Almost a million people have visited one of London’s Community Sauna Baths, with many being referred by their GP to help treat a variety of ailments.
Based in the carpark of a 1930s former bathhouse, the original Hackney Wick site, pictured above, has seven saunas heated from 70°C to a sweltering 95°C.
The physiological impact is well documented: exposure to high heat induces mild, controlled stress on the body, improving circulation, lowering blood pressure and stimulating endorphin release.
Charlie Duckworth, 35, co-founded Community Sauna Baths CIC in 2021, and is now seeking to broaden public understanding of sauna as a force for social good.
Duckworth said: “We’re not just building facilities — we’re building culture.
“We’ve seen people come in struggling with anxiety, chronic pain, or isolation. After a few sessions, they’re laughing, talking, making friends. It’s not just about the body, it’s about belonging.”
Each site has a community outreach team that works with local GPs and community health teams to identify potential beneficiaries, who are entitled to 10 free sessions.
Even the Nordics, where Saunakulttuuri has been ingrained in daily habits since ancient times, have looked to the Community Sauna Baths for their work with local NHS trusts.
Duckworth was proud to have had a visit from Norwegian broadcaster NRK in March.
He said: “People are looking to London for the work we’re doing with health services.”
Entry fees — £9.50 off-peak to £16.50 peak — cover operational costs, from energy-intensive saunas to cold plunge maintenance.
Surpluses finance new sites and accessibility upgrades, such as wheelchair-accessible cabins and community-oriented spaces.
Duckworth acknowledged the weaknesses in this approach.
He explained: “We’re constantly walking a tightrope. We don’t have a cushion of funding to fall back on — if something breaks, we have to fix it ourselves.
“But that keeps us sharp. It makes us think long-term about every decision.”
New sites opened in Camberwell and Bermondsey this year.
Featured image credit: Brenna Duncan
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