Questions, answered
The things people ask at the door. If yours is not here, write to us — we answer everything.
19 questions
Booking
How do I book a session?
Pick a site, a date and a time on the booking page and pay online. Confirmation lands in your inbox straight away.
Sessions open eight weeks ahead. If nothing suits, get in touch — we hold a few slots back for people who ask.
How far in advance should I book?
Weekday mornings you can usually walk up. Weekday evenings and all of Saturday go about ten days ahead, and the last session of the night goes first.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes, up to 12 hours before your session, from your account dashboard. Inside 12 hours the slot is charged — at twelve people a session, an empty bench is one we could have given to someone else.
Can I book for more than one person?
Book as many places in the same session as you need, up to the twelve the room holds. For the whole cabin, book private hire instead.
Your first visit
What actually happens, for anyone who has not done this before.
What should I bring?
- Swimwear — required in the cabin and the barrels
- A towel, or £3 to hire one at the desk
- A water bottle
Everything else — lockers, showers, tea afterwards — is here already.
It is my first time. What actually happens?
You arrive ten minutes early, change, shower, and go in. Somebody will show you where things are and then leave you alone.
Ten to fifteen minutes in the heat, thirty seconds in the cold, then sit down until you stop feeling cold. Most people go round twice.
How long is a session?
An hour, starting on the hour. Private hire is two hours minimum.
Can I take my phone in?
Not onto the benches. There are lockers in the changing rooms, and the heat is bad for the phone anyway.
Reset packs
What is a reset pack?
Prepaid credits rather than a subscription. Buy a run of sessions up front and use them whenever you like. See what is on sale.
Do credits expire?
Twelve months from purchase. There is no monthly fee and nothing to cancel.
Can I share a pack with someone else?
Credits sit on your account, but you can book more than one place in a session and spend several at once. So yes, in practice.
Health & safety
Is a sauna safe if I have a health condition?
Heat and cold water put real load on the heart. If you are pregnant, taking heart or blood-pressure medication, or have any circulatory or respiratory condition, read the health waiver and talk to a doctor before booking. We are not qualified to make that call for you.
Is there a minimum age?
Sixteen, and under-eighteens need an adult in the same session.
What if I feel unwell during a session?
Get out and sit down — there is always somebody on the desk. Feeling light-headed after the cold is common and passes in a minute or two; anything more than that, tell us.
Payments & refunds
When do I get a refund?
Cancel more than 12 hours ahead and the refund is automatic, back to the original card within five working days.
If we cancel — a stove problem, or the towpath flooding — you are refunded in full regardless of notice. The details are in the cancellation policy.
Do you do gift vouchers?
Not yet. A session pack bought on someone else’s behalf is the nearest thing, and the credits work the same way.
Everything else
Is the sauna accessible?
Partly, and we would rather be straight about it. There are three steps up from the towpath, the changing room is level once you are inside, and there is no lift to the terrace.
If you want to know whether it works for you, ask us — we would rather answer than have you guess.
I left something behind.
Everything found gets held for 30 days. Email us with the date and your session time and we will look.
Can I hire the whole place?
Yes — the whole cabin and both barrels, two hours minimum, up to twelve people. Email us and we will find a slot that does not cut into a busy evening.