Londoners looking for an authentic Nordic sauna experience don’t have to travel that far – there are several in the capital run by Community Sauna Baths.
The flagship venue is nestled in the backyard of the historic Eastway Public Baths building in Hackney Wick, East London.
The previously derelict site, which dates back to the 1930s, has been kitted out with ‘six communal saunas for individual bathers’ and a ‘five-person sauna for group bookings’, states the Community Sauna site.
As part of the sauna booking, once visitors have ‘heated themselves to the core’, they can cool off in a quirky ice plunge ‘tank’ – a metal bathtub or a ‘rustically converted whisky barrel’. Be prepared though, the water is just five to eight Celsius in winter and 10 to 14 Celsius in summer.
According to the website, guests must bring two towels to the sauna. One to sit on and another to dry off with. While visitors must be covered from the waist down, the website says toplessness is optional for all genders. A robe is required when using the toilets or cafe.
Londoners looking for an authentic Nordic sauna experience don’t have to travel that far – there are several in the capital run by Community Sauna Baths. The flagship venue is nestled in the backyard of the historic Eastway Public Baths building in Hackney (above)
The Hackney Wick sauna features cold plunge tanks in the form of metal bathtubs and ‘rustically converted whisky barrels’
The water in the barrels is just five to eight Celsius in winter and 10 to 14 Celsius in summer. Pictured is the Hackney Wick sauna
The location also describes itself as a ‘sober space’ and advises people to refrain from drinking alcohol, taking drugs and smoking or vaping.
The website says: ‘The closest we’ve got to alcohol here are the whisky barrel plunges.’
It’s also a phone-free space – the site notes: ‘Please do not bring your phone inside the sauna. You are welcome to take pictures outside, but always ask consent in advance.’
While visitors must be covered from the waist down, toplessness is optional for all genders. Above – the Hackney Wick sauna
The organisation puts on several events throughout the year, offering guests a multitude of ways to relax, from ‘mamma sauna’ for mothers and children to yoga and sound baths.
Other events include a Queer Poetry Sauna (£25), a ‘ mythic oral storytelling series tailored to those identifying as women, non-binary and intersex’ (£25) and Storytelling For Deeper Connection (£30).
What do customer’s think? They’re impressed.
After visiting the Hackney venue, Hugo Silva commented on Google: ‘One of the most amazing places. Staff are great, helpful and super friendly. A big number of saunas, super clean and always working perfectly. The space is super cute and often busy.’
The sauna even has the seal of approval from a Finn. Jukka Rintamäki wrote on Google: ‘Place was fantastic. As a Finn, I’m used to finding most saunas outside Finland perhaps half decent at most, typically. But this is one of the best saunas I’ve been to – certainly the best new sauna.’
Community Sauna Baths opened at the beginning of 2022, with the Hackney Wick site becoming London’s first authentic wood-fired sauna and cold-plunge experience.
Since then, the non-profit organisation has expanded, opening sauna sites at Stratford’s community garden and Peckham’s Glengall Wharf Garden.
Off-peak entry to the saunas costs £8.50, while peak entry is £15. For more information, visit www.community-sauna.co.uk.
