Six Senses hotel, the project covers the entire city block, with this new transformation overseen by developer Valouran in partnership with investment partners MARK and C C Land, with Foster + Partners handling the architectural design. Beyond the building itself, The Whiteley is part of a £3 billion regeneration plan for the Queensway area, aimed at enhancing public spaces, improving connectivity, and offering new retail and service experiences. Additionally, Six Senses London has created over 300 new jobs in the hotel, wellness, and food sectors, supporting the economic recovery of the surrounding area.

Building on the principles of efficiency, exquisite design, and future innovation, Six Senses London has partnered with Lotus to extend the brand's identity beyond the hotel, featuring a specially commissioned Lotus Eletre as the hotel’s car, providing guests with a meticulous and detail-oriented urban travel experience.

A New Chapter for the Metropolis

Six Senses London enhances the portfolio of luxury and lifestyle hotels under IHG after IHG acquired the Six Senses brand in 2019. The group has carefully expanded the brand's growth to strengthen its position in the global market, following the launches of Six Senses Rome and Six Senses Kyoto, with plans for further projects in development for the coming year.

Book a stay at Six Senses London through sixsenses.com or email [email protected].

For those interested in inquiries about membership at Six Senses Place London, more details can be found at sixsensesplace.com.