International Young Naturists Organisation
Naturist Resources => Europe => Resorts/Beaches/FKK Venues => United Kingdom => Topic started by: Steggsaurus on October 20, 2010, 10:07:35 pm
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http://www.elixir-of-life.com/ (http://www.elixir-of-life.com/)
Although I went there mostly for the reason of visiting my friend Maggie, who works there (until she leaves in a couple of weeks, anyway), I was also curious to check out what was offered at this nude spa in central London, and so I thought I would let you know what I thought of the facilities as a customer.
Elixir is easy to get to by taking the Picadilly line on the London underground to Wood Green. Head straight out of the station, cross the road and walk up for a few minutes until you get to Alexandra Palace station. Head right, walk up the road a little and cross the road bridge over the railway - Elixir should be on your right shortly after you come off the bridge.
Situated in a residential/shopping street, Elixir is a small facility but makes good use of the space it has.
When I arrived I was given a locker key and a towel and shown where I could get undressed. The receptionist (the staff are all female although the owner is male) didn't give me a full tour of the facilities but I think that was more because she knew I was Maggie's friend so assumed she would show me round - in other circumstances I imagine they would give you more of an explanation.
Elixir is nude-compulsory (as opposed to clothing-optional) - for staff as well as customers (with the exception of the woman on the front desk, for obvious reasons). Some customers chose to wrap a towel around their waists at the bar, but I wasn't the only one who chose to go fully uncovered throughout my time there. Overall, the attitude seems to be that there are plenty of other spas in London people can go to if they don't want to be naked - Elixir is a spa for naturists.
Having undressed and stashed my clothes and shopping in the good-sized locker (Elixir does have a private changing room for those who might be a little rluctant to get undressed in a communal area - but it wasn't made use of by anyone while I was there) and met up with Maggie, we went for a sauna.
Elixir has a modern, nicely fitted out sauna with space for around 4 people at a time (maybe 5 at a push). Opposite is the steam room which could also take around 5 or 6 people... but while the spa was always busy, the facilities were never crowded, and I think the most we had in either was me, Maggie and one other.
There is also a pretty standard-sized hot tub (which we never made use of).
There are two showers for you to use after your shower or steam (they are supposed to be male and female but it didn't seem to matter which you used).
There were three massage rooms, with two therapists in that night - I didn't have a massage as it had to be booked in advance, and also because I was there to hang out wth Maggie, and she isn't a massage therapist. But I was told by one of the regulars that the massages were excellent and would consider trying it out if I go back anytime not to meet a friend. The two therapists on that night were very friendly and chatty on their breaks between being with clients and I feel I'd be in safe hands with them (bad pun, sorry!)
Lastly there is the bar area. This is the main place to go when you are not having a sauna, steam or massage and like the rest of the spa it is clean and nicely decorated. You can help yourself to cold fresh water to rejuvinate after your sauna or steam or, if you prefer, fruit juices or tea and coffee (the making of which was one of Maggie's duties). There were also a supply of biscuits, and sandwiches and snacks were also available, although nobody ordered any while I was there. The spa people didn't seem to mind f you had your own food, it seemed - one customer had brought a takeaway in with him, so if you have ever fancied eating fish and chips in the nude with others, it seems you can do so there.
My only gripe with the bar was that all the seating was on stools - these were comfy enough, but didn't really allow you to chill out to any great degree. But, I know the spa owners are very conscious of avoiding anything which gives the place a swinger vibe - Elixir is not "that sort of place" (if you want that experience I hear the other London spa, the clothing-optional Rio's, is perhaps going to be more your thing). But, we didn't spend too long there before we were back in the sauna or steam again, which was the point of being there.
All the staff were friendly towards me - yes, they were aware that I was a friend of Maggie's but I had no reason to feel they would not have been friendly and welcoming even if I hadn't been, as they were similarly friendly with other customers.
The clientele was almost entirely male, but there was a reasonable mix of ages, ethnicities (more black/Asian naturists than I have encountered anywhere else) and nationalities (some Germans as well as English, clearly pleased to have found somewhere which offered "proper" i.e. nude saunas). I wasn't the only young guy either - the Germans were youthful, and towards the end of my visit another newcomer arrived who was also a recent graduate and by coincidence was originally from the city I where I now live! And while some may question the reason for hiring young, female staff, their presence certainly helped redress the balance slightly.
Overall I would definitely recommend Elixir... unlike some other places with less-than-savoury reputations, Elixir is run on principles of genuine naturism - there are copies of H&E and naturist literature available, the staff are keen on physical fitness, the therapists are all fully qualified and certified, and all the clientele seemed to be there either because it was somewhere they could socialise nude, or because if offered them a continental-style sauna experience rather than the more uptight British one. And although it is only a small place it is definitely well-run and well kept.
Elixir is open 2pm-11pm 7 days a week.
Massage should be booked in advance by telephone.
See website for prices.
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The pictures doesn't leave me too impressed...
But then again, I'm used to that spa: http://www.spalefinlandais.com/ (http://www.spalefinlandais.com/)
If it could be a nudist one, it'd be heaven :)
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Don't misunderstand my review Dan. Sure, there are better (non-naturist) spas out there. But I would have no need to review them on a naturist forum.
For a small, basic, fully-nude spa in central London, this had a good atmosphere and no faults I could find with the facilities, and it's run for genuine naturist use (rather than for the gay scene, or for swingers).
(That's basically the tl:dr version right there).
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Thanks for that report Andy! Sounds like a decent place to go.
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Very thorough report sir!
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Very thorough report sir!
I didn't write too much, you think? I always write too much!
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Very thorough report sir!
I didn't write too much, you think? I always write too much!
You did not, and I think I can speak on behalf of the most of the members here, we do appreciate your report, and Maggies employment there, makes it all the more special a place! Thankyou!
-D
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Very thorough report sir!
I didn't write too much, you think? I always write too much!
Not at all! It was just right.
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My girlfriend and I are planning a day trip to London over Christmas - would you recommend this as a place to go?
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My girlfriend and I are planning a day trip to London over Christmas - would you recommend this as a place to go?
I would, for the following reasons (other than it being a nice place):
1 - it's not Rio's. The owners of Elixir seem keen to absolutely avoid any sort of swinger atmosphere developing. So, if you want a nude spa in London, this is the only one which isn't geared to swingers.
2 - the friendly, female staff. If your girlfriend is at all unsure about social nude situations, she needn't worry that she will be the only nude young female. While Maggie leaves next week there are other girls who do the same job there - serve at the bar, hang out in the sauna/steam and chat to the customers, and I am sure they will do everything they can to make her feel at ease.
3 - it's in Zone 3 on the Underground so if you are having a day out travelling around London you can get there on a 1-3 travelcard, so there's no extra expense involved to get there.
However I would also say:
1 - there probably won't be any other female customers. They said they never seem to have any. So it's a bit of a sausage-fest aside from the staff. If you want social nudity in a truly mixed-sex group, you probably won't get it here.
2 - if you aren't into the sauna thing, there's nothing else there. It's not the most exciting place - it's more about relaxing and chilling out than any sort of activity. I certainly wouldn't make it the focus of your trip - it's a better place to just pop in for a couple of hours.
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I'll mark this place as a place to go when i hit the lotto and can finally afford to travel.
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I've visited this place and can definately reconmend it.
:2345
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interesting on the price list that it is about 7x more expensive for guys than girls... trying to address that imbalance, I assume?
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Hmm...I'm visiting my aunt in London in February. It sounds like I'll have to figure out a way to disappear for a day or an afternoon and check this place out. It sounds good and it sounds like it can only get better!
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http://www.elixir-of-life.com/ (http://www.elixir-of-life.com/)
The clientele was almost entirely male, but there was a reasonable mix of ages, ethnicities (more black/Asian naturists than I have encountered anywhere else) and nationalities (some Germans as well as English, clearly pleased to have found somewhere which offered "proper" i.e. nude saunas). I wasn't the only young guy either - the Germans were youthful, and towards the end of my visit another newcomer arrived who was also a recent graduate and by coincidence was originally from the city I where I now live! And while some may question the reason for hiring young, female staff, their presence certainly helped redress the balance slightly.
It's a small world.... this is me!
It was good to meet you and Maggie was certainly friendly too. I was hoping to go back before she "retired" to ask where you guys met as I would find it useful to meet other people my age but didn't have time - clubs and the like very much seem to be 40 years+ - which I have no problem with but it's not as socially inclusive as I would like. So if you have anything planned coming up and feel like being a gent, it would be great to get involved! I am up in your neck of the woods most weekends too.
Either way - it was good to meet you and this is a great report.
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Amy and I went on Friday and had a lovely massage, a long time in the hot tub and a thoroughly brilliant time :) The staff were absolutely lovely and really made you at home. Obviously having more of a mix of genders and ages would have been nice, but we both enjoyed ourselves immensely nonetheless :)
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http://www.elixir-of-life.com/ (http://www.elixir-of-life.com/)
The clientele was almost entirely male, but there was a reasonable mix of ages, ethnicities (more black/Asian naturists than I have encountered anywhere else) and nationalities (some Germans as well as English, clearly pleased to have found somewhere which offered "proper" i.e. nude saunas). I wasn't the only young guy either - the Germans were youthful, and towards the end of my visit another newcomer arrived who was also a recent graduate and by coincidence was originally from the city I where I now live! And while some may question the reason for hiring young, female staff, their presence certainly helped redress the balance slightly.
It's a small world.... this is me!
It was good to meet you and Maggie was certainly friendly too. I was hoping to go back before she "retired" to ask where you guys met as I would find it useful to meet other people my age but didn't have time - clubs and the like very much seem to be 40 years+ - which I have no problem with but it's not as socially inclusive as I would like. So if you have anything planned coming up and feel like being a gent, it would be great to get involved! I am up in your neck of the woods most weekends too.
Either way - it was good to meet you and this is a great report.
heyyy!! sorry for the late reply, i've been away from this forum for a while, good to see you here though.
to answer your question Maggie and I met through the now-defunct Skinbook website and got to know each other through Facebook and MSN. That night was actually our first time meeting face-to-face; I've still never seen her with her clothes on lol, as I haven't been back to London in a while.
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I visited this place twice over the weekend, it's really delightful. I wish we had a place like it in Dublin. I actually wonder what it would take to set up
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This isnt too far from me, think ive got to get myself over there!!
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Am in London for the next few weeks working at the Olympics and am kind of pining to go having read Andy's brilliant review. If anyone else would be keen to visit in the next fortnight, feel free to drop me a PM on here.
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Has anyone been here recently? I'd be keen to hear from anyone who has.
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Hi all.
Just an update. And there isn't much to say from what was written all those years ago. Last time I went was a couple months ago, however if say it's the same as before. Still a nice friendly place to visit. The ladies are very nice and make you very welcome if nervous. I've only been when other guys are visiting but not many and they was also friendly enough to say hi. Small chat etc.
Still recommend going for any male/female visitor. Good price. Friendly staff. Relaxing atmosphere. :-)
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Hi all.
Just an update. And there isn't much to say from what was written all those years ago. Last time I went was a couple months ago, however if say it's the same as before. Still a nice friendly place to visit. The ladies are very nice and make you very welcome if nervous. I've only been when other guys are visiting but not many and they was also friendly enough to say hi. Small chat etc.
Still recommend going for any male/female visitor. Good price. Friendly staff. Relaxing atmosphere. :-)
Thanks for this, Aaron. This type of update helps all.
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Tonight I went to what used to be called Elixir Spa, now renamed as Naked Hands.
I last visited a couple of years ago, and to be honest I had a much better time last time I went. Today the whole place seemed very grubby, in need of refurbishment and TLC. Last time there were two female staff who were very engaging and who were nude. This time there was one male member of staff and two female, all of whom remained fully clothed and did not attempt to engage in any friendly conversation. They made me feel quite awkward. There were two male customers over 50 years old when I arrived but they left soon after I arrived so I had the place to myself.
Although it was nice to have a nude sauna, steam and hot tub, I won’t be going back any time soon.
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Is there an age requirement for visiting Elixir?