Beauty

Where to wash your hands in London right now

By Jen Barton Packer on 16/3/2020

Washing our hands has never been more important - and these amazing shops are helping us to do it. In lovely surroundings, no less...

LUSH Oxford Street is inviting Londoners to come in and wash their hands

From distancing ourselves from other people to obsessively using hand sanitiser (assuming we have access to any), we're all taking whatever precautions we can to keep ourselves - and everyone else we know and don't, illness-free.

Washing our hands has always been important - never more so than in our current crisis. For those of us WFH, getting to a sink is easy. But how about for those still working in and around central London?

Some of our favourite beauty (and fashion) destinations are also brilliant spaces to pop into and wash your hands (and possibly emerge with a gorgeous-smelling new tonic or potion to help us weather these uncertain times as well). Just note: as an attempt to contain viral spread, testers and skin consultations aren't readily available these days.

Here are the stores to pop into when you need to wash your hands in London. And trust us - these shops make handwashing feel like a mindful, meditative experience, not a chore.

LUSH Oxford Street

LUSH

LUSH Oxford Street feels like a much-needed oasis in these tricky times, whether you need a bath bomb to add some glitter to your routine or need some Play-Doh style Rainbow bubble bath to keep the kids occupied at home.

LUSH has also opened its doors to the public, offering free handwashing to anyone passing by one of their stores. Those popping in to use the sink facilities are under no obligation to buy anything, but the real challenge is to leave without purchasing at least five new kinds of soap.

Neal's Yard Remedies

We can't imagine why Neal's Yard Remedies hasn't yet been mobbed by the stockpilers. From turmeric powder to essential oils, as well as a delicious array of creams, we think the retailer has everything to get us through an extended period of self-isolation. They've even started doing eco-refills in the shop. And yes, they also have sinks when your hands need a deep clean.

The stunning sinks at Aesop's Duke of York Square location

Aesop

Australian skin care brand Aesop is known for its basin consultations - and its amazing interiors spaces, which often use reclaimed materials. Pop into one of the retail locations, from Duke of York Square to Islington, for a glorious hand-washing experience. We'd recommend trying (then buying) the Reverence hand wash, made with pumice grains to exfoliate as it cleanses.

& Other Stories

& Other Stories isn't just the spot to get affordable cashmere we plan to be lounging in for the next several months. Next time you happen by one of the store's outposts, don't forget to try out the tester soaps at the in-store sinks.

Sabon's stone sink

Sabon

Known for its Dead Sea range of scrubs and creams, Sabon's Covent Garden boutique is designed to feel like a home away from home, complete with different rooms including a "kitchen table" (where your purchases are wrapped at the counter) and a dramatic stone sink, where you can wash your hands with a range of products.

Photo: Maud Simon

Le Labo

From its cult unisex perfumes (hand-mixed on site for a super-fresh scent) and soy wax candles to its cruelty-free ethos, Le Labo is a real favourite when you need a gorgeous Mother's Day gift or delicious-smelling anything. Le Labo's modern-day apothecary ethos means that many of its shops are also kitted out with enormous sinks. Find them from Marylebone to Monmouth Street.

The Body Shop on Bond Street

The Body Shop

Slathering on Body Butters and Body Yogurts is surely one of our favourite forms of self-care. With locations in London from Clapham Junction to Westfield, The Body Shop is also a great place to wash your hands with Strawberry, Wild Argan Oil and Moringa soaps. Several of the locations have sinks.