London Tantric offers fourteen massage types. The four most asked about are tantric, a slow full body session built around breath and presence; nuru, a body to body massage using traditional Japanese nuru gel; erotic, a sensual massage with deliberate intent; and dark tantra, tantric bodywork with light restraint and sensory play. The differences come down to pace, technique and how much control you hand over. All are available incall at your masseuse's own private apartment in central London, or outcall to your hotel or home, from 9am to 1am seven days a week.
Ask five London agencies what separates an erotic massage from a sensual one and you will get five answers, or more often none at all. The words get used interchangeably across the industry, which is unhelpful when you are trying to book the right thing and would rather not ask.
This guide fixes that. Below is every massage we offer, what each one actually involves, who tends to book it, and one line on what it is not. We have been arranging sessions in London since 2012, so these are working definitions from experience rather than dictionary ones.
Tantric massage
A slow, full body massage built around breath, presence and unhurried touch. The tantric tradition treats the whole body as worth attention rather than working only the places that ache, and the pace is deliberately slower than any massage you will have had in a spa.
It suits people who find it difficult to switch off, and people who have had plenty of ordinary massages and want something that engages more than the muscles. No experience is needed and most first timers are surprised by how much of it is simply about slowing down.
It is not a sports or remedial massage. If you have an injury you want treated, this is the wrong booking. See the tantric massage page.
Nuru massage
A body to body massage using traditional Japanese nuru gel, a thick, odourless, seaweed based gel that makes skin on skin contact almost frictionless. Your masseuse uses her whole body rather than just her hands, which is what makes nuru distinct from everything else on this list.
It is the most physically immersive session we offer and the one people most often book for a birthday or a first visit. Expect to shower before and after, because the gel is generous and the session is a wet one.
It is not the same as body to body massage, although the two overlap. The difference is the gel. See the nuru massage page.
Erotic massage
A sensual full body massage where the touch is deliberately arousing rather than incidentally so. The technique is not very different from a sensual massage; the intent is. The pace is built around anticipation, and the session is designed to leave you somewhere quite different from where a spa treatment would.
It suits people who know what they want and would rather say so than dance around it. It is also the most common first booking, because the name is the one people search for.
What it is not is worth stating plainly, because nobody else does. We provide erotic, sensual and tantric massage. Anything beyond that falls outside your booking with us, and is a matter between two consenting adults. See the erotic massage page.
Sensual massage
Slow, intimate, full body relaxation. Where an erotic massage leans into arousal, a sensual massage leans into being properly looked after: attentive touch, warm oil, no rush and no agenda beyond how the hour feels.
It suits people who want the intimacy without the intensity, and it is often what someone means when they ask for an erotic massage but describe something gentler. If you are not sure which of the two you want, say so when you call. Our reception team has that conversation every day.
It is not a lesser version of erotic massage. It is a different emphasis at the same standard. See the sensual massage page.
Body to body massage
A full contact sensual massage where your masseuse uses her body as well as her hands, working over you with oil rather than nuru gel. Often shortened to b2b, which is worth knowing because it is how half the internet refers to it.
It suits people who want the immersive quality of nuru without the shower and the gel, and it is the most requested session across every central London area we cover.
It is not nuru. Same principle, different medium, noticeably different feel. See the body to body massage page.
Dark tantra massage
Tantric bodywork with sensory play, light restraint and shifting power dynamics brought in. Blindfolds, temperature contrast and soft binds are the usual toolkit, and each element is introduced gradually and calibrated to how you respond.
It suits people who are curious about handing over control and want to explore that within a tantric session rather than a club or a dungeon. Boundaries are agreed before anything begins and you can pause or stop at any point.
It is not BDSM in the sense most people picture. The emphasis is sensation and anticipation, not pain. See the dark tantra massage page. If restraint and teasing are the part that interests you most, our guides to dark tantra and tie and tease go further into both.
Four hands massage
Two trained masseuses working in unison on one person. The appeal is that you stop being able to track where the next touch is coming from, which quietens the part of the mind that is still planning tomorrow.
It suits people who already know they like being massaged and want the experience turned up, and it is a common second or third booking rather than a first.
It is not two separate massages happening at once. The two masseuses are trained to move together, and that coordination is the whole point. See the four hands massage page.
Lesbian massage
A female to female sensual massage, booked by women who want a session with a masseuse rather than a masseur, and who want that to be the explicit premise rather than something negotiated on the day.
It suits women new to sensual massage as much as those who are not, and it is one of the most consistently well received sessions we arrange.
It is not a couples booking. If you and a partner want to share a session, that is a different one. See the lesbian massage page.
The rest of the menu
Six more sessions, each with its own page.
- Couples massage, an intimate tantric session shared with your partner, either with one masseuse guiding both of you or as a four hands variant.
- Aqua massage, a water based tantric session. The least widely known thing we offer and the one people are most surprised by.
- Naked massage, discreet and relaxing, where the absence of clothing is the point rather than an add on.
- Swedish massage, classic full body relaxation using conventional technique, for when you want a proper massage and nothing more.
- Indian head massage, focused on the head, neck and shoulders for stress relief. The shortest and gentlest session on this list.
- Full body massage, a tailored session when you know you want the whole body covered but would rather discuss the style than pick from a menu.
The quick comparison
If you want one table rather than fourteen pages, this is it.
| Massage | The technique | How it feels | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tantric | Hands, oil, breath led | Slow and absorbing | Switching the mind off |
| Nuru | Whole body, Japanese nuru gel | Immersive, frictionless | The most physical session |
| Erotic | Hands and body, oil | Charged, anticipatory | Knowing what you want |
| Sensual | Hands, oil, unhurried | Intimate and gentle | Being looked after |
| Body to body | Whole body, oil | Full contact, warm | Nuru without the gel |
| Dark tantra | Restraint, blindfold, temperature | Intense, anticipatory | Handing over control |
| Four hands | Two masseuses in unison | Disorienting, enveloping | Turning it up |
| Lesbian | Female to female, sensual | Unhurried and easy | Women booking for themselves |
| Massage | Technique, feel and who it suits |
|---|---|
| Tantric | Technique: Hands, oil, breath led Feels: Slow and absorbing Best for: switching the mind off |
| Nuru | Technique: Whole body, Japanese nuru gel Feels: Immersive, frictionless Best for: the most physical session |
| Erotic | Technique: Hands and body, oil Feels: Charged, anticipatory Best for: knowing what you want |
| Sensual | Technique: Hands, oil, unhurried Feels: Intimate and gentle Best for: being looked after |
| Body to body | Technique: Whole body, oil Feels: Full contact, warm Best for: nuru without the gel |
| Dark tantra | Technique: Restraint, blindfold, temperature Feels: Intense, anticipatory Best for: handing over control |
| Four hands | Technique: Two masseuses in unison Feels: Disorienting, enveloping Best for: turning it up |
| Lesbian | Technique: Female to female, sensual Feels: Unhurried and easy Best for: women booking for themselves |
The three people most often confuse
Erotic or sensual
The technique is close to identical. The difference is intent. A sensual massage is about the quality of the touch and being properly attended to. An erotic massage keeps all of that and adds deliberate arousal to it. In practice the difference is a conversation at the start of the session rather than two different bookings.
Nuru or body to body
Both use the masseuse's whole body. Nuru uses thick Japanese nuru gel, which removes almost all friction and turns the session into something closer to gliding. Body to body uses oil, so there is more grip and more warmth. Nuru also means a shower before and after; body to body does not.
Tantric or dark tantra
Dark tantra is tantric massage with the power dynamic made explicit. A tantric session is about surrender to the pace. A dark tantra session adds restraint, blindfolds and sensory contrast so that the surrender becomes the structure of the session rather than a side effect of it.
Which to book if you have never had one
Start with a tantric or a sensual massage. Both are gentle introductions, neither assumes any prior experience, and both give you a clear sense of whether you want to go further next time. If you already know you want something more physical, nuru is the one people remember.
Whatever you pick, the practical details are the same. Our masseuses work independently from their own private apartments across central London, so an incall session takes place at hers and the address is shared once your booking is confirmed. Outcall means she travels to your hotel or home. Lines are open 9am to 1am seven days a week, same day sessions can often be arranged, and there are more than 600 reviews on the site if you would rather read other people's experiences before your own.
If you are still not sure, call our reception team on 07793 203224 and describe what you are after in your own words. Matching people to the right session and the right masseuse is most of what they do. You can also browse our masseuses or book online.
Frequently asked questions
What is a nuru massage?
A nuru massage is a body to body massage using traditional Japanese nuru gel, a thick, odourless, seaweed based gel that makes skin on skin contact almost frictionless. Your masseuse uses her whole body rather than her hands alone. Sessions include a shower before and after because the gel is used generously.
What is an erotic massage?
An erotic massage is a full body sensual massage where the touch is deliberately arousing rather than incidentally so. The pace is built around anticipation. What we provide is erotic, sensual and tantric massage; anything beyond that falls outside your booking with us and is a matter between two consenting adults.
What does b2b mean in massage?
B2b is short for body to body, a massage where the masseuse uses her whole body rather than only her hands, working over you with oil. It is not the same as nuru, which uses Japanese nuru gel instead of oil and feels noticeably different as a result.
What is the difference between tantric and regular massage?
A regular or Swedish massage works the muscles to relieve tension, using conventional technique and a fairly brisk pace. A tantric massage treats the whole body as worth attention, moves far more slowly, and uses breath and presence as much as pressure. One is a treatment for the body. The other is closer to an experience.
What is a four hands massage?
A four hands massage is two trained masseuses working on one person in unison. Because you cannot predict where the next touch will come from, the mind tends to stop tracking and settle. It is not two massages happening simultaneously; the coordination between the two masseuses is the point of it.
Is tantric massage legal in the UK?
Yes. Massage is a legal service in the UK, and what our masseuses provide is erotic, sensual and tantric massage. Anything beyond that sits outside your booking with us and is a matter between two consenting adults. How massage businesses are licensed varies between London boroughs, and that is a matter for the local council rather than something that affects your booking.
