6 Best Nail Salons in London

6 Best Nail Salons in London

Even though London is the biggest city in the UK, you won’t have to travel far to find a high-end salon…

London is a city of energy – each borough has a unique style. Shoreditch is trendy and has the younger-generation wandering around, visiting thrift stores, and checking out live music. The City of London has men running around in suits during their lunch break, hurriedly trying to get in line at their favorite sandwich shop. Camden has the always-busy market and vintage shops lining the streets.

No matter what area you’re in, one thing is for sure – style is key. People are always dressed to reflect their style, whether it be Nike high-tops and high-waisted jeans or trim-cut suits. To further enhance your style and cement your place forever in the London fashion-scene, you need to make sure everything about your look is on point – and that includes the nails. Sure, some may not think it’s important, but we disagree.

If you’re meeting someone for the first time and go to shake their hand, you don’t think they’ll notice your nails? Exactly. Luckily, London has an infinite amount of options to give you the best manicure and pedicure, whether it be a quick budget fix or a multi-hour event, the country’s capital has a few stand-out options that will always do a quality job.

1. Ama – Brixton

Nail Salon – by Kris Atomic – Unsplash

First up, we have Ama, an all-natural nail salon in trendy Brixton. We applaud Ama Quashie, the famous founder of this establishment, for branching into South London. The south side of the river has been needing a quality nail salon for years, and she heard our cries.

The menu here is incredible – she offers both traditional treatments, but also gives you the choice of products that are 90% vegan and cruelty-free, so you can do your part to better the world while getting your beauty treatments. Talk about multi-tasking.

The walls are covered with unique mixes of photographs, posters, and uplifting quotes about women. We dig. Although you definitely need to make a reservation, the planning ahead is worth the royal treatment and girl-power vibes you get here.

The naked manicure, consisting of file and buff, shaping cuticles and cleaning them, hand massage, and moisturizing, rings in at approximately $24. For the most expensive manicure, it will set you back £45 for file and buff, cuticle cleaning, massage, gel, and organic moisturizer.

As far as London prices go, this isn’t too bad. Getting a combination of hands and feet, the most expensive 105-minute treatment is £80 for gel mani and pedi. If you’re a South London resident and want a quality job with friendly technicians and upbeat energy, come here for a cruelty-free manicure.

2. Townhouse – Fitzrovia

Next up, we bring to you Townhouse, the salon that was invented for millenials. Bring your Apple Pay, Apple watch, tap credit card, or whatever else you use to pay online here – they don’t accept cash, and you can cancel up to two hours before your appointment. This is perfect for literally anyone under the age of 30 who can’t make plans more than 48 hours in advance at fear they might miss out on something.

If you set aside your FOMO and keep your appointment, you won’t regret it. You can choose either a simplistic color or ask for a fancy design from their lookbook. Instagram-obsessed patrons can head into the photobooth to grab a picture of your sparkly new nails and post them to your story so your ex-boyfriend can see just how well you’re moving on.

This salon is also a consistent favorite of the UK’s Beauty Editors, just confirming our love and confidence in this modern-day salon. The nail shades are endless, the gel manicures last for a month, and the treatment is extremely high-quality. The chic interior and cordless phone chargers at every station make this a great spot for young professionals trying to make a living in the city.

3. Nails & Brows – Mayfair

If you need to get some beauty treatments done as well as a new set of nails, check out Nails & Brows in Mayfair. Not a spot for a quick lunch-time fix, come here when you have a full day to spend on relaxation. The focus here is skin-related. We recommend trying the hot paraffin wax, and submerge your hands into a jelly-like liquid to get your hands softer than they’ve ever been. Think velvet or silk robe – and that’s now your hands.

The salon prides itself on offering a boutique experience – and we can attest. The bespoke approach is complemented by experts who really know what they’re talking about and an upscale ambiance, complete with marble counters and spotless stations.

The founder, Sherrille Riley, put a lot of work and thought into this salon, choosing only highly-qualified specialists, and becoming famous for creating naturally-styled brows. Manicures range from £24 to £66, pedicures are between £45 to £79, and the infamous brows cost between £30 to £995. Yes, you read that right. These semi-permanent brows use needle technology and microblading to perfect your natural brows and help those who have minimal hair.

Yes, it’s insanely expensive – but it must work since patrons keep coming back for more. One of the most popular treatments is the Game-Changing Brow, which reshapes and tints your brows using the Beauty Edit Mayfair collection. This salon is not for those who are trying to watch their wallet, but is ideal for those who want beauty treatments along with stunning nails.

4. STILL – Dalston

With the focus back on just nails, head to STILL in East London. This calm and relaxing place features white walls, a cute neon bunny, and a comfortable setting. A newcomer on the salon scene, this 2019 location uses only cruelty-free and vegan products, a trend which is popular among the younger generation these days. We like the focus on all-natural products – and the focus on high-quality work.

This salon has an extensive range of nail color selection and offers extremely detailed nail art that will blow your mind. Their motto of “good for your nails – good for your soul” is truly reflected in the entire salon. The staff here creates a luxury salon atmosphere, while keeping you mindful about the products you’re using, and relaxed to enjoy the experience.

They want you to know that no product in the salon has ever been tested on animals, and they don’t use any toxic nail polish as so many salons do. With environmentally-conscious values and a wellness store attached, we like the worldly-awareness that the owner has created here.

Manicures begin at £20, ring up at £34 for a gel manicure, and are topped at £50 for a 75-minute luxury Icelandic soak, massage, and gel manicure. The basic pedi will start at £30, cost £39 for a gel pedicure, and £55 for the Icelandic treatment.

If you want something different, the nail art here is incredibly unique and well-done without being tacky. A full set of gel nails with artwork will set you back £64 for the hands and £69 for the feet. If you’re an eco-conscious person, a vegan, or just simply want to support the cruelty-free movement, then come here for a relaxing spa day with good vibes all around.

5. London Grace – Multiple Locations

Next up, we have London Grace – not just an award-winning nail salon, but also an upscale cafe and bar. Who doesn’t want to grab some coffee, or cocktails, after getting a fresh set of nails? This is definitely the place to go if you want to pamper yourself with your girlfriends. You can reserve a table bar, and sit back and relax while you chat with your friend.

Your technician will fully pamper your group, giving you great service, a fully stocked bar, and aesthetic surroundings for the back of your Instagram-story photos. If you’re quite popular and have multiple friends that want to join in on the fun, you can reserve a couple of tables, order some bubbly, or put in special cocktail or coffee orders to the barista on deck.

If you prefer to go solo, a quick mani or pedi will be between £10-16, and a gel polish mani or pedi will be between £32-48. If you book between 3-5 pm on weekdays, enjoy the happy hour deal of 15% off your service – and some drinks to go along with the happy hour trend. For a sociable and fun salon experience, this place is for you.

6. Aveda Salon – Covent Garden

If you really need a full-on break from the hectic city life for a day, book into the Aveda Salon at Covent Garden. Escape the madness of the center-city rush, and transport yourself into the relaxing zen of this salon.

Harper’s Bazaar has recognized this salon as giving some of the longest-lasting manicures in the city, and holding the infamous Shampure scent for hours after completion. Founded in 2001, this salon has been busy ever since, with over 80 beauty experts on hand to help serve you here.

The interior is professional, exceptionally clean, and makes you feel like you’ve escaped to an upscale chateau in the mountains for a day. If you only have a couple of hours to escape the craziness of London, the express manicure comes in at only £32.

If you need both a mani and pedi, you can get a 45-minute shellac service for £43. One very relaxing option is to get the Top to Toe Experience, costing £149 for 135 minutes of pure bliss – you’ll receive a full face and body exfoliation, a back, neck, and shoulder massage, and an Aveda mani-pedi. Trust me, you won’t want to leave once your time is up.

We’ve taken some pressure off of you to find the best nail salons around the city. After all, you’re supposed to relax at a salon, right?

London is known for having everything – this city has the best pubs, restaurants, bars, attractions, sports teams, etc. We think this holds true in terms of salons as well. The number of high-end, aesthetic, professional, and quality salons around the city are never-ending.

Even so, these on our list stand out as consistently top performers, garnering awards and high praise from beauty magazines and patrons alike. Whether you’re stopping by for just a weekend or moving to the city, you can rest assured you’ll have no trouble keeping your appearance in tip-top shape when booking in at any one of these spots.