Sabi Phagura experiences some flair, wellness and all-round luxury at the Marylebone in London

Life is all about balance. I believe we should all take the time to work hard and play hard in equal measures. And for me, there is no exception during my travels. As the ultimate wellness warrior, I was pleased to discover that The Marylebone hotel in London offered all this and much more. So whether you’re looking to simply unwind or completely reboot, this hangout has it all.

Located in the heart of the ultra-fashionable Marylebone village, this five-star is full of character and charm. Located between the beautiful townhouses of Welbeck Street and trendy Marylebone Lane, the hotel comprises 257 guest rooms including 44 suites.

The Third Space

After having some time to press pause and retreat in my luxury suite, I checked out “The Third Space”, the members-only spa and gym which is also open to guests. With an array of classes throughout the week, from TRX training to Fit Pilates, and Aqua Cycling and Yoga, there is something for everyone to try out. To be honest you would need the whole week’s stay to try them all. And the best bit? It takes just 30 to 45 minutes to get a good workout and feel revitalised.

Fit Pilates is a great way to strengthen the core muscles using a foam roller while the TRX training provides an all-round strength workout. Pilates instructor Jon was incredibly patient as we all tried to remain balanced on the rollers while lifting opposite arms and legs. He also offered alternatives for those of us who were new to the exercises.

Meanwhile, Ronny made TRX fun and helped distract from the hard work our bodies were being put through. Both classes were a great way of burning fat before the much-anticipated food I was looking forward to indulging in at the hotel’s 108 Brasserie.

Food always tastes better (and dare I say a tad guilt free) after a good workout so I decided to indulge in the full three-course meal. Specialising in British cuisine using fresh produce from local suppliers, the menu offers cuts of meat from British beef and lamb to pheasant and partridge to artisanal cheeses. And the health conscious traveller has plenty to choose from with several interesting salads including the highly recommended superfood salad consisting of beetroot, quinoa, broccoli and soya beans drenched in a mouth-watering pomegranate dressing. For the record, the brasserie’s signature cocktail named after the hotel, consisting of home-made elderflower, vodka, champagne, and topped with Chambord, slipped nicely with the food too.

The hotel is characterised by its striking design and décor – in places by David Hicks. It embraces art, design and culture throughout the public places as well as the bedrooms. Ours had a separate spacious lounge area which was stylish, contemporary and luxurious, but without all the fuss. The bed was uber comfortable and provided for an excellent night’s sleep not least after the gruelling workout session earlier that day.

Finding a good swimming pool is rare in the heart of London, so it made sense to lap up the opportunity to have a swim in the 18m pool before breakfast. The adjoining spa has been created for both men and women in mind and offers a wide range of body treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures as well as spray tanning. With the philosophy ‘feeling good starts from within’, The Juicery offers a menu of healthy smoothies, juices and shakes which are also available at breakfast among other supercharged foods like the egg-white omelette with chia seeds and spinach and granola, coconut yoghurt and Manuka honey.

Not feeling virtuous? Don’t worry – the full English breakfast is definitely on the menu. After all, life’s all about balance.

The Marylebone – Where and How?

The Marylebone is located at 47 Welbeck St, London W1G 8DN, UK. For more information, visit www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-marylebone-hotel.

The Marylebone in pictures