What to wear to a sauna in the UK
Why the UK is different
If you've used saunas in Finland or Germany, you may be used to bathing naked. Most UK public saunas don't work that way. They're mixed, and the newer community and social saunas were set up for people who have never been in a sauna before, so swimwear is the default. Rules still vary from one venue to the next, which is why the question comes up so often.
The rules at London saunas we checked
| Sauna | What to wear | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Community Sauna Baths, Hackney Wick | Swimwear. Topless is optional for all genders; covered from the waist down | Community Sauna etiquette |
| Community Sauna Baths, other sites | Swimwear, with chests covered | Community Sauna etiquette |
| arvo, Walthamstow | Swimsuit. Towels aren't included; hire one for £2 | arvo |
| Lowlu, Kentish Town | Swimwear, plus loose, breathable clothes for resting between rounds | Lowlu |
| Banya No.1, Hoxton | Felt banya hat, natural-fabric banya clothing such as linen wrap shorts, flip-flops | Banya No.1 |
| Banya London, Belgravia | Swimwear required, including on the men-only and women-only days | Banya London |
| Sweheat, Royal Docks | Clothing optional | British Naturism |
If a venue isn't in the table, it doesn't publish a dress code we could find. Swimwear is the safe choice; ask the venue if you'd like to wear less.
Can you wear shorts and a T-shirt instead?
Usually, in the sauna itself. Loose cotton shorts, T-shirts and vests are fine at many venues if you'd rather cover up, according to Country & Town House's etiquette guide. Avoid gym kit made from synthetic fabric, which gets hot and clammy. Check with the venue before you get into a cold plunge in anything other than swimwear.
What to bring
- Swimwear.
- Two towels: one to sit on in the sauna, one to dry off. Sitting on a towel is a rule, not a suggestion, at Community Sauna Baths.
- Sliders or flip-flops for wet floors.
- A water bottle. Metal works better than plastic in the heat.
- A plastic bag for wet things.
- Warm, dry clothes if the sauna is outdoors. Community Sauna Baths sessions run in all weather.
- Optional: a felt sauna hat, which keeps your head cooler. Banyas treat it as standard kit.
Take off rings, chains and watches. Metal heats up fast and can burn.
What not to bring
Leave your phone in the locker. Community Sauna Baths doesn't allow phones in the sauna at all, and heat and steam aren't good for them anyway. Don't bring your own essential oils either: Community Sauna asks you to put nothing on the stones except the aromatherapy ices it provides.
Sources
Venue details in this guide come from the 36 London saunas we track and update automatically when a listing changes. How we check listings. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.