The 10 best saunas in England
Last reviewed August 2026
England's sauna scene is several scenes stitched together. Floating saunas on the Thames, a northern boom of community rooms, and Victorian bathhouses that were here long before the wave.
#1 · Community Sauna Baths — Hackney Wick
London's community sauna flagship · London
Seven wood-fired saunas in a converted bathhouse by the canal at Hackney Wick, run as a non-profit. The heat is uncompromising, and the range of rooms rewards a long session. English sauna's centre of gravity, and the room we keep coming back to.
“Since they first opened, they’ve made a bunch of changes, added quite a lot of new saunas.” · James
Finnish · £ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#2 · Sauna Social Club
Peckham's sauna listening bar · London
A listening bar with saunas in a Peckham railway arch: ice baths, weekday aufguss, DJ sets at the weekend. On our visit the owner led the aufguss themselves. Two decent-sized saunas and plunge baths at a spread of temperatures round out the arch.
“A bit of a trek, but worth a visit.” · Josje
Finnish · £ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#3 · Kontrast
Manchester's sauna and ice bath cafe · Manchester
Manchester's contrast anchor: the UK's first sauna and ice bath cafe, in a railway arch beside Angel Meadows. Sessions cycle three saunas and three ice baths, and the cafe half is there so nobody rushes out. Local collaborations keep it stitched into its neighbourhood.
“Nice, urban sauna.” · Josje
Finnish · Infrared · £ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#4 · Turkish Baths & Spa 1877
Victorian steam in Broomhall · Sheffield
A historic bathhouse in Sheffield's Broomhall, where traditional steam bathing runs alongside spa treatments. The Victorian rooms take walk-ins as well as booked sessions, and the heritage is the reason to go. England's old bathing tradition, still in service.
Steam · ££ · Drop-in
#5 · TEMZ Floating Saunas — Hampton Court
A floating sauna on the Thames · East Molesey
A floating sauna at the Hampton Court mooring on the River Thames, with ice baths alongside and river views for the length of a timed session. A second mooring runs at The Lensbury in Teddington. England's floating-sauna scene in its most storied setting.
Finnish · Floating · ££ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#6 · Arvo Sauna
Walthamstow's stepped ice baths · London
An Australian-inspired neighbourhood bathhouse in Walthamstow with two large Finnish saunas, one social and one silent. Three ice baths step down through 10, 7 and 5°C for easing into the cold. Sessions come with tea and showers included.
Finnish · £ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#7 · Peak Saunas
A half-moon window on the Peaks · Ashbourne
A wood-fired sauna with two cold plunges on an organic family farm near Ashbourne, in the Peak District. A half-moon window frames the valley from the hot bench, and a firepit anchors the social space between rounds. Community sessions run Friday to Sunday.
Finnish · £ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#8 · Steam and Salt
North Sea rounds at Longsands · North Shields
Two Nordic-inspired wood-fired saunas on the lower promenade at Longsands Beach, Tynemouth. The North Sea is the cold side of the cycle, straight off the sand. Slots book by the hour, with beach views the length of them.
Finnish · ££ · Cold plunge · Session-booked
#9 · Ocean Soul Sauna
Atlantic contrast on Crooklets Beach · Bude
A wood-fired beach sauna on Crooklets Beach at Bude, with a panoramic window on the Atlantic. Step off the bench and onto the sand for the sea dip between rounds. The strongest of Cornwall's coastal run.
Finnish · £ · Session-booked
#10 · Fire, Salt & Sea
Year-round heat on Worthing beach · Worthing
A wood-fired sauna in a custom-built structure on Worthing's pebble beach, with full-width sea views. Drop-in community sessions and private hires run year-round, with the sea for cooling between rounds. Families are welcome from age five, rare on this list.
Finnish · ££ · Cold plunge · Drop-in
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That's the shortlist. See every curated sauna in England in the full England guide.