Public and community saunas in UK cities are usually booked by session, often 60 to 90 minutes, and are shared with other people. Bring swimwear, a towel and water, arrive a few minutes early, and check whether the session is mixed or single-sex. According to the British Sauna Society, the number of public sauna sites in the UK grew from 45 in 2023 to 147 in early 2025.
How sessions work
Most city saunas sell timed sessions online. Some are wood-fired saunas by the water with a cold plunge; others are indoor bathhouses. Many run quiet sessions, social sessions and guided aufguss sessions (a sauna master pours water on the stones and moves the heat with a towel). Book ahead at weekends.
What to bring
- Swimwear, unless the session says otherwise
- A towel to sit on and one to dry off
- A water bottle
- Sandals or flip-flops for walking between the sauna and the plunge
Where to stay nearby
If you are travelling for a public sauna, stay somewhere with a sauna of its own for the evening. See places to stay with a sauna in Manchester, Belfast, Bournemouth and London. We are pairing stays with public saunas we have checked, city by city.