Spa & Wellness
The 5 Best Bathhouses and Hammams in London
London's bathing rituals, from a candlelit thermal circuit off the Strand to a birch-branch banya and a marble hammam.
In short: our top picks are AIRE Ancient Baths, Banya No.1 and Porchester Spa. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London has quietly rediscovered the bathhouse, and it now does the ritual properly. The choice runs from AIRE’s candlelit thermal circuit, all hot and cold pools underground, to the fierce heat of a Russian banya and the scrub-and-steam of a proper hammam. These are places to spend a slow half-day rather than dash through, ideally with nowhere to be afterwards. Book a treatment or a session and let the heat do the work.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AIRE Ancient Baths | Covent Garden | £££ |
| Banya No.1 | Hoxton | £££ |
| Porchester Spa | Bayswater | ££ |
| Le Kalon Spa at The Bentley | South Kensington | ££££ |
| Claridge's Spa | Mayfair | ££££ |
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Editor’s choice
AIRE Ancient Baths
Why we pick itA candlelit underground thermal circuit off the Strand, moving between hot and cold pools, a salt bath and even a red-wine bath, set in J.M. Barrie's former home.
candlelit thermal baths
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Banya No.1
Why we pick itA traditional Russian banya in Hoxton built around a wood-fired parilka, a cold plunge and the birch-branch parenie treatment.
Russian banya
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Porchester Spa
Why we pick itA grand 1929 Art Deco bathhouse in Bayswater with Turkish hot rooms, a Russian steam room, an icy plunge pool and marble-lined halls.
historic Turkish baths
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Le Kalon Spa at The Bentley
Why we pick itOne of London's most striking marble hammam chambers, delivering a full scrub-and-steam ritual inside a Kensington hotel.
marble hammam
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Claridge's Spa
Why we pick itThe Pink Room at Claridge's sets its hammam treatments around a pink onyx bed, the grandest bathing ritual in Mayfair.
luxury hotel hammam
Before you book
Most of these need booking ahead, especially AIRE and the hotel hammams at weekends, and several run adults-only or single-sex sessions worth checking first. Sessions typically run ninety minutes to a couple of hours, so arrive early to make the most of the thermal areas. Porchester Spa is the most affordable and the most old-school; the hotel spas are the splurge.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
AIRE Ancient Baths is our editor's choice: A candlelit underground thermal circuit off the Strand, moving between hot and cold pools, a salt bath and even a red-wine bath, set in J.M. Barrie's former home. AIRE Ancient Baths, Banya No.1 and Porchester Spa lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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