Sleep, or lack thereof, is a topic of which we all have plenty to say. Very few of us actually get enough good, quality shut-eye — according to The Sleep Charity, 40% of adults and children suffer from sleep issues. Many adults (43%) note that stress is keeping them awake at night.
So it’s no surprise that sleep tourism is a steadily growing trend. The market is estimated to grow by almost $400 billion between 2023 and 2028 (according to an analysis by HTF Market Intelligence). Many travelers are seeking places that cater to a good night’s rest — according to Skyscanner’s 2024 trend reports, sleep is at the top of the list for American travelers with nearly 50% of US travelers more conscious of their sleep health now and including sleeping as a preferred vacation activity.
Now, you might not think of London as the best place to pursue a sleep-focused retreat, but consider Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. Tucked away on Hamilton Place and overlooking the well-heeled neighborhood of Mayfair, the hotel is offering sleep-focused experiences for guests ranging from transformative stays to results-driven spa treatments.
Stay
The Hyde Park Suite is up on the ninth floor and the 1,109-sq-ft, one-bedroom abode is a chic pied-à-terre. There’s a spacious open-plan living room with a cozy L-shaped sofa and a dining table for four, as well as a fun jungle-themed guest bathroom. Just off the living room, there is an enclosed balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows, plus two chairs and a small table (this area can also be closed off from the living room for a bit of quiet contemplation — we recommend sipping on your morning coffee here and watching the city come alive beneath you).
There’s a dressing room with far-reaching views over the city, and the marble ensuite has a freestanding soaking tub. In the master bedroom, there’s a signature hybrid-designed mattress to almost guarantee a blissful sleep, a pillow menu with seven choices and the turndown service includes thoughtful touches to help promote restful slumber — the room temperature is set between 16-18 degrees Celsius (said to be the perfect sleep temperature) and a custom sleep set, including a velvet eye mask and a lavender pillow spray, is left for guests.
Relax
A lot of five-star hotels in the city head deep underground to house their spas. This means it is somewhat of a novelty when you find one that isn’t a few floors beneath the streets. The spa at Four Seasons Park Lane is on the 10th floor and comprises nine treatment rooms, including the Sky Suite which has a private steam shower and separate dressing and relaxation rooms.
I’m scheduled to have the Deep Sleep Lavender Massage, but before this I check out the spa’s facilities. There’s a sauna set to toasty 70 degrees with a Himalayan pink salt wall (which I’m told is especially helpful for allergies). The sizeable sauna has a window from which, if you sit on the top bench, you can gaze out at Mayfair below. There’s also a large steam room and a hydrotherapy pool. The facilities are separated by sex, too, and I was pleasantly surprised to find I had the whole thing to myself.
I enter the treatment room and am greeted with a spectacular view (have I mentioned the views?) thanks to the floor-to-ceiling window.
The deep sleep massage is, as the name suggests, designed to facilitate sleep. And boy does it — I am dozing off no less than 20 minutes into the 90-minute treatment. It’s the perfect antidote to a busy day and best to have in the evening to promote restoration; it entails a full-body massage using English lavender oil followed by acupressure.
Following the massage, I sat in a bit of a stupor as I am just fixated on the movements of the city below. Eventually I make my way to one of the sleeping pods, a curtained-off area with a cozy daybed where I am served lavender tea to further induce a sense of calm. There are headphones with specifically meditative music; so relaxing I find myself nodding off again before I’ve even had a sip of tea.
From £895 ($1,150) per night. Contact +44 (0) 207 499 0888, fourseasons.com
