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City life

Urban blog | Lifestyle

Lifestyle

There’s nothing better than playing football on a proper pitch, so if you’re planning a kickabout in London be sure to make use of one of the city’s many parks. Most of these green spaces have their own pitches inside them, so you can practise your skills in a professional size playing field.

Best London parks to play football in

Can getting a massage before or after the marathon really make a difference to your marathon performance? Our go-to massage expert has the answers.

Why massage should be part of your London marathon training plan

London's best deep tissue massages are plentiful and can be found near you in London's best spas, at iconic hotels and even delivered to you in the comfort of your home. Here are our five favourite places to book a deep tissue massage in London.

The best deep tissue massages in London

Whether your skin’s looking a tad dull and needs a bit of rejuvenation, or you have a skin concern that’s been bothering you for years, a targeted facial can help. London is home to lots of professionals who are passionate about skincare and skin health. Here's our top picks.

The best facials in London

Discover how menstrual health coach Destiny uses Urban massages and creative self-care to live intentionally, blending wellness and joy into her everyday.

When monthly massage is a non-negotiable: the menstrual coach doing city life her way

In honour of Random Acts of Kindness Day, we’re putting the spotlight on just one of the many inspiring client stories we’re privileged to play a part of each day. Meet Penny, and hear why Rozalia decided to make her day in December…

Customer story: Penny & Rozalia

We caught up with adventure cyclist and cycling club HospoFixed Founder Ollie Jones about his 10-year love for cycling, go-to recovery methods and top training tips.

Ollie Jones chats about life behind the handlebars

While we're known for massages, did you know we also partner with some of London's best beauty pros? We got to know 10 of our top rated pros over brunch.

Meet the Urban beauty pros

Can massage really make you less stressed? In this detailed guide we look at the science behind it.

The benefits of a stress relief massage

Let's chat all things back pain. Because a whopping 80% of us will feel it at some point in our lives – here's the best massages to tackle it.

The four best massages for back pain

The effects of massage therapy tend to be cumulative, but you may also feel relief from your very first appointment.

How can massage help to relieve back pain?

From Thai to deep tissue, different kinds of massages impact the body in unique ways. The right type for you will depend on your health, needs and preferences.

15 different kinds of massage

A clothed Thai massage (without oil) performed on a traditional roll-up floor mattress.

Thai yoga massage

A traditional Thai massage using oil to help de-stress, stretch muscles and energise.

Thai massage (with oil)

A powerful full-body massage to ease tension, aches and stiffness.

Deep tissue massage

Advanced massage techniques and exercises to get you back to your best.

Injury/pain management

A long-lasting mani including cut and file, cuticle work and gel polish.

Gel manicure

Extra TLC for the hands and nails, with a classic polish finish.

Classic manicure

The ultimate pampering pedicured, finished with classic polish.

Classic pedicure

Classic polish for fingers and toes, with added indulgence – a scrub, mask and massage.

Classic mani-pedi

A long-lasting pedicure to keep you walking tall and feeling great.

Gel pedicure

The ultimate confidence builder – long-lasting polish on fingers and toes.

Gel mani-pedi

The massage equivalent of a cup of coffee.

Energising massage

Discover your deepest stretch ever as an expert does the hard work for you.

Assisted stretching

A dreamy full-body massage using essential oils that promote sleep.

Sleep massage

A grounding, full-body treatment using relaxing essential oils.

De-stress massage

Our take on Swedish massage, full of techniques to free up tension and help you relax.

Urban classic

A gentle massagae to rebalance vital systems of the body.

Manual lymphatic drainage

Not all massages are created equal. Discover the best type for each part of your cycle, according to menstrual health coach Destiny.

The best massage for each phase of your menstrual cycle

We spoke with Joanna Brown about the pivotal moments in her career journey, the lessons she's learned and her advice for others forging their own path.

I wanted to be a bus driver - now I'm COO

Whether you're pumping iron at the gym or mastering your yoga flow, this gift guide is full of smart, stylish finds to help power your fitness journey. 

Feel-good health and fitness upgrades to power your 2025 routine

Urban’s all-women leadership team is shaping the next phase of growth – building on the company’s bold foundations with empathy, clarity and long-term vision.

Meet the women leading Urban

Burnout can creep up silently. Our team reflects on the warning signs and the things that help ward it off.

How our team keeps burnout at bay

Looking to book mobile services at home safely? Whether it’s elderly care, cleaning, wellness, or trades, this guide offers essential tips to help you choose reputable providers, avoid scams, and protect your personal security. 

Safe at home: A guide to booking mobile services safely

TikTok health advice can be a bit of a Wild West. We asked our in-house massage expert to take us for a scroll to debunk the most common myths.

3 spine health myths, debunked

Discover the top 10 benefits of sports massage in this detailed guide from Urban. We discuss blood flow, sleep, stress levels and much more.

The top 10 benefits of sports massage

Climbing is a highly-demanding sport that calls for your whole body to be used, so it’s likely to take its toll. How can a massage help? Let's find out.

Four of the best massages for climbing enthusiasts

If you dread that time of the month, one of these massages might be able to help ease your symptoms

Can massage ease period pain?

Get your step count up with our pick of Manchester’s most relaxing walks – from pretty parks to 4-hour hikes, there’s something for every level of walker.

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Manchester

Take a breather with us and enjoy a relaxing weekend in Manchester – from creative classes to canal strolls, we've got 11 activities to choose from. End the day with an Urban home massage, of course.

Our guide to a relaxing weekend in Manchester

Discover unique things to do in Manchester, from secret bars to canal cruises and pottery classes, finished with a relaxing at-home massage to unwind.

Unique things to do in Manchester for a trip with a twist

Find something new to do in Manchester with our pick of the best hidden gems. From Britain’s oldest library to at-home massage, discover your next favourite secret.

Our favourite hidden gems in Manchester

Alongside helping hands glide over skin, some massage oils offer plenty of health benefits you might find surprising. Try these five oils to get some extra goodness out of your treatment. 

The five best massage oils to try

Ease post-exercise aches and prevent injury with a qualified pro.

Sports massage

A gentle, nurturing massage for when you need a little self-care.

Relaxing massage

The perfect pick-me-up – enjoy a 45-minute massage focusing on two areas of your choice.

Express massage

Massage has been a central part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years, with records stretching back as far as the 2nd century BCE. Unlike deep tissue or sports massage, which focus on releasing tight muscular knots by targeting blood flow to the area, Chinese massage techniques also aim to promote overall health by easing the flow of energy, or “qi”, around the body.

What is Chinese massage?

Discover what a Thai massage is in this detailed guide where we discuss everything from the history of this ancient practice, to the various benefits of this type of massage.

What is a Thai massage?

Let's de-bunk the benefits of lymphatic drainage to see if it's right for you.

What is a lymphatic drainage massage or detox massage?

Foot massage combines techniques from different traditions to help relax and improve health by pressing on foot nerves. It can make you feel better, boost blood flow, and lower stress

What is foot massage?

A calming treatment using acupressure on the feet and lower legs.

Reflexology foot massage

A deeply soothing treatment for tired mums-to-be, suitable from the second trimester.

Pregnancy massage

A relaxing massage can be a great way to set the tone for a better night's sleep, but which is best? From classic Swedish to new-age CBD, we explore the pros and cons.

The best massage for a good night's sleep

Learn more about the ancient healing practice of hand reflexology with this handy guide. 

Give yourself a hand massage

Over the course of nine months, a pregnant person's body adapts in incredible ways to support growing life. Here are some of the less talked about transformations and how specialist pregnancy treatments can help.

Six surprising ways your body changes during pregnancy

20 non-baby things your new mum friend will love (and actually use), suggested by another mum.

The best gifts for new mums

From pregnancy self-care and postnatal recovery, to the first few years for new mums, we look at six simple ways to look after yourself while navigating the ups and downs of motherhood.

Maternal mental health tips

Sore legs? A massage could be exactly what you need

Give your sore calves a treat with a leg massage

Find out how this swimmer is using massage to boost performance and aid recovery.

From training to the table: why sports massage has become a non-negotiable in my routine 

Get a better understanding of how massage can help treat knee pain when cycling.

How to reduce knee pain when cycling with massage

14 unique Valentine's Day Gifts

Lunar New Year gift ideas

The best gifts for busy people

Best beauty gifts for Christmas

Christmas gifts for Dad 

Christmas fitness gift ideas

Unique Christmas gifts for Mums

The best places to walk in Edinburgh

Finding sanctuary in cycling – charity founder Ben’s journey through grief

How massage helps this climber reach new heights

How this new Mum finds balance with Urban

How weekly osteopathy gave me my life back – in the studio with disabled artist Charlotte

How a TMJ massage can help you smile again

From Amna to Shiatsu: What is Japanese massage?

Mental benefits of massage: how it can boost your wellbeing

Perimenopause: everything you need to know and how massage can help

Massage for grief – finding comfort in difficult times

The overthinker’s guide to a home massage

Different types of lymphatic drainage massage – manual vs Brazilian vs sculpting

How often should you get a massage? The ultimate guide

My name's Dr Ella Woods, I consider myself an expert in perimenopause for two reasons: I’m a clinical psychologist who specialises in the topic; and I’m going through it myself. I’m working with Urban to answer some of the most common questions I get, and how you can best manage your symptoms.

From face yoga to gua sha tools, you’ve probably seen the benefits of facial massage touted all over Tiktok and Instagram. But what’s it actually all about?


To dive deeper, we spoke to Urban facial pro Alice Croeser. She told us all about different facial massage techniques and their benefits and strangest facial massage trends she’s heard of.

How to give yourself a face massage

No matter what TikTok tells you, steaming, cold-water bathing and pore-stripping isn’t the answer for opening or closing your pores. In fact, nothing is.  Let's find out more.

Do pores open and close? Let’s put this beauty myth to bed

Reflexology is more than a glorified foot rub – it can help release tensions that can have an effect on the whole of your body. Here’s how…

Five things a reflexology massage therapist can tell

Discover how often you should get a massage in this guide where we discuss a range of massage treatments, including deep tissue and sports massage.

We’ve created your new go-to list for all things health, sports and fitness. From recovery balms to tailored fitness apps, tasty meal preps to health supplements, you can find a range of things you never knew you needed.

The Urban fitness handbook

Weather not playing ball? Get covered (literally) with our top indoor picks...

13 indoor things you’ll actually want to do when it’s raining in Birmingham (again)

Craving the outdoors? Birmingham is home to some of the most relaxing walks in the UK – from huge parks to acres of gardens, here’s our top picks.

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Birmingham

Fancy a relaxing weekend in Birmingham? Here's what we'd do to unwind in the city...

How we’d spend a relaxing weekend in Birmingham

We’re all about feeling zen, so we’ve put together our favourite wellbeing activities in Birmingham – from Hotpod yoga and facials, to an at-home massage.

Our favourite wellbeing activities in Birmingham

Uncover Edinburgh's hidden hotspots for a trip you won't forget – here's our favourites...

Hidden gems in Edinburgh: a wellness-seeker's guide

Craving a pretty walk or bored of the same route? If you're in Edinburgh, you're pretty lucky...

Discover how to spend a relaxing weekend in Edinburgh, from calming walks to an at-home spa experience. Here’s our team’s favourite way to relax in the capital.

How to spend a relaxing weekend in Edinburgh

Make your trip to Edinburgh even more memorable with our unique activity suggestions...

Unique things to do in Edinburgh – our 14 top picks

Uncover 11 of the best hidden gems in Glasgow, from secret gardens to historic treasures.

The best hidden gems in Glasgow – our 11 favourites

Relax in the city with our top picks – from an at-home massage to scenic walks.

The best things to do in Glasgow to relax

If prioritising better mental health has been on your list for a while but something’s always got in the way (whether it’s money, time or lengthy waiting lists), our sponsor is on hand to make things that little bit easier. Use code URBAN20 to get 20% off your first month.

 Make better mental health a priority with online counselling

From self-care tips to their take on the most beneficial massages, here’s how Urban pros plan to keep themselves shining in the darkness this winter.

Burn bright, not out – Urban pros on how to avoid burnout

Grief can feel all-consuming - physically and emotionally. Learn how a simple massage can provide a moment of solace during difficult times.

Can massage benefit your mental health? Yep, in many ways. From better sleep to an overall sense of wellbeing, let’s explore how massage can help your mind unwind.

Massage for PMS

How stress affects your gut health

We’ve done the scrolling for you to bring together our favourite unique Dad gifts – from cooking to coffee, grooming to gadgets.

We’ve pulled together a few unique Christmas gift ideas to suit every kind of mum. You’re especially in luck if she happens to be doing Dry Jan, prefers experiences over products or has a sweet tooth.

Whether it’s simple skincare, tailored haircare or unique at-home beauty treatments, you can unwrap the magic of beauty and choose products they’ll love (and actually use) this festive season.

From affordable gym gear to chef-cooked meal prep, a fitness app that'll keep them on track and even the luxury of a sports massage at home, you’ll be able to tick their Christmas gift off your list in no time.

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Often confused, but really very different. Let's compare lymphatic drainage and anti-cellulite massages

Lymphatic drainage and anti-cellulite massage – what’s the difference? 

A guide for the worriers among us, set to put your mind to rest about potentially-awkward massage moments. 

Skincare advice flooding your feed? Us too. To get to the bottom of it all, we’ve called for help from facialist expert Latticia Morapedi. 

Three skincare myths, debunked

From struggling with personal loss to finally finding peace, Ben’s on a mission to bring the same comfort to others in pain. For World Mental Health Day, we caught up with him to chat about the creation of his charity, The New Normal, and discovered how cycling became his saviour during his darkest time.

So you've hit the gym hard, conquered those weights, and now? Ah, the dreaded aches – also known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The badge of honour worn by many fitness enthusiasts. But should it be?

How to reduce DOMS

A specialised massage to get lymph flow moving again, especially after cosmetic surgery.