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The best manicures in London: salons, spas and nail bars to book now
See the Bazaar directory of the capital's must-visit spots for chic manicures
To appreciate a fabulous professional blow-dry, or the results of a radiance-enhancing facial you have to look in the mirror; yet to reap the uplifting benefits of a manicure you simply have to glance down at your hands (something we do increasingly, thanks to our myriad devices).
But before you book in for a mood-lifting manicure from the pros, it pays to understand the different services available, given the number of options now at our fingertips. Here, celebrity manicurist and nail authority Emily Rose Lansley explains the various types to manicures to try now.
The different types of manicures
Basic manicures
Here “you can expect file shaping, some cuticle work, a nail paint with regular polish and moisturising cream application,” Lansley explains. “It should last five-to-seven days and is most suitable for those who like a natural finish.” A regular polish manicure is a good option for anyone who suffers with breakages or has weak nails, she explains.
Gel manicures
This refers to the addition of precision painting with a gel nail polish. “Gel formulas are set under an LED light,” Lansley explains, “and once they’re set and locked in with the topcoat, the colour won’t budge, and the result is vivid colour with a glassy finish”. You can expect well applied gel colour to last up to two weeks, she adds. “Gel is suitable for those with healthy, strong nails and not those who are prone to breakages.”
Shellac manicures
“A Shellac manicure is a hybrid gel varnish set under an LED lamp. It’s not as hard wearing as a gel as it is a thinner and more flexible formula and won’t last as long.” This is a good option for those limited on time, she says, as hybrid gels such as Shellac, OPI and Gellish “are quicker and you don’t have to wait for the polish to dry”.
Bio Sculpture manicures
“Bio Sculpture is a hard gel manicure, set with the LED lamp. It’s a slightly thicker formula and will last longer than any other hybrid gel formula.” Lansley adds that this is a good option for those with any nail breakages, “as with Bio Sculpture, silk wraps can be applied underneath the polish”.
Acrylic manicures
“This takes the form of a liquid paste that is painted onto the nail using a brush,” she explains. “It’s a very rigid formula that is used to extend the natural nail bed (making it suitable for those wanting to achieve longer nails).” It’s a very hard-wearing manicure, but this can damage and weaken the natural nail. “For long-term wear, gel application is a healthier option over acrylic or gel extensions,” Lansley attests.
Dip powder manicure
Offering a natural look and finish to acrylic nails, “with a dip powder manicure, a base coat is applied before the nails are dipped into a finely milled dipping powder (in the colour of your choice) which dries into a hard coating providing strength that is much more lightweight in comparison”. No LED light is needed to cure this; “the topcoat is applied to seal the colour”. The effects of a dipping powder won’t chip as easily as hybrid gels like Shellac, she adds, but be sure never to pick powders off; “it may take your own nail with it!”.
Builder gel manicure
A newer addition to the manicure portfolio, builder gel –such as BIAB by The GelBottle Inc – can be used as a nail extension product as well as a nail hardener. “With this product, you can wear it alone to provide nails with added strength (it comes in the form of a natural pinkish transparent shade), or you can add a gel colour on top,” Lansley explains. “Less damaging than acrylics, builder gel is trending in the manicure space for its versatility.”
So, whether you are in need of a quick fix or want something a little more indulgent, here is Bazaar's list of the best London salons, spas and nail bars to visit for all kinds of meticulous manicures.
The best manicure hotspots in London:
Chanel, Selfridges Oxford Street
In celebration of Chanel's limited edition Makeup Takeaways collection, the iconic fashion house is offering manicures at Selfridges, Oxford Street until 17th July. Wander through the infamous Beauty Hall to find Chanel's exclusive set-up, and prepare for 45 minutes of attentive expertise and relaxation. Experiencing the brand's hand- and nail-care products is a treat in itself, but we recommend coinciding the appointment with a shopping-spree for the ultimate Selfridges experience.
Best for... a girls day out
Chanel Le Vernis manicure, £45 redeemable against product
Young LDN, Notting Hill
This bustling beauty destination is one of Notting Hill's trendiest nail spots. Known for detailed art and playful designs, this is the perfect location for a swirls, spots or a seasonal mani. What's more, the space is complete with facial, lash and brow, and make-up bars, allowing you to tick off your beauty checklist all in one day.
Best for... a one-stop beauty destination
Classic manicure from £40
Rawr, Fitzrovia
You'll find Rawr salons nationwide, but the flagship is at Rathbone Place in central London. Offering all kinds of beauty services – from brows and lashes to hair removal and massage – they're known for nails and excel at long-lasting BIAB manis, designed to encourage natural nail growth and strength (as Lansley outlines above).
Best for... BIAB manicures
'Don't be gelly manicure', £55
Eighty-8 Nail Studio, Chelsea
Full to the brim with industry-leading brands like OPI, CND, Essie and Vinylux, Eighty-8 is the idyllic spot for finding the exact perfect shade for your late summer manicure. Situated between Chelsea and South Kensington, here you can enjoy a detailed deluxe manicure, speedy swift polish and everything in-between.
Best for... a variety of shades
Classic manicure, from £25
Cowshed Spa, Shoreditch House
Fans of Cowshed's luxurious hand, home and body range may already be familiar with its array of sophisticated London spots. Located within East London's buzziest streets, its Shoreditch House spa ranks among our favourite self-care destinations, complete with an elegant farmhouse-style treatment space and indulgent private rooms.
Here you can enjoy a generous menu of treatments including lava shell massages, reflexology and, of course, a signature Cowshed manicure with regular or gel polish.
Best for... cool-meets-country calm
Cowshed manicure, from £40
Coco Nails Club, Great Portland Street
Just a five-minute walk from Oxford Circus and Goodge Street stations, this pretty beauty location offers durable, flattering manicures in just about every shade you can imagine. Think manicures and pedicures, acrylics and gel extensions, all complete to the same consistently tidy standard - and its nail art speaks for itself.
Best for... a flattering nail shape
Classic manicure, from £30
Townhouse, various locations
Manicures for the modern age: at Townhouse you get in-salon tech (including a 'nailfie' photo booth) and timely treatments, plus the classics. Their speciality, though, is sophisticated nail art.
With spots spanning from Liverpool Street to Kensington, the beloved Townhouse manicure is available throughout London and beyond. In fact, the sleek nail destination now boasts 34 locations throughout the UK.
Best for... UK-wide locations (and luxury)
Townhouse Signature Manicure, from £40
Blanche Beauty, Marylebone
Just south of Great Portland Street you'll find Blanche Beauty, with its team of highly skilled beauty technicians who place real emphasis on attention to detail.
Expect meticulous manicures – whether you opt for traditional polish or gel – with thorough cuticle work and pristine painting. Needless to say, fans of a classical, ultra-chic look will be in safe hands.
Blanche Beauty also offer pedicure treatments as well as brow and lash services, making it a nifty one-stop-shop for beauty maintenance.
Best for... Pristine paint jobs
Classic Gel Manicure, 105 minutes, £70 / Express Gel Manicure, 60 minutes, £54
Rachel’s Nails & Coffee, Fitzrovia
Situated on Windmill Street, throwing distance from the buzz of Oxford Circus, this cute and welcoming nail bar is the perfect way to begin (or end) a weekend shopping spree. There's a classic range of services on offer (including gel and acrylic) and a coffee bar for your post-treatment catch-up. Even better, you can book easily online via Treatwell.
Best for... a weekend catch-up
Rachel's Nails and Coffee manicure, from £28
Pre-, Islington
BOOK NOW
Nestled in the heart of Islington, Pre- is your one-stop destination for an all-round luxury pamper. With a generous menu of facials, waxing and brow and lash treatments, this modern beauty hub offers everything from diamond-tip microdermabrasion to head-to-toe hair removal, including a lavish curation of indulgent nail treatments.
Whether you're looking for a quick colour fix or intricate nail art, a rejuvenating hand massage or a glossy gel pedicure, Pre-'s extended catalogue of prettifying services, which feature the highest performance products from The Gel Bottle, Nailberry, Le Manucurist, and Grown Alchemist, will guarantee you nail this season's mani-pedi trends and leave the salon looking chic and neat.
Best for... The full works
Pre- Trademark Manicure, from £32
Iris Avenue, Goodge Street
Iris Avenue's cosy Goodge Street salon was an immediate win with the Bazaar beauty team. Whether you're popping in for an express mani on your lunch break or are planning long-overdue pamper hour with your girls, this warm and friendly location on the doorstep of Central London comes fully equipped with hot drinks, cocktails, mocktails and smoothies, all tied up with an vibrant Iris Avenue bow.
Best for... a coffee and a catch-up
Iris Avenue Manicure from £25
So.Shell, Carnaby
If you’re looking for a mani that doesn’t cut corners, we’d beeline to Carnaby Street for a thorough set of So Shell nails. Cuticle care is at the forefront of these hyper-detailed manicures, with every treatment coming with the same impeccably tidy finish. Express manicures begin at sixty minutes here, with microscopic attention and perfectionism applied throughout every shaping, buffing and painting step.
The atmosphere in this salon is familiar and cosy, with a soft seaside palette and only a few clients in at any one time; it's hard to believe that it's mere moments from the heart of London's shopping hub.
Best for... pristine cuticle care
Basic Manicure, from £40
London Grace, various locations
Looking for a new lunchtime mani spot? London Grace's generous offering of London-wide salons are best known for quick, refined treatments that don't compromise on finish.
Whether you're tied to a tight deadline or want to enjoy a quiet beverage after work, this coffee shop turned cocktail bar turned nail salon is perfect for enjoying some me-time while you're pampered.
Best for... A super speedy mani
Slap Dash Manicure, from £14
Gielly Green, Marylebone
This recently renovated beauty destination is a one-stop dream-house for hair, brows, massage and nails. Pitched in the middle of London's bustling George Street, Gielly Green has swiftly garnered a reputation for the talented hands that work within it, not to mention, a consistently high standard for customer service.
Whether you're looking for an elegant set of traditional French tips or vibrant polygel extensions, its long lasting treatments are expressive and personalised, without wreaking havoc on your natural nails.
Best for...
Basic manicure, from £45
Reecey Roo's, Camberwell
Reecey Roo's, in Camberwell, is making a name for itself on the nail scene. The mani/pedi bar offers all the traditional services, but for something a little different opt for nail art – their experts will treat your nails like a painter's canvas
Best for… South London locals
Reecey Roo's Manicure, from £15
Paint Nails London, Oxford Circus
Whether you're looking for precision nail art, tidy french tips or acrylic nail extensions, Paint Nails London provide professional, clean and neat manicures - we particularly recommend their BIAB nail treatment which works to strengthen and protect your nails beneath your polish, especially if you're a gel mani regular.
You'll find Paint Nails London inside The Beauty Club in Oxford Circus, home to Edy London's iconic lash extensions, a full range of hair services and a cocktail bar, so it's easy to make yourself at home for the day here. Settle in and enjoy a coffee or a cocktail, a casual atmosphere and professional treatments provided by pros.
Best for... neat nail art
Classic Manicure from £30
Linnean, Embassy Gardens
Offering everything from a plant-rich café to an extensive medi-spa (and, of course, a nail salon) Linnean has swiftly become one of Battersea's prized beauty spots.
Whether you opt for a minimalist Naked Manicure or a Green Flash pedicure, care and condition takes priority over gels and nail-art here. Each enlivening treatment is delivered using ‘non-toxic’ gels and 90% natural, vegan and cruelty free polishes, for a manicure that not only looks luxury, but that feels better after application.
Settle in with a coffee for a solo pampering session or enjoy a cosy girl's day with a group manicure or a table for tea.
Best for... care, conditioning and a slice of cake
Linnaean Naked Manicure from £30
AMA at The Londoner, Leicester Square
Seated in The Londoner's exquisite spa, AMA recently launched its second stunning manicure spot in the heart of Leicester Square. Co-founded by session and celebrity manicurist Ama Quashie, this deluxe new nail bar offers the same opulent offering as its Brixton sister location, tucked cosily next to the hotel's pool, salon and treatment rooms.
Either drop in for a chic and convenient tidy up in the Centre of London's hustle and bustle, or make an afternoon of it browsing The Retreat's generous menu of blow dries, massages and facials.
Best for... an unwinding afternoon
AMA Manicure from £30
Hershesons, Belgravia and Fitzrovia
For the times when a girl needs a glam squad, you can find yours at the Hershesons salons in Belgravia and Fitzrovia, where DryBy therapists will nail a manicure (and pedicure) between hair and beauty appointments. There are facials from the likes of The Light Salon, Murad and Sarah Bradden, and threading with the famously good Suman Brows. Your call.
Best for… a one-stop-shop
Hershesons DryBy manicure from £25
Shoreditch Nails, Shoreditch and Dalston
If you’re in East London, the two Shoreditch Nails salons in Dalston and Shoreditch are a must visit for the creative set. So much more than manicure salons, the spaces provide a hub for the local community – a place for self-care and expression. With the ultimate nail art offering – from 'aura orbs', to 'matcha marble', there's something for everyone. The brand also has its very own academy for those who want to upskill or change career.
From the attention to detail to the welcoming atmosphere, we'd pin these studios among our top East London nail salons. And with every stylish polish shade named after a beloved London location, its impossible not to fall in love with (and inevitably go home with) one of its eco-friendly colours.
Best for... East London localsShoreditch Nails Manicure from £32
