What to Expect
A simple, authentic sauna experience on the River Dee
The Sandy Lane Community Sauna is a wood-fired Nordic sauna overlooking the meadows and river in Chester.
Sessions are relaxed, social, and open to everyone over the age of 16 — whether it’s your first sauna or part of your regular routine.
Expect heat, fresh air, good conversation, exceptional views and a chance to slow down and reconnect.
Open Thursday-Sunday
Your Session
Each session lasts 75 minutes.
During your session you can move freely between:
The wood-fired sauna
The cold plunge tanks
The cold shower
The outdoor seating area to cool down and rest
Most people cycle between heat, cold, and fresh air several times during the session.
There’s no pressure to follow a strict routine — just listen to your body.
What to Bring
To make the most of your session, we recommend bringing:
• A towel to sit on in the sauna
• Swimwear
• Flip flops or sandals
• A water bottle
• A second towel for drying off
Changing space is available on site, but limited. Arrive ready if you can, or use a dry robe.
We have an open storage container and a coat stand for belongings just outside the sauna. All sessions are supervised by one of our sauna hosts, but belongings are left entirely at your own risk.
Sauna Etiquette
To keep the space comfortable for everyone:
• Always sit on a towel inside the sauna
• Shower or rinse before cold plunging
• Be mindful of others sharing the space
• Listen to your body and take breaks when needed
This is a relaxed community space — friendly, respectful and welcoming to all.
Cold Water & River Swimming
Cold plunging is available on site using dedicated cold plunge tanks.
While the sauna sits beside the River Dee, river swimming is not advised due to variable water quality. Local guidance and further information can be found via the links on this site.
If you do swim in the river during a session, please make sure you have a deep soapy scrub in our shower before revisiting the site to avoid cross-contamination.
First Time?
If it’s your first sauna, a simple approach works well:
Start with roughly 10-30 minutes in the sauna
Cool down outside or with a cold plunge (roughly 1-5 minutes)
Rest for a few minutes
Repeat a few times during your session
Everyone’s tolerance is different — go at your own pace.
Community Sauna
The Sandy Lane sauna is designed as a shared community space.
We host a mix of:
open community sessions
silent sessions
female-only sessions
disco sauna
ambient sauna
Our aim is to create a welcoming place where people can unwind, connect, and enjoy the benefits of sauna, cold water immersion and contrast therapy, whilst respecting the local park and surrounding community.
No alcohol or drug use is permitted anywhere on site. Anyone arriving intoxicated will be refused entry and politely asked to leave.
During our music sessions, no sound is amplified outside the sauna hot room, preserving the tranquility of the park outside.
Ready to Book?
Tap below to see available sessions.