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Gift Guides

Urban Blog | Gift Guides

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

Our signature all-rounder, where relaxation and relief meet.

Urban classic

Strong pressure, deep relief – ease aches without leaving home.

Deep tissue massage

The massage equivalent of a strong espresso.

Energising massage

Advanced massage techniques designed to ease pain and support recovery – at your pace, in your space.

Injury/pain management

The massage equivalent of noise cancelling headphones.

Relaxing massage

Ease aches, whether you run marathons or for the bus.

Sports massage

An ancient healing practice blending movement, pressure and breath – performed on a traditional Thai floor mattress.

Thai yoga massage

A calming, holistic foot massage that’ll leave you feeling lighter from head to toe.

Reflexology foot massage

A gentle, soothing prenatal massage for tired mums-to-be. 

Pregnancy massage

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

Assisted stretching

The dream-maker. A deeply soothing full-body massage with sleep-enhancing oils to help you drift off with ease.

Sleep massage

A calming, full-body massage with relaxing oils to help you unwind – wherever your stress shows up.

De-stress massage

A gentle treatment designed to help you feel lighter, de-puffed and deeply relaxed.

Manual lymphatic drainage

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

How often should you get a massage? The ultimate guide

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? 

Same, same. But different. Here’s the low-down on the subtle differences between osteopathy and physiotherapy. 

Physiotherapy and osteopathy – what’s the difference?

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

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

Quick, targeted and surprisingly effective – all in just 45 minutes.

Express massage

We caught up with some of the guys from the Urban team to find out about their beauty regimes, what types of products they like to use and if there’s any Urban treatments they love or really want to try, but haven’t yet…

Skincare the Urban team is loving

Whether you think you’d give Michael Phelps a run for his money, or just pace up the pool for some damn good exercise, it’s still super important to take care of your muscles if you’re a swimmer.

Up your swimming game outside the pool

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

Focused support to help reduce swelling and aid recovery after cosmetic surgery.

Brazilian lymphatic drainage

A traditional Thai-style massage that blends Thai acupressure, oil-based strokes and gentle stretching.

Thai massage (with oil)

A blood-flow boosting treatment to help minimise the appearance of cellulite.

Sculpting massage

A gentle, full-body massage designed to support your recovery, physically and emotionally, after birth.

Postnatal massage

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The best gifts for busy people

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

Christmas gifts for Dad 

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.

Unique Christmas gifts for Mums

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.

Christmas fitness gift ideas

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.

Best beauty gifts for Christmas

19 of the best handmade gifts and experiences they’ll actually want.

The best handmade gift ideas

To making choosing your nail service easier, here's our guide to the differences between each service and the results you can expect from them.

Gel, shellac, OPI Vinylux – what does it all mean?

If you’re not sure that lying down for an hour on a massage table will make you feel better after seven of sitting, we're here to convince you.

5 benefits of a post-flight massage

Massage should never feel painful, but sports therapist Laura tells us there's a difference between good pain and bad pain – here's what she had to say...

Should a massage ever hurt?

If you’re suffering from a stiff neck, poor posture or frequent headaches, you might want to consider a shoulder massage – here's how you can do it yourself at home.

Try a shoulder massage with these at-home techniques

Epilepsy affects the brain, so it might not seem like something that impacts your massage – but it can. Find out more in this blog.

Can a massage affect your epilepsy?

Everything you need to know about Bowen therapy

The benefits of a 90-minute massage

From photography to people: How I found creativity in helping others

What type of massage is best for treating fibromyalgia?

How massage can help with hip and knee pain

Stretches to show your lower back some TLC

How does massage boost energy?

Five ways meditation can aid a mindful massage

10 yoga moves to relax, rejuvenate and reawaken

From Shakespeare to spreadsheets: My journey to financial controller

Finding calm among city chaos: Hinna’s story

Meet the pro: Martin

I was too shy to serve customers – now I’ve built a 25-year career supporting them

The science of touch: Why massage feels so comforting

If your brain’s still at the beach – read this

I’m a massage therapist, and here’s what sitting at a desk all day is doing to your posture

The productivity of rest: How one hour can change your whole day

Climbing the ladder differently: My path to head of marketing

Waxing 101: A pro's guide to smooth results 

I’m a qualified physio – here’s everything I would (and wouldn’t) do when training for the Euros

Meet Rozalia: Longtime Urban pro, music lover and crochet queen

I started painting miniatures after work, and my mental health has never felt better

I thought working a 9-5 would hinder my creativity – turns out, it actually helps

Life after amputation – photographer Sonny on adapting to a new normal with Urban

The best massage for each phase of your menstrual cycle

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

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

Meet the women leading Urban

How our team keeps burnout at bay

Safe at home: A guide to booking mobile services safely

How this new Mum finds balance with Urban

How we’d spend a relaxing weekend in Birmingham

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

Our favourite wellbeing activities in Birmingham

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Birmingham

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

How a TMJ massage can help you smile again

The essential apps for city life

Our favourite hidden gems in Manchester

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Manchester

Our guide to a relaxing weekend in Manchester

The best things to do in Glasgow to relax

The best places to walk in Edinburgh

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

Unique things to do in Edinburgh – our 14 top picks

How to spend a relaxing weekend in Edinburgh

The best hidden gems in Glasgow – our 11 favourites

10 unique things to do in Glasgow

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

From Amna to Shiatsu: What is Japanese massage?

Mental benefits of massage: How it can boost your wellbeing

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

Massage for grief – finding comfort in difficult times

What is a Thai massage?

Crick in the neck? Better call Paul

How massage helps this climber reach new heights

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

The overthinker’s guide to a home massage

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

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

Meet the Urban beauty pros

How often should you use retinol? Here’s everything you need to know

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

Ollie Jones chats about life behind the handlebars

How to reduce knee pain when cycling with massage

Tennis elbow and massage: The ultimate guide

Can you get a massage when you're sick?

Customer story: Penny & Rozalia

14 unique Valentine's Day Gifts

What is foot massage?

Lunar New Year gift ideas

Five great stretches to do at your desk

How to reduce DOMS

 Make better mental health a priority with online counselling

The best massage for sciatica pain relief

A runner's guide to massage

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

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

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.

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…

Sore legs? A massage could be exactly what you need

Give your sore calves a treat with a leg massage

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