On the quest for London’s most sizzling sanctuaries? Buckle up for a steamy adventure through the capital’s top-notch saunas that promise to leave you hot and bothered – in the best possible way, of course.
So then, where did we find the best spots for a little perspiration therapy in the city? Everywhere! From quaint corners nestled within actual churches to swanky spa havens scattered across the city, London’s sauna scene is teeming with options, as you’ll see below.
ESPA Life at Corinthia
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Location: Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2BD, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7321 3050
Starting price: £175
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Just a stone’s throw away from Trafalgar Square, ESPA Life emerges as a spa haven that transcends the ordinary. This monochromatic labyrinth of indulgence boasts treatment rooms, steamy sanctuaries, saunas, and thermal pools.
The spa’s design, marked by pearly cream and slate panelling, leads you to luxurious changing rooms that defy the conventional meaning of the term. The presence of ‘Sleeping Pods’ adds an extra touch of comfort and relaxation.
Descending to the spa’s main area, the Thermal Suite, you’ll discover a black-marbled oasis housing a steam room, swimming pool, jet pool, ice fountain, heated loungers, and the pièce de résistance – a stunning glass-walled sauna amphitheatre at its centre.
Banya No.1
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Location: 17 Micawber St, London N1 7TB, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7253 6723
Starting price: £140
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Ditch the ordinary steam sauna routine because Banya No.1 doesn’t just break the mould, it reinvents it. Enter the world of Taiga Banya experiences, where steam takes centre stage within log cabins, affectionately called banyas.
These rustic retreats are fueled and heated by timber logs, delivering an authenticity that’s not just seen but felt in every pore.
You can even immerse yourself in the genuine charm of timber-fueled steam, a departure from the standard sauna fare.
Still London
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Location: 450 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AE, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 7871 307808
Starting price: £40
Opening hours:
- Tuesday – 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Wednesday to Thursday – 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM
- Friday – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday – 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Who says saunas can’t be stylish? Still London defies the norm with its sleek, contemporary design. It’s a bit like stepping into a spa that moonlights as a Vogue photoshoot location. The aesthetics here are Instagram-worthy, because if you’re going to relax, why not do it in style?
What sets this place apart is that not only is it a go-to spot for sauna due to its private infrared sauna, but they’re also one of the best nail, skin care and waxing salons in London!
The Old Hammam & Spa
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Location: The Old Hammam And Spa, 17 Church St, London N9 9DY, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8807 3330
Starting price: £40
Opening hours:
- Friday to Monday & Wednesday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
The Old Hammam & Spa is like a Mediterranean marvel, a sanctuary designed to transport you into the realm of royalty. If you’re yearning for an escape that’s more than just a spa day, this is the place to be.
What sets this spa apart is its pièce de résistance – a dry sauna that’s more than just a heated chamber. It’s a symphony of warmth that doesn’t just relax, it rejuvenates. Beyond the luxurious experience, health-related benefits are waiting to be unlocked.
Yue float
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Location: Trafalgar House, Juniper Dr, London SW18 1GY, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 7949 804694
Starting price: £35
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
If the idea of an infrared sauna in London has your relaxation antennas tingling, Yue Float is your golden ticket.
Ever faced a hangover that seemed impervious to traditional remedies? Enter the infrared spa session at Yue Float – a hangover cure that rivals the best in the business. If a session under the glow of naturally formed light doesn’t banish that lingering headache, we’re not sure what will.
One of the stellar features of Yue Float is the complete control it hands over to you. No more sweating buckets just to keep up with the heat. In the infrared realm, you dictate the temperature, creating an experience that’s tailored to your liking.
K Spa
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Location: Kensington House, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8008 6600
Starting price: £30
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
At K Spa, time is a conduit for transformation. In just one hour, you’ll feel the therapeutic effects that set this sanctuary apart. It’s an hour of magic that unravels the knots of stress, leaving you in a state of tranquillity that feels like you’ve escaped to a faraway haven.
The magic of K Spa lies not just in the heat but in the alchemy of aromas that permeate the air. The wonderful fragrance in their Scandinavian sauna isn’t just a pleasant addition, it’s an aromatic journey that transports even the most stress-out individual into a realm of relaxation.
Spa Experience
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Location: York Hall Leisure Centre, 5 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PJ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8709 5845
Starting price: £26
Opening hours:
- Monday – 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM
- Tuesday & Friday – 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
- Wednesday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
This spa offers both traditional Scandinavian wood-lined saunas and more modern infrared wavelength saunas. So whether you prefer that authentic old-world experience of hot coals or the clean and contemporary surround of infrared, Spa Experience has you covered.
Their packages also feature a bevy of supplementary thermal wellness experiences like healing hydrotherapy pools, steamy Turkish hammam chambers, and invigorating cold plunge pools to awaken the senses.
Porchester Spa
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Location: Queensway, London W2 5HS, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7313 3858
Starting price: £25.70
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Like a glorious time-warp tiling you straight into the roaring 20s, Porchester evokes the opulent era of Turkish swim palaces, art deco grandeur, ornate mosaic walls, and antique stained glass windows… a far cry from the sleek minimalism that defines many modern spas.
You can even seek steamy serenity in the sauna with traditional Turkish baths and pine-scented Finnish styles. Or free your mind while floating in the crystalline amethyst steam room. Just don’t forget to take an invigorating cold plunge to stimulate circulation.
Finnish Church
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Location: 33 Albion St, London SE16 7HZ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7237 1261
Starting price: £25
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Put down the tourist maps, friends – the real hidden gem in London’s Rotherhithe area is none other than the Finnish Church sauna. It’s a traditional wood-lined sweat lodge tucked away in an old converted Finnish church. Its sauna answers to prayers you never knew you had!
Blame it on the divinely zen Scandinavian vibes infused into every plank of imported Nordic pine… As soon as one enters this holy sauna sanctuary, troubles seem to melt away.
You can bask in dry heat rising to enough heavens-worthy temperatures to cleanse both body and soul. It’s practically a religious experience!
Jubilee Hall Gym
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Location: 30 The Piazza, London WC2E 8BE, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7836 4007
Starting price: £18 (with a free one-day trial for the gym & sauna)
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Jubilee Hall Gym, fondly known as “The Jube” by regular members, offers an unexpected haven of relaxation and muscle rejuvenation right in central London. Nestled within this long-standing fitness centre near the lovely Covent Garden market, two saunas await.
Guests can choose between the larger social sauna for community bonding or smaller private booths for individual quiet time. Both sauna options utilise infrared rays for deeper muscle and joint penetration compared to traditional steam rooms.
Brockwell Lido
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Location: Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0PA, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7274 3088
Starting price: £8
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Torn between soothing steam, detoxifying infrared rays, or exclusive clubs? Sometimes simplicity is best. Enter Brockwell Lido – a no-fuss oasis offering pure, back-to-basic sweat lodges surrounded by the arguably best view in London.
Brockwell perches like a shiny blue gem amidst a lush green grassy expanse right smack in the middle of buzzing south London. Feel the stress seep from your pores as you soak in the parkside panorama.
Not only does the Lido serve up epic scenery, but the sauna experience itself is wonderfully simple and affordable. Change clothes in tidy cabins, briefly brave the open-air dash to the sauna hut, then soak up that dry cedar-scented heat and settle into zen mode.
Parliament Hill Lido
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Location: Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Rd, London NW5 1LT, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7485 5757
Starting price: £3.30
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 12:30 PM
If Brockwell Lido snagged gold for Best Sightlines, Parliament Hill Lido captivates with silver medal-worthy charm and character that harkens back to a bygone era of bathing pools and pleasure gardens.
Nestled on the edge of the storied Hampstead Heath since 1938, the Parliament Hill “baths-upon-the-hill” offer up relaxed, unpretentious steam sessions amidst old-world changing rooms lined with dainty wooden lockers and poster relics from Olympics past.
After changing, make a dash for the no-frills sauna hut outfitted with a classic Scandinavian wood stove bolstered by electric backup for guaranteed steam. Sit back and exhale as the heat permeates skin, muscles and mood.
