Imagine finding a place where you can relax, interact, and reap health advantages all at once. This isn’t your standard pub or restaurant, but rather a modern twist on an ancient tradition: the sauna. Across London, people are flocking to fashionable saunas that provide a refreshing alternative to the normal after-work hangout. Saunas are quickly becoming Londoners’ new pubs, thanks to their pleasant atmosphere, health benefits, and unique social chances.
The Rise of Social Saunas
You might be surprised to learn that people are now flocking to saunas to gather and socialize. Imagine sitting in a sauna and overhearing a business deal being made. This scene is becoming more common as Londoners seek out new spaces to catch up outside of the office. Saunas are the new pubs or even golf courses, offering a place where you can relax and connect with others without the typical pub environment.
A New Kind of Venue
Sauna & Plunge is an Instagrammable yoga studio-type venue just around the corner from Old Street station. It isn’t the only new spot drawing a crowd of Londoners seeking a social space with proven health benefits. Community Sauna Baths, a not-for-profit organization, runs accessible saunas in Bermondsey, Peckham, Hackney Wick, and Stratford. Their sauna events include storytelling, sound baths, queer poetry, aromatherapy, breathwork, life drawing, and singing.
From Traditional to Innovative
New venues are cropping up across the capital, from Barnes to Docklands. Hackney recently hosted the UK’s first sauna festival, Saunaverse, for the second year in a row. Hundreds of Londoners alternated between saunas and ice-cold plunge baths, beer in hand, to the soundtrack of bands and DJs. In the UK, sauna seems to be less about health optimization and more about enjoyment and social connection. You might be better off with less social media and more social sauna.
The Natural High
So, why are so many Londoners stripping down and steaming themselves like dumplings? According to experts, the answer may be more like a pub than you’d imagine. Short-term exposure to stress, such as the intense heat in saunas, might result in a ‘natural high’. Sauna reduces inhibitions while increasing productivity. You may be realizing that social engagement does not always require a drink. Saunas provide an excellent alternative in a culture where social interactions are frequently centered on taverns and restaurants.
Mindfulness and Connection
Many converts now swear by the Finnish tradition of finding a rare moment of connection in what is often a rushed, lonely city. You might have really interesting conversations in the sauna that you would never normally strike up in another context. The mindfulness aspect of saunas draws many in. There’s nothing better than dumping your phone in the locker and heading to the sauna. It’s often in these moments, as your body comes down through the gears, that you come up with ideas and solutions to daily problems.
Health Benefits of Saunas
The health benefits of saunas are a major draw, of course. In Nordic countries like Finland, the world’s happiest country for the seventh year in a row, saunas have become part of their DNA thanks to the proven respiratory, cardiovascular, and mood-boosting benefits. Regular sauna sessions have been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and even mental health disorders. Sauna use is associated with improved mood, better sleep, and decreased levels of stress markers like cortisol.
Innovative Social Spaces
Social saunas in London may not have achieved nudity, but a more imaginative, less traditional approach to saunas is undoubtedly promoting a new type of social element. Community Sauna Baths provides monthly creative workshops for the trans community, including sorrow saunas, life drawing classes, and social circles. In addition to infrared saunas and ice baths, Sauna & Plunge offers yoga and breathwork lessons. Saunaverse has a variety of offerings, including gluten-free food trucks, dancing lessons, and local DJ performances.
Creative Platforms
Operators in the UK see saunas more as creative platforms rather than faithful reproductions of the original. Pints in the sauna might not be a London ritual just yet, but it might only be a matter of time. Grab your robe and experience the new wave of social saunas.
London’s Hottest Social Saunas
- Community Sauna Baths: With locations across London, this not-for-profit community project puts the social aspect of sauna culture front and center. Prices are affordable and accessible, so just show up and meet like-minded people for a fun and invigorating sweat and plunge.
- The Finnish Church: Providing a center point for Finnish expats who live in the UK, the Finnish Church has both public and private sauna sessions available. With the public sessions costing as little as £10, this is a traditional and accessible way for anyone in London to experience authentic Finnish sauna culture.
- New Docklands Steam Baths: The sauna experience at New Docklands is truly old-school. With Russian-style steam baths for an authentic ‘schvitz’ and a cedarwood sauna as well as a cold plunge pool, this is touted as “the best steam in London.”
- Sauna & Plunge: Sauna & Plunge offers a fully immersive experience with both infrared and steam saunas as well as ice plunge pools to complete the hot and cold therapy treatment. Their studio in Shoreditch is modern and stylish and is conveniently located just around the corner from Old Street station.
Saunas have evolved from being a mere post-workout amenity to becoming a vibrant social hub. They offer a unique blend of relaxation, health benefits, and social interaction that is becoming increasingly popular in London. Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day, connect with others, or enjoy a new kind of social experience, the city’s saunas provide an excellent alternative to traditional pubs. So, next time you’re looking for a place to hang out, consider grabbing a fluffy robe and heading to one of London’s hottest new spots.