Best outdoor saunas for at-home relaxation

Imagine finishing every rosy-cheeked walk or morning dunk in the sea with the warm glow of a sauna waiting for you at home. Well, the dream isn’t so far-fetched.

Over the last few years, the sauna movement has gained momentum in the UK, with pop-up and mobile saunas drawing swimsuit-clad crowds to the British coastline. It all started in 2018, when Liz Watson and Katie Bracher launched Beach Box, a public pop-up sauna in Brighton created using a converted horse box. Now, it’s one of the country’s most well-known outdoor saunas with weekly wellness events and community classes bringing people together from near and far.  

According to the British Sauna Society, there are more than 100 public saunas across the UK and Ireland, with increasing numbers of us looking to buy an outdoor sauna to bring the magic of heat therapy home.  

So, what’s driving the modern-day sauna movement?

Saunas have been widely praised for their myriad mental, physical, and social health benefits and come hand in hand with the rise of wild swimming and ice baths. British Sauna Society Medical Officer, Dr Oguguo Igwe, is advocating for saunas to become part of the NHS social prescribing scheme. He believes people of all ages and fitness levels can benefit from the wellness practice. 

“A sauna replicates a low-level workout, as it increases your heart rate and gets blood pumping around the body, as though you’re going for a run or doing brief cardiovascular exercise,” he explains. “Athletes use saunas to cool down after a big workout session or game, as well as for injuries. Saunas are also suitable for people who aren’t athletic, such as the older generation who have joint issues or mobility problems.”

New research also suggests regular sauna sessions can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, inflammatory disease, and even neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. But it’s not just our physical health that can reap the benefits. Dr Oguguo Igwe emphasises the positive psychological impact heat therapy can have. 

“Studies in Scandinavian countries show that when participants had regular sauna sessions a few times a week, they reported an improved mood that is sustained over three or four weeks. This study hasn’t been compared directly to antidepressants but is suggesting that saunas may have a similar impact.” 

This improvement in mood could also be attributed to the social aspect of community saunas. “You’re talking to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, which is important in the UK, as we have lost a lot of our social spaces,” Dr Oguguo Igwe adds. “We’re not in churches or pubs in the same way anymore so we need a space that’s for both young and old people, and in saunas, I see different groups and ethnicities come together.” 

Although the mental and physical health benefits are impressive, the wellness practice isn’t for everyone. If you’re pregnant or have any existing medical conditions, Dr Oguguo Igwe recommends speaking to your GP first and taking things slow if it’s your first sauna. “Take water, stay hydrated, stick to the low levels of the bench, and slowly work your way up,” he advises. “Only stay in the sauna for as long as you feel comfortable, no more than 10 minutes, and then take a break outside.” 

“People often want to jump straight back into the sauna because it’s such a good feeling, but you need to rest and cool down to your normal temperature before getting back in,” he adds. “We advise two to three sessions a week at 10 to 15 minutes per go.” 

The traditional sauna, also known as a Finnish sauna, heats the air using electric heaters or wood-burning stoves. Some saunas provide a ‘wet’ experience, with the option to pour water over rocks to generate steam and boost humidity. Temperatures typically range from 40°C to 90°C.  

Infrared saunas offer a gentler approach to the practice as they directly heat the body through infrared lamps and operate at a lower temperature – usually up to around 60°C.  

It can be hard to know what to look for when buying your first sauna with different heaters, sizes, finishes, and bespoke features available on the market. Lisa Deller, designer and co-founder of luxury sauna company Wildhut, recommends making sure your sauna will go the distance. “There is more to a good sauna than meets the eye. When your sauna arrives brand new, it will look great, but how will it look after a few months or years?” she asks. “Think about how long you want to use your sauna for. Is it an investment for just a year or two? Or would you like to use it for decades to come?” 

Deller recommends insulated walls, preferably more than 80mm thick, double, or triple-glazed windows to prevent heat loss, and at least two vents for air circulation. Then, there’s the question of which type of heat source to choose. “Electric heating is very convenient and low maintenance, some electric heaters even have an app so that you can control the sauna’s temperature with your phone or tablet,” she explains. “However, the electricity and Wi-Fi will need to run from a main source to the sauna location – which means extra expense and some disruption.” 

“Wood-fired saunas are romantic with magical sounds of crackling wood, but you have less control of the temperature,” she continues. “There is also more maintenance, as you’ll need to regularly clear the ash.”

Whether you’re looking for a post-ice bath recovery session or a way to wind down after a long day at work, shop the best outdoor saunas in the UK to suit all tastes, gardens, and budgets below.