Heading to London this month or next and itching to know what's cool in the UK capital? You've come to the right place.

The all-knowing concierge team from Claridges, the Connaught and the Berkeley, aka "the city's best-informed residents", share their advice on what to do and where to go if you're planning a trip to London.

AUGUST

Drink...

Tini: The latest venture from the team behind Whisky Mist, Mahiki and the Punchbowl is glamorous cocktail bar Tini in the ever chic South Kensington. Just a stones throw away from Boujis and Mamilanji, this new haunt should prove just as popular with the social elite.

Tini, 87-89 Walton Street, South Kensington, London, SW3 2HP: +44 (0)20 7589 8558.

Eat...

Lutyens: This summer Sir Terence Conran proves once again that he is a master of the dining room-come-bar-come-members club. Hot on the heals of his last opening, the Boundary in Shoreditch, the wily old fox has done it again with this sublime spot on Fleet Street. You'd better book now because this one could be popular: classic French cuisine with a dash of Irish flair.

Lutyens, 85 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1AE; +44 (0)20 7583 8385.

Party...

Michael Jackson Tribute Concert: Following the tragic passing of Michael Jackson the Tribute Concert will be going ahead at London's O2 Arena on Saturday 29th August. Who will be performing? Well that is a closely guarded secret, however I can assure you it is going to be huge! Email me if you want tickets on cbogni@the-connaught.co.uk

SEPTEMBER

Eat...

Terroirs: At first glance, Terroirs seems like just another conventional attempt to transplant a traditional French bistro to the mean streets of central London. But look beyond the old advertising posters and wooden chairs, and you realise that there's something rather special going on here. The reasonably priced food combines creativity with a respect for full-on flavours and impeccable sourcing. Oh, and the wine is ok too!

Terroirs, 5 William IV Street WC2N 4DW; +44 (0)20 7036 0660.

Chill...

Spa Illuminata: Stressed? Worn out? Just need a little bit of pampering? This is quite simply the best day spa in London. Whether it's a manicure or a full body scrub you will be treated like royalty in this temple to relaxation.

Spa Illuminata, 63 South Audley Street, London, W1K 2QS; +44 (0)20 7499 7777.

Look...

Jeff Koons at the Serpentine: Inflatable toys? Check. Popeye? Check. Baffeling kitch? Check. The New York native and enfant terrible of the art world has bought this blockbuster exhibition to London. September 13th is the last day, so catch this one while you can.

Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA; +44 (0)20 7402 6075.

Luxury London hotels Claridge's, the Connaught, and the Berkeley are part of the Maybourne Hotel Group. For more information visit www.maybourne.com.

Photo Credits: Lutyens courtesy of Lutyens Restaurant, Bar & Cellar Rooms; Terroirs by Ewan-M, Jeff Coons Popeye Series by Chris Pattison.

We put the feelers out this morning about the top spas in Asia and these gems in Bali, Thailand and the Philippines came back. Feast your eyes and nurture your mind, body and spirit. Ohm...

BALI

COMO Shambhala Retreat at Uma Ubud, Ubud: Located in the stunning and serene Uma Ubud hotel and overlooking the Tjampuhan Valley, the COMO Shambhala Retreat offers spa therapies alongside yoga, meditation, reflexology, hiking and biking. If you want to detox there's a raw food plan available, otherwise you can enjoy food from the hotel's restaurant menus. The retreat is just five minutes outside of Ubud, Bali's cultural epicentre.

Take advantage of the two night COMO Shambhala Reviver package, which includes bed and breakfast style accommodation, one three-course dinner at Uma Ubud's Kemiri restaurant, the "Shambhala Restoration Path" or "Shambhala Purification Path" treatment package and a private one-hour yoga session. Costs from USD 1,125 per room (based on two sharing).

Web: www.uma.ubud.como.bz; Tel: +62 361 972448; Email: uma.ubud@comoshambhala.bz.

THAILAND

Chiva-Som, Hua Hin:

If you're in need of a total lifestyle overhaul then the multi-award winning Chiva-Som is the place to go. The focus of Chiva-Som's customised programmes is on rebalancing and rejuvenating mind, body and spirit. A firm favourite amongst celebrities and Fortune 500 types, the spa can help you achieve a range of goals from weight management to detoxifying to toning and slimming to relaxation to general well-being to fitness to anti-aging. There are over 120 treatments on offer, plus Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga and personal training classes.

To view a list of retreats and prices click here.

Web: www.chivasom.com; Tel: +66 (0) 3253 6536.

Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui: A Moroccan-inspired boutique spa on the gorgeous Thai island of Koh Samui might sound odd, but Absolute Sanctuary's devotees assure us that it works. There are several detoxification programmes on offer, plus yoga retreats and spa therapies. We like the sound of the three day rejuvenating package, which offers an hour long massage per day, a facial treatment or body wrap per day, unlimited yoga classes, three vegetarian meals a day and unlimited juices and smoothies.

Costs for the three day rejuvenating holiday start from USD 1,278 for a double room (based on two people sharing).

Web: absolutesanctuary.com; Tel: +66 77 601 190; Email: bookings@absolutesanctuary.com.

PHILIPPINES

The Farm, Batangas:

Check into The Farm to detox and improve your wellbeing. The focus here is on definitely on detoxification (think colon hydrotherapy, colon massage and "target organ cleansing") to reduce toxins, boost immunity and improve mental clarity. In addition to these treatments you can also take on fitness sessions and relax during spa therapies. Programmes start from 5 days, although there is a "Day at The Farm" option available.

Prevention / Recovery programmes start from USD 2,027 per person for five days; Wellness programmes start from USD 790 per person for five days; Day at The Farm costs from USD 86 per person. All rates are exclusive of 12% government taxes and 10% service charges.

Web: www.thefarm.com.ph; Tel: +63 2 884 8073; Email: info@thefarm.com.ph.

By Turner Wright

"Do you have hot springs in your country?"

We talked in the bath, the Japanese and I. Rambled on about the differences in our cultures, debated which onsen (hot springs) were the best in the land, and tried to trick each other into moving into the current of the tenki furo (electric bath), to thunderous laughter. But more often than not, both in my neighbourhood bathhouse and across the country, my hosts were curious at to whether Americans enjoyed the benefits of a daily soak.

I didn't really have a good answer for them; with the exception of Palm Springs and what I assumed were a smattering of geothermal springs in the Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountains, I had no idea of what calming waters I could have missed in my own home town. Are hot springs even possible in the middle of the United States, where volcanoes are few and far between, and unlikely to produce anything remotely similar to what one sees in Japan?

In Japan, most of the springs are fuelled by underground water sources coming into close proximity to magma or volcanic "veins" of heat rising to the surface. As these types of hot springs are usually superheated, many have to be regulated so as not to scald the bather.

Given the number of volcanoes in the land of the rising sun, it should come as no surprise that hot spring culture has played a major role in Japanese society: relaxing at an onsen resort in the country is a favourite romantic getaway; super sento (large "amusement park" scale bathhouses) provide a means for families to spend time together while both exercising and staying clean (take that, American nuclear family!); if you are a guest in a Japanese home, you may be asked to bathe before dinner.

More than a means to stay fresh and clean, the sanctity of the bath is of utmost importance. In Japan you bathe first, removing all the dirt and soap from your body, then enter the pure waters of the bath to blissfully while away the time. In Beppu on the island of Kyushu, there is so much hot water beneath the earth's surface that it appears as though small fires are constantly burning on the streets, steam releasing some pressure and providing some very picturesque scenes. In northern Honshu, near Nagano, snow monkeys are clever enough to go in for a soak themselves, as Japanese tourists snap some truly original photographs.

Although some springs in the United States are heated in a similar manner, others are the result of geothermal energy: the deeper you go towards the centre of the Earth, the higher the temperature of the rocks. Hot springs powered in this manner need to reach a sufficient depth in the planet's crust to achieve any significant temperatures (enough for soothing baths, anyway).

My search led me straightaway to west Texas, more specifically a resort not far from the Mexican border: Chinati Hot Springs.

Legends of the regenerative powers of the waters of Chinati trace their origins back to the Native American Apache and Comanche tribes who once had free reign over the great state of Texas. The superstitions surrounding such a burial ground remain in full effect, the current owners always mindful of the direction their karma takes them... "Whoever closes the spring for the use of anyone else will die before his time," warning those who would attempt to restrict access to what nature has provided freely and without prejudice.

Slowly filling the tubs at a steady 109 degrees, these springs offer the same kind of therapeutic effects one would see from any volcanic source: scar regeneration, joint health, overall wellness, a rejuvenation of the spirit.

And unlike in Japan, where one may soak as rain gently disturbs the surface of the outdoor baths, in Chinati, light hail provides just the right effect to appreciate the heated waters underneath the starry night.

If you want privacy and a place to watch Orion dance above a desert oasis without the noise of cell phones and car wheels, Chinati is the place for you. The biggest problems you'll face are runaway burros and all-too-friendly bloodhounds.

In nearby Big Bend National Park, an outdoor hot spring pool lies on the border to Mexico: the Rio Grande Village.

Mere walking (or swimming) distance from the closest Mexican village, the springs are remote, even by Big Bend standards. Your journey will take you slowly backwards in time, as you depart the black asphalt of the late 20th century, amble past trading posts and a post office build nearly one hundred years ago, and catch sight of Native American pictographs and petroglyphs along a sheered rock face pre-dates them all.

A little farther down the sandy path you'll come across the ruins of what was once the bathhouse, now a mere foundation used to prevent the healing water from flowing directly into the river. I must admit I was sceptical... but fear not, these springs are comparable to any seaside onsen in Japan.

The hot springs at Rio Grande Village is recommended for its remote location, soothing waters, and communion with nature. Take a soak in the shadow of Native American culture and melt your troubles away in the Texas sun. Everything is bigger, better, and apparently even more relaxing in Texas.

"Yes, we do have hot springs in America. Let me tell you..."

How are the hot springs where you come from? Iceland, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Taiwan... Antarctica?

By Stephan Larose for ChinaTravel.net

China's hot spring resorts are one of its best kept secrets. We're talking hot springs in tropical caves, exfoliating fish therapy, Himalayan hot springs, and springs next to China's best golf. So, if dipping in warm, mineral-rich waters by temples and beaches sounds good to you, read on for the lowdown on China's top ten spas, with hotel and attraction info to boot. Enjoy!

1. Jiuhua Spa and Resort

(four stars, Tel: 010-6178-2288)

Formerly the private retreat of emperors, the Jiuhua Spa and Resort is one of the most popular hot spring spa destinations in the country, and it's open to all. Limpid pools fed by springs 1,230 meters underground emerge at a tension-melting 40°C. Untainted by the sulfurous odor common to most hot springs, Jiuhua's spring water has a slight yellowish tint, owing to micro-elements such as strontium, lithium, and metasilicic acid, earning it an emperor's epithet as "a basin of Golden Water."

Guests of this elegant four-star resort have a wealth of hot spring pools to choose from. The resort's two sections comprise 40 pools offering 21 distinct therapeutic applications including mud baths, herbal baths, an Egyptian-themed pool, a foot massage pool, a lotus pool, and a medical stone sauna. Those with tired muscles after treks along the Great Wall, exploring the nearby Ming Tombs, or hiking in Python Mountain National Park next door will be rewarded with head-to-toe relaxation as well as therapeutic benefits for a host of ailments including rheumatic arthritis, sciatic nerve pain, lumbar muscle strain, eczema and hypertension.

The resort also features a host of recreational and therapeutic facilities. Hydrotherapy, salt baths, massage services, Thai spas and skin care treatments revitalize and rejuvenate while bowling alleys, bumper cars, swimming pools, satellite TV, archery and nearby attractions entertain and invigorate.

2. Crown Spa Resort Hainan

(five stars, Tel: 86-898-6596 6888, Email: sales@crownsparesorthainan.com)

Hainan is the place in China for sun-worshippers looking to bronze their bodies, and just 15 minutes after exiting Haikou's Meilan International Airport, you could be strolling along endless stretches of gorgeous private beach or taking a dip in what the Guiness Book of World Records describes as the "largest indoor hot spring in the world."

Surrounded by lush Thai, Balinese and Caribbean gardens, the Crown Spa Resort Hainan (Hainan Huangguan Binhai Wenquan Jiudian) is a European-style leisure palace overlooking the South China Sea and boasting myriad exclusive spa and beauty treatments.

It's hard work living it up, but after a day's frolicking in the waves or taking advantage of this Haikou resort's luxury yachts, jet skis, windsurfing, parasailing or nearby golf course, you're bound to need some of the Crown's propriety spa treatments. The luxurious, five-story Tea Tree Spa complex is fed by natural mineral hot springs and houses meditation decks, garden pavilions, massage rooms and treatment suites.

And you won't want to miss the signature fish therapy—it's the most organic exfoliation there is. Just sit back and close your eyes and let the fish stimulate your nerves and nibble the bacteria from your skin. If you can't handle being kissed by fishes, there's always the exercise pool, Jacuzzi hot tubs, steam rooms, Thai massage and aromatherapy to unwind with.

3. Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort

(four stars, Tel: 0760-668-3888, Email: zshsr@zshs.com)

Probably the best-known hot spring resort in China, the Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort has played host to China's most revered heads of state, Jiang Zemin and Deng Xiaoping, and is situated near a town named after the founder of the modern Chinese nation — Sun Zhongshan, known in the West as Sun Yat Sen. This four-star resort features over 30 hot springs and is also handy to the best golf in the country. What better way to justify an extended dip in warm, mineral-rich waters than by spending the day putting for birdies at a par 71, Palmer-designed, 18-hole golf course or a Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course at par 72? Talk about living the good life!

Zhongshan's mountains are dotted by numerous hot springs, one of which feeds the resort's massive 30,000 square meter outdoor spa. Once done mollifying muscles, dissolving stress and achieving Zen-like inner peace, guests can zip over to the seaside resort city of Zhuhai, just a 15-minute drive away, to soak up some rays, or train their newfound Zen focusing skills on the resort's shooting range.

4. Jinshan Hot Spring Holiday Resort

(five stars, Tel: 0750-728-1188)

Situated by Naji, Enping County, Guangdong, this sprawling holiday village taps an incredible 300 hot spring sources to bring you some of the most mineral rich water in China. Endowed with approximately 35 grams of healing micro-elements per liter, the waters here are renowned for therapeutic benefits that combat everything from rheumatism to skin diseases to cardiovascular afflictions.

Luxurious condominiums surrounded by green hills, flowers and elegant gardens guarantee that guests of this leafy oasis get some much-deserved respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The place is well suited for businesspeople conducting tense negotiations; the well-equipped international conference center ensures presentations go smoothly. The rewards are obvious, even if things don't go as planned: Everyone wakes up fresh the next day after spending the evening hours luxuriating in this Jinshan resort's 28 Japanese-style hot spring pools, which are divided into high, mid and cool temperatures.

5. Hailuogou Hot Spring (Conch Gully Hot Spring)

(Tel of Hailuogou Scenic Area Management Committee: 0836-326-6203) Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel (Tel: 0836-326-6608)

Western Sichuan's Gongga mountain is the scene for some of the hardiest, most majestic landscapes in China and include Hailuogou National Park, site of China's biggest glacier park. Rivaling any North American glacier park in size, the area is renowned as a place where you can see all four seasons in the same day.

If you love rustic, outdoor springs, rugged mountain views and chances to catch snowflakes on your tongue while dipping in hot spring water, Hailuogou is the place for you. Mineral-rich, therapeutic spring waters gush out at toasty temperatures ranging from 50° to 92°C and are said to be effective in combating diabetes, neuralgia and arthritis. And that's not to mention the obvious psychological benefits reaped by lounging in extreme comfort in a gorgeous setting.

After a day of hiking the verdant forests on the slopes of Mt. Gonggar, trekking across icy fields, listening to thunderous avalanches, skipping across the Conch Gully's milky rivers, and dipping in the hot springs, the four-star Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel, with its dedications to the Long March and ethnic Tibetan décor, offers a little comfort, luxury and plenty of atmosphere in which to spend the remains of the day.

6. E'mei Lingxiu Hot Spring / Lingxiu Hot Spring

(Tel: 0833-559-2777)

Li Bai is one of China's most celebrated poets, and when he took in Emei Shan's (Mt. Emei) temple-studded peaks and mist-shrouded valleys, he found no shortage of inspiration for his superlative stanzas. Of all the mountains in the Shu kingdom, "Mount Emei stands above them all," he wrote. A setting for scenes from the legendary Monkey King's journey to the West, this magnificent landscape now serves as backdrop for bathers in Lingxiu Hot Spring's pellucid pools.

Claims abound of the water's therapeutic benefits. Sourced 3,000 meters underground, the springs are said to be helpful in combating diseases affecting digestive, neural, respiratory, vasomotor and cardiovascular systems. High concentrations of radon and huge volumes of water ensure that everyone gets in on the therapeutic action.

The five-star Emei Hot Spring Resort is ideally located to take advantage of this and the other hot springs in the area. You'll need the fine dining and creature comforts because every day in this area is guaranteed to be a full one. Whether you decide to make the climb to Golden Peak Temple, or run the monkey-ruled trails to other historical and natural points of interest, there'll be no shortage of opportunities to pump those thighs until they're screaming for a little hot spring love.

7. Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort

(Tel for Lhasa tourism bureau: 0891-634-2884)

Want to lounge around in a warm, waterfall-fed pool at the roof of the world? Then look no further than the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort. Perched at a lofty 4,300 meters and nestled in the majestic slopes of the Himalayas, the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort offers visitors an experience that is simply incomparable. Is there anywhere else you can bathe in curative, calcite and tussilago-infused waters while gazing upon the most rugged, photogenic landscapes on the planet?

The Dezong Hot Springs are arranged in simple, rustic fashion, divided into a men's pool, above, and a women's pool, below. 40° C, jade-colored spring waters cascade 20 meters into the resort's pools.

Once you've had enough (if there is such a thing), other worthy attractions are within reach (if you're driving), such as the Zhigongi and Dezong Temples, and Tianzangtai, while Nam-tso Lake (Namu Lake in Tibetan); Potala Palace, Bakuo Street and Dazhao Temple are further off. Accommodations are somewhat limited, but the five-star Yaluzangbu hotel features creature comforts and cars for hire for the drive to the springs 170 kilometers away.

8. Tibetan Paillong Hot Spring

(Tel of Linzhi tourism bureau: 0894-582-2469)

About 40 kilometers down state highway 318 from the four-star Linzhi Fujian Hotel, Paillong Sulfur Hot Spring, near Pailong village, flows from the holy Brahmaputra river at a steamy 45-60 degrees centigrade. Extremely simple, and practically unknown, Paillong consists of just one small stone and brick pool. One of Tibet's best kept secrets, you're not likely to see crowds here.

The water issues directly into the pool from the rock, all you need do is let the water flow over your body and let the spring vapors clear your lungs and skin. Just sit and let your ego dissipate. Then, turn your gaze upon the verdant river valley below. Radiant organic energy illuminates your mind, revealing the universe in measureless fractals.... Dizzy yet? Do remember to breathe slowly as you slip into the infinite...

9. Jinping Mengla Hot Spring

(Tel of Gejiu Tourism Bureau: 0873-212-5699)

Yunnan's jungle-covered karst towers jut out of tropical forests and stand like unearthly sentinels keeping watch over otherworldly landscapes. Awe-inspiring and oft photographed to be sure, Yunnan's got something for hot springs lovers too: the Jinping Mengla Hot Spring.

Gushing forth from caves in southern Yunnan, 50-60 degree centigrade waters flush with curative elements stream over colorful rocks. Lying in the bubbling baths, visitors will find several "masseuse rocks." Muscles are naturally kneaded as water flows provide movement and shallow pebble beds provide texture and traction.

Beauty abounds in these lush forests: You'll find ravines, waterfalls, mirror-like lakes, karst landforms and jutting green mountains. The four-star Century Plaza Gejiu (0873-216-8888) is just seven kilometers from the hot spring.

10. Guangdong Conghua Hot Spring

(Tel: 020-8333-9933-2266)

Guangdong province's Conghua Hot Spring Scenic Area was originally built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 75 kilometers from Guangzhou, it is now a nationally renowned tourist attraction and health resort. Warm water enriched with ten kinds of minerals bubbles to the surface at 12 different springs, ranging between 30 to 71°C.

A large area replete with historical landmarks such as the Bi Lang Bridge, Di Cui Pavilion and Tao Ran Hall, the springs are surrounded by waterfalls, slow-moving rivers, and tranquil forests. Try the Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel, a sprawling property comprising over 40 buildings set lakeside amidst pine forests with hot spring water piped into rooms. You'll find everything from villas to presidential suites, along with squash courts, bowling alleys and a host of mountain trails to keep you busy when you're not lounging in the springs.

Hainan Beach by fedfil via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Lake Nam-tso by poorfish via Flickr (Creative Commons)

SiChuan - Hailuogou by auws via Flickr (Creative Commons)