Last reviewed 23 October 2026
What you need depends on the venue, so check its page before you go. This checklist covers most public and community saunas in the UK.
The essentials
- Swimwear. The norm in UK public saunas.
- Two towels: one to sit on in the sauna and one to dry off. Some venues hire towels; many community saunas don’t.
- A water bottle. You’ll sweat a lot. Most venues have somewhere to refill.
- Your booking confirmation, on your phone or printed.
Useful extras
- Flip-flops or pool shoes for wet floors and stony beaches.
- A warm layer and a hat for outdoor saunas between rounds, especially in winter.
- A dry robe or changing robe if the venue has little indoor changing space.
- A padlock or a pound coin for lockers at some leisure centres and gyms.
- Toiletries for the shower afterwards.
Leave at home
- Jewellery and watches, which get very hot.
- Anything you’d hate to get wet or lose on a beach.
- Your phone, if you can. You can’t take it into the sauna anyway.
Check before you book
- What’s included: towels, robes, showers, tea or a cold plunge.
- Session length: most public sessions are 45 to 60 minutes. Each venue page on Sauna Local shows it where the venue publishes it.
- Age limits and dress code: some venues are adults only, and some sessions are women-only or men-only.
- Peak and off-peak prices: many venues charge less on weekday daytimes.