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 landmark is located 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 fitted out with “six communal saunas for individual bathers” and a “five-person sauna for group bookings”, the Community sauna site.
As part of the sauna reservation, once visitors have been “warmed to the core,” they can cool off in a quirky ice-dipping “tank”: a metal bathtub or a “refurbished rustic whiskey barrel.” However, be prepared, the water is between five and eight degrees Celsius in winter and between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius in summer.
According to the website, guests must bring two towels to the sauna. One to sit on and one to dry off. While visitors must be covered from the waist down, the website says toplessness is optional for all genders. A gown is required to use the restrooms or cafeteria.
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 landmark is located in the backyard of the historic Eastway Public Baths building in Hackney (above)
The Hackney Wick sauna features cold soak tanks in the form of metal bathtubs and “refurbished rustic whiskey barrels”.
The water in the barrels is between five and eight degrees Celsius in winter and between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius in summer. Pictured is the Hackney Wick sauna.
The venue also describes itself as a “sober space” and advises people to refrain from drinking alcohol, taking drugs, smoking or vaping.
The website says: “The closest we get to alcohol here are whiskey barrels.”
It’s also a phone-free space: the site notes: ‘Please do not bring your phone inside the sauna. You can take photographs outside, but always ask for consent in advance.’
While visitors must be covered from the waist down, toplessness is optional for all genders. Above: Hackney Wick Sauna
The organization hosts various events throughout the year, offering guests plenty 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 ‘mythical oral storytelling series tailored to those who identify as female, non-binary and intersex’ (£25) and Storytelling For Deeper Connection (£30).
What do customers think? They are impressed.
After visiting the Hackney venue, Hugo Silva commented on Google: ‘One of the most incredible places. The staff is fantastic, helpful and super friendly. A large number of saunas, super clean and always working perfectly. The space is super nice and often packed with people.”
The sauna even has the seal of quality of a Finn. Jukka Rintamäki wrote on Google: ‘The place was fantastic. As a Finn, I’m used to most saunas outside of Finland being half decent at best. But this is one of the best saunas I have ever been to and certainly the best new sauna.’
The community sauna baths opened in early 2022 and the Hackney Wick site became London’s first authentic wood-fired sauna and cold immersion experience.
The charity has since expanded, opening sauna sites at Stratford Community Garden and Peckham’s Glengall Wharf Garden.
Entry to the saunas in low season costs £8.50, while entry in high season costs £15. For more information visit www.community-sauna.co.uk.
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