Saunas are simple rooms that are designed to make a person sweat. The original saunas make use of only two ingredients: water and heat to create steam within a small enclosed room. So it might come as a surprise that this form of therapy has been the secret to wellness for many cold countries for centuries and centuries in the past. Many of them, located in really cold regions like Finland, and Korea to cure sicknesses or optimize body wellness.
The modern saunas have evolved from the Finnish style of sauna. A simple heating of stones until they are really, really hot, then pouring water on them to create steam. People now recognize the importance of Saunas to wellness, and so a rise in demand has skyrocketed all over the world.
6 Best Saunas in London
1. Community Sauna Baths, Hackney Wick
2. Rooftop Sauna
3. The Finnish Church
4. Sauna and Plunge
5. Banya No 1- Hoxton
6. Sauna Social Club
Best Saunas In London
In Finland, saunas are so important that they are almost always built into every private apartment (wouldn’t that be a sight). Since that is not the case in London. Here are some of the best saunas in London.
1. Community Sauna Baths, Hackney Wick
Hackney Wick is far from the glossy, high-end wellness centers scattered across London. The place thrives on simplicity and warmth, both literal and emotional, but somehow that makes it better.
The sauna space within Hackney is a scatter of wood-fired saunas, including a delightfully repurposed horsebox sauna, arranged in a cozy, open-air setting. To truly enjoy each steamy session, you can cool off with bracing plunges into old barrels or larger communal tubs. Ice block and all.
The best part of Community sauna baths, though, is its sense of community. There is an easygoing ambience to the whole affair. People chat, laugh, and sometimes sip on herbal tea as they take in the contrast of heat and cold. Regular themed sessions add extra flavor to a typical sauna experience. From women-only slots to the aromatic intensity of “aufguss” rituals led by seasoned sauna masters, complete with essential oils, to sound baths, yoga, and speed dating.
Community is affordable, inclusive, and refreshingly down to earth. No marble tiles or spa playlists here, just a sincere belief in the power of shared wellness. You can go alone or book a group session with your group of friends and sweat it out together.
Location: The Baths 80, Eastway, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 7:00 am – 9:30 pm (Wednesday – Friday)
8:00 am – 9:30 pm (Saturday – Sunday)
2:00 pm – 9:30 pm (Tuesday)
Price Range: ÂŁ9.50 – ÂŁ16.50
2. Rooftop Sauna
London’s love for all things rooftop is a staple, whether it is a bar, restaurant, garden, or sauna. London loves its activities with the added benefit of a great view. And that is one of the allures of Rooftop Saunas, a wellness concept that quite literally rises above the rest. On an established perch in Hackney’s Netil Corner and a newer outpost at Brixton’s International House, the brand combines a modern aesthetic with a serene Scandinavian-inspired ritual.
The saunas themselves are Finnish-style cabins, intimate, wood-scented, and with an impressive view of London’s skyline. They are paired with icy plunge tubs and brisk cold bucket showers that jolt the senses in the best way possible.
For those wanting to linger a bit, many cabins offer a cool-down room stocked with aromatherapy touches and a mini-bar. This makes it easy to stretch out your stay while gazing over rooftops and parks.
Location: Netil Corner, 2 Bocking Street, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 7:30 am – 10:20 pm ( Monday – Saturday)
10:00 am – 7:50 pm (Sunday)
Price Range: ÂŁ11 – ÂŁ30
3. Best Saunas in London: The Finnish Church
There is no better place to have a sauna experience than in the community of the people who invented it. The Finnish Church in Rotherhithe is a community and church of Finns in London, both old and new. Modest in appearance and purposefully low-key, this community hub quietly houses one of London’s most cherished saunas. The Sauna is open to London’s Finnish population and curious visitors eager to experience true löyly.
The setup at Rotherhithe is simple and can only accommodate 8 people at a time. Wooden benches line the sauna, warmed by a reliable electric stove that delivers heat; there is a pan at the ready to splash water on the stove. There are separate public sessions for men and women, keeping things both comfortable and respectful, alongside the option to book privately if that’s more your style. After the heat, you can cool off the traditional way, either under a shower or, if you’re feeling brave, through a brisk cooldown in their designated facilities.Â
Just don’t forget to bring your own towel and a small one to sit on. It is part of the etiquette and rules.
Location: 33 Albion Street, Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Wednesday – Friday)
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm ( Saturday – Sunday)
Price Range: ÂŁ10 – ÂŁ28
4. Sauna and Plunge
Sauna & Plunge might be one of the most exciting newcomers on London’s wellness map. The Sauna sanctuary combines modern relaxation and wellness retreat, sustainable practices and the science of contrast therapy to create something unique.
The sauna operates two distinct sauna options, custom-built infrared cabins that deliver a gentle, penetrating warmth, and Finnish style steam saunas that crank the dial up to 100°C. To complement the heat, there is a sustainable ice plunge pod that is 3D-printed and eco-friendly. You can also opt for the simple cold water shower.
Apart from the steam and cold plunges, they also offer a lineup of classes that include breathwork, movement, meditation, and yoga. Each one aimed at enhancing mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical recovery like the Breath + Move or Rest + Recover sessions.
Location: 124 Tabernacle Street, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 6:30 am – 8:00 pm (Monday-Friday)
8:00 am – 7:00 pm (Saturday – Sunday)
Price Range: ÂŁ30 – ÂŁ60
5. Banya No 1- Hoxton
Banya is a little bit different from your typical sauna experience. It is a dive into centuries-old Russian bathing culture, complete with steam, birch branches, and icy plunges. Taking center stage in the experience is the Parnaya, a traditional steam sauna that combines intense heat and thick humidity. This, coupled with the Parenie treatment, is where the true experience lies.Â
A trained banshchik or parmaster rhythmically whisk your body with bundles of birch, oak, or eucalyptus leaves (00venik). It is a ritual designed to wake up your circulation, deepen your detox, and amplify the heat’s effects. The sensation is surprisingly calming and almost meditative, despite the fierce warmth.
Between rounds, you will plunge into ice-cold pools or stand under thunderous bucket showers to cool off, then settle into the lounge for a breather. They also offer massages, scrubs, and rubs for a deeper experience. Banya offers fresh Russian tea, and you can snack on kvass and traditional bites while your body recalibrates.
There is the option of both public sessions and private suites, making it as social or secluded as you’d like.
Location: 17, Micawber Street, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 9:30 am – 10:30 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Price Range: ÂŁ25 – ÂŁ180
6. Sauna Social Club
Tucked inside a repurposed railway arch, Sauna Social leans away from formality and toward something more fluid and fun. The sauna itself is a beautifully built timber cabin, paired with ice baths for that recommended sharp cold plunge contrast.
But what really sets Sauna Social apart is the atmosphere. Their sessions allow guests to move freely between sauna and plunge with soft music playing in the background. This helps foster casual conversation and ease. On certain evenings, they turn things up a notch with “Ambient Sauna” sessions. Resident DJs spin low-tempo beats as the sauna shifts into a kind of mellow lounge plus bathhouse hybrid.
Beyond the heat and cold plunges, the club hosts a range of sessions that expand wellness with deep listening circles, stretching-focused yoga, and even creative writing workshops. It’s a place where you’re just as likely to decompress as you are to get inspired.
Location: Railway Arch, 842 Brayards Road, Peckham, London, United Kingdom
Hours Open: 4:00 pm -10:00 pm (Tuesday)
12:00 pm -10:00 pm (Wednesday – Thursday)
8:00 am – 11:00 pm (Friday – Saturday)
9:00 am – 8 pm (Sunday)
Price Range: ÂŁ14.99
London’s saunas are no longer hidden corners of the wellness world. From the traditional Finnish Sauna, to the luxurious Russian Banya. Sauna breeds a casual community that makes trying out a sauna fun and truly revitalizing. A sauna session should definitely be on your to-do list this year. It is wellness and selfcare and your body deserves it.
