Health / sauna
A steam room with a view: saunas launch on Bristol’s waterways
As Thursday evening in the office drew to a close, all of us sat bundled up in our scarves and gloves to combat the freezing draught that was blowing through the building, my colleague and I rather smugly grabbed our swimming gear and headed to the Lloyds Amphitheatre.
Eager to escape the cold, we were off to try out Skuna Boats‘ new floating sauna pop-up.
Promising to combine Scandinavian traditions with the scenic atmosphere of the Floating Harbour, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the ‘final boss’ of wellness fads, but I was certainly keen to test them for myself.
The sauna boats are equipped with plunge pools, seating and a shower
The boat itself was surprisingly transformative. A little black room with a shower and decking, I began to feel so immersed in the sauna experience that I forgot I was on the water – it felt almost shocking when we started to coast away.
Handily, we had the perfect sunset time slot, allowing us to take in one of my favourite views of the whole city.
Having gaped at the scenery, we at last settled into the sauna room. A welcome and wonderfully juxtapositional space from the winter chill outside, I could’ve stayed there for days.
Sitting in the sauna provided the perfect view of Bristol’s docks
I’ll admit, the concept of a spa trip on one of Bristol’s busiest waterways did seem rather vulnerable and exposing, but the reality was remarkably peaceful.
What struck me most is how quiet the city felt from our new perspective.
Usually, the hustle and bustle around M Shed and Millennium Square is so prominent and unavoidable, but on the water it seemed to somewhat disappear.
View this post on Instagram
As we cruised towards SS Great Britain, we figured it was time to test out the on-board plunge pool. A bracing shift from the warm embrace of the sauna, but in reality not much colder than the air outside, it helped me finally begin to understand the sauna obsession and maybe even develop my own.
Our 90-minute session on the boat seemed to fly by and, before we knew it, the sun had fully set over the docks. Returning to the mooring at the Amphitheatre, we made the most of the heat before dragging ourselves back to reality.
I think Skuna Boats have struck a brilliant balance between tourism and genuine relaxation with this pop-up. Managing to spotlight our wonderful harbourside in a way that felt totally unique, it was an experience that I definitely want to try again.
The boats launched to the public on Friday, and will run daily until December 14.
All photos: Susie Long
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
