London’s Newman hotel is an oasis of wellness in the heart of Fitzrovia

London’s Newman hotel is an oasis of wellness in the heart of Fitzrovia S.R. SLOBODIAN PUBLISHED 21 MINUTES AGO UPDATED 10 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: The Newman Hotel in London draws inspiration from literary greats in neighbouring Bloomsbury. THE NEWMAN/SUPPLIED COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. You might not think that the heart of historic literary London would be home to a new-age wellness haven in a boutique hotel, but that’s what I found at the Newman. The 81-room hotel taps into the zeitgeist of the moment: It’s not just the corporate titans spending big bucks to try to hack mortality, but many of us who just want to feel good for longer. Opened in February in the chic Fitzrovia neighbourhood next to famed Bloomsbury, it draws inspiration from the famous writers – from George Orwell to Dylan Thomas to Virginia Woolf - who once called the area home. (Orwell would definitely not be down and out in London if he stayed here.) Open this photo in gallery: Access to the sauna, a halotherapy salt lounge, a steam room, a hydrotherapy pool, an ice lounge and the gym all come with your stay. THE NEWMAN/SUPPLIED Why you should visit Wellness options are front and centre at the Newman, occupying a full floor including a gym and spa features. The jewel is a suite of therapy stations including a sauna, a halotherapy salt lounge, a steam room, a hydrotherapy pool and an ice lounge – access to all this, plus the gym comes with your stay. There are also yoga and Pilates classes and, of course, treatments for a fee. The session I booked was exactly what I want in a massage: treatment tailored to the level of pressure I can handle, good communication (but not superficially chatty) and tips on what I can do at home to loosen the knots. Once I put the more healthful elements of my visit aside, it was time to indulge … at least a little bit to start. A visit to the chess-themed cocktail lounge The Gambit (yes, a nod to the hugely popular movie The Queen’s Gambit) did not disappoint. The cozy jazz-style bar offered not only its signature cocktails, but zero-proof alternatives – a welcomed option after a transatlantic flight so I wouldn’t faceplant before dinner. Dining afterward at the hotel restaurant, Brasserie Angelica, was a delight. Much of what it offers is made in-house, and the quality shows. The gravlax and rillettes were standouts.…