A one-night reset in central London is perfect for kickstarting the year
I can’t speak for everyone, but I was absolutely exhausted by the end of last year. Although I’m usually fairly goal-oriented, even small tasks were starting to feel needlessly overwhelming and I was crawling towards the finish line that was my Christmas break.
Among my plethora of New Year's resolutions, the one that I’m taking most seriously is to not let myself get that drained again. I have quite high energy levels, which leads me to bite off more than I can chew and plan a jam-packed calendar that ends up being unsustainable and I end up burning out.
I plan to ensure I get enough rest by taking planned breaks. Rather than cramming as much as I can between Friday night and Monday morning, this year I plan on allocating one weekend every six weeks or so to focus on nothing but recharging and relaxing.
For me, a perfect recharge weekend requires plenty of exercise, good food, and long walks. Normally, I’d be getting out of the city and into the countryside if I needed a reset.
I’d always assumed a ‘restful weekend in Central London’ was an oxymoron, but when I was offered the opportunity to spend the night in Marylebone Village to experience some of its wellness offerings, I couldn’t resist.
Where should I stay?
For my night in Marylebone Village, I stayed in the Marylebone Hotel.
The Marylebone Hotel is a 5-star hotel on a relatively quiet street, a stone's throw from the Village’s best bars and restaurants as well as the world-famous high street.
Despite its central London location, it feels secluded and relaxing. After walking into the foyer, I felt an instant sense of calm. Friendly staff, luxurious interior and elegant amenities are the perfect combination for a restorative night away.
Guests have access to a Third Space gym situated below the hotel, meaning that you don’t have to skip your workout while you’re staying there which was a definite bonus for me.
Where should I eat?
As I wanted my night in Marylebone to be as easy as possible, I avoided public transport completely during my stay. Which, because the village has so many amazing food options, was easily done.
For dinner: Delamina
After checking in at the Marylebone Hotel, I walked approximately three minutes to my dinner location: Delamina.
Delamina is a Middle Eastern restaurant with a health-conscious menu that offers a selection of fragrant vegetables, tender meats and fresh seafood that I know I'll be thinking of often. The food is the ideal combination of hearty but not overly rich, so although I sampled quite a few courses, I didn’t leave feeling like I’d overdone it.
For brunch: Granger and Co
After a good night's sleep back at Marylebone Hotel and a morning Third Space workout, it was time for brunch. As an Australian, I am slightly biased but I truly believe that Granger and Co does some of the best brunch in London. This restaurant has a menu made up of fresh, seasonal dishes that are inspired by Aussie brunch culture that makes me feel right at home
For lunch: Ottolenghi
I'm of the opinion that Ottolenghi is never a bad idea. I've been there quite a few times, and not once have I left feeling disappointed with my meal. And this is coming from someone who fancies themselves a fairly critical eater.
I loved the casual feel of the Marylebone location, with a deli-style selection of deeply satisfying, Middle Eastern-inspired dishes for me to choose from. The only issue I faced here was narrowing down what to get, as what they had on display all looked almost overwhelmingly appetising.
What other wellness-focused activities does Marylebone Village offer?
After making the most of the Third Space below my hotel in the morning, I popped by the recently opened Rebase Recovery. Just around the corner from my hotel, Rebase is a luxurious facility that specialises in rejuvenation and relaxation. For me, this took the form of a 90-minute appointment in one of their tranquil contrast suites.
The private suite contains an Infrared sauna and an ice bath, so I was able to spend an hour and a half going between the two. While I’m a long-time fan of a sauna, I’d not tried an ice bath before and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
As I’ve already mentioned I’d been feeling lethargic and tired in the lead-up to my night in Marylebone, and after my appointment at Rebase I felt more energised and refreshed than I had in weeks.
The last stop on my Marylebone Village tour was a stop at Margaret Dabbs for what they call a ‘medical pedicure’, and while I had no idea what it entailed ended up being a real highlight of my stay.
After picking up running in a serious way last year, I put my feet through a lot and they were in dire need of some TLC. The medical pedicure, which is performed by a podiatrist, involves a comprehensive consultation in which the specialist advises me of any some potential issues and makes some recommendations for how I could be taking better care of my feet.
After the medical element of the appointment, I went upstairs for a more standard pedicure. My feet were scrubbed and massaged and my toes were painted, so any hard skin or callouses were nixed and I felt like I was walking on air post-appointment.
Although I was only in Marylebone Village for a little over 24 hours, the impact it had on my energy levels was undeniable.
You can plan your own weekend in Marylebone Village here.
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