Guides
How to actually use a Bristol sauna
Short, practical pieces for people who have never been, and for people working out which of the venues is worth the trip.
18 September 2026 · 5 min read
Aufguss, and why people get weirdly into it
The German towel ritual that turns a sauna round into a performance. What happens, how to behave, and where you might find one near Bristol.
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17 September 2026 · 3 min
Wood-fired or electric, does it actually matter?
The difference is real but smaller than enthusiasts claim. What changes, what doesn't, and which Bristol venues run which.
16 September 2026 · 4 min
The cold plunge, and how to stop dreading it
What the cold bit is for, how long to stay in, who should be careful, and which Bristol saunas have a proper plunge.
15 September 2026 · 4 min
Does anywhere in Bristol do nude sauna sessions?
Short answer, not really. Here is what each venue actually says about swimwear, in their own words, and where to go if you want textile-free.
14 September 2026 · 4 min
How much a sauna costs in Bristol
The city splits into three clear price tiers. £10 community sessions, £12 to £20 wood-fired, and £25 and up for spa days. Here is what you get at each.
12 September 2026 · 5 min
What a Bristol sauna session is actually like
Booking, what to bring, how the hot-cold rounds work, and the unwritten rules. A plain guide for anyone who has never been.
11 September 2026 · 4 min
Aromatics, and how not to set fire to the stove
Eucalyptus, birch, pine and the rest. What goes in the löyly water, how much, and the one thing you should never do with essential oil in a sauna.
9 September 2026 · 5 min
How hot is too hot? Temperature and humidity explained
What the number on the dial actually means, why the same heat feels different in a banya, and how to tell when you have had enough.
6 September 2026 · 6 min
Sauna etiquette around the world
Nude in Germany, silent in Finland, whisked in Russia, swimwear in Bristol. A country by country guide to not being the confused one.
4 September 2026 · 7 min
Where saunas come from, and why they smell different
Smoke saunas, barrels and banyas, plus what aspen, cedar and alder actually do to the feel of a room.