HOT SPOTS: Waterside saunas to discover in Kent
We pick out some of the best beachside, mobile and quirky saunas around the county
Across the UK a wellness phenomenon once confined to spas and gyms is on the move.
Beachside saunas, from bespoke barrel-on-trailers to wood-fired wellness trucks combining ice baths with heat therapy, are popping up on seafronts, at festivals and in community spaces, turning heat bathing into a social ritual.
With the sauna boom tied to self-care, outdoor life and mental-health culture, offering flexible, nature-friendly heat experiences wherever people gather is all the rage. We have picked out a few for you to try!
Steam Punk Sauna, Folkestone
Steampunk Sauna is Folkestone’s original sauna, now beautifully settled beside Mermaid Beach on the seafront. Offering both communal and private sessions, it’s perfect for a quiet solo reset or a shared session with friends. Guests can step out into the coastal breeze, take a dip in the sea, or try a cold-water plunge bucket for the full hot-cold experience - embracing the simple pleasure of contrast therapy by the water.
Accessibility sits at the heart of what they do. Believing sauna should be for everyone - not just those who can afford it - the team collaborates with local communities to host walk-in sessions, where people can pay what they’re able.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, Steampunk Sauna has become a much-loved part of Folkestone’s wellness scene.
The Little Sauna, Hythe
A beautiful log-burning sauna by the water in Seabrook in Hythe, The Little Sauna has been growing its following with a community approach that welcomes everybody.
From partnering with Hythe Lodge, to hosting yoga classes and creative workshops, The Little Sauna can be a hive of activity, or a relaxing getaway. Available for private hire and private events, the sauna is great for intimate wellness tranquility, and a social meet-up with friends. Book through the Instagram page.
Rebels Coffee & Sauna, Dover
@rebels_dover
The team behind Steampunk Sauna also has Rebels Coffee & Sauna on Dover seafront. This 10-seater sauna and cold plunge is open Monday to Sunday for walk-in sessions and offers the same welcoming, down-to-earth vibe.
Guests can soon enjoy sauna rituals and special events, followed by a refreshing drink in the coffee shop - the perfect way to complete a restorative session.
Keep up to date with events and openings by following on Instagram.
Swim and Sauna at Hangloose Bluewater
A new floating sauna and ice bath deck is bringing a fresh dimension to lakeside wellness at Swim and Sauna at Hangloose Bluewater, offering visitors the chance to combine heat therapy with invigorating cold-water immersion. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque lake, the facility invites members to embrace wild swimming year-round, with seasonal opening hours adjusted during winter months.
A swimming membership provides unlimited lake access, along with free or discounted entry to events and reduced sauna rates. A newly introduced premium membership includes all these benefits, plus unlimited sauna use.
Each month, the venue hosts a diverse programme of wellness events, including moonlight swims, yoga sessions, sound baths, induction workshops and perimeter swims creating a welcoming community centred on physical and mental wellbeing.
Facilities include changing rooms, hot showers, a maintained pathway to the water and safe steps leading directly into the lake.
Current Offers:
Mother’s day promo is currently live until the 15th of March, this offers 25% off all wellness bundles, the perfect gift! HERE– use code ‘GIFTFORHER25’ at checkout.
The annual membership offer is also live until 15th March, offering 20% off all annual memberships! HERE - use code ‘ANNUALSAVE20’ at checkout.
