We've done the spathroom, the tech-free bedroom sanctuary, and now it's time to turn our attention to outdoor spaces. Please welcome: the spa garden, or 'sparden'. Fuelled by sauna culture, more and more people are bringing the sweatboxes into their own homes, transforming private plots into mini resorts. But are garden saunas really worth the splurge?
Saunas have been nothing short of unstoppable in the UK. In the last three years, London sauna clubs have more than quadrupled: the capital's 45 venues in 2023 have grown into a sprawling network of more than 200 in 2026. As more people embrace slower, healthier lifestyles, saunas are even said to replace pubs as the new 'third spaces' to gather and connect.
With so many Brits enjoying the wellness benefits of collective sweating and cold plunges, the growing desire to bring the experience home is perhaps unsurprising. And it's by no means a left-field idea; in Scandinavian countries, where this wellness practice originates, domestic saunas have been common for decades, installed in bathrooms, cellars and gardens.
The appetite for home saunas taps into one of the biggest interior trends of the 2020s: private wellness retreats. 'The shift has been significant over the last three to four years. Post-pandemic, homeowners fundamentally reassessed how they use and invest in their outdoor spaces, and wellness has become a central part of that,' says Jamie Bloomfield, co-founder and director of Eden Landscapes, which specialises in garden buildings and landscaping.
'A garden sauna is the physical embodiment of investing in your home as a place of recovery and retreat rather than just a living space. We are seeing it across a much wider demographic than the early adopters; it is no longer just the very wealthy or the Scandinavian-inspired design enthusiast.'
Famous and wealthy patrons include the nation's favourite hobby gardener, David Beckham, who has shared photos from inside his luxury Igloo sauna crafted in Estonia, and broadcaster Ben Fogle, who praised his private sweatbox as 'the best investment I have made' in an article for The Times.
But is a private sauna actually worth it? We break down the cost, upkeep and space required for on-demand sweat sessions in your own garden.
The cost of buying a sauna
As far as home projects go, saunas sit at the upper end of the budget spectrum, even for basic models.
'Entry-level barrel saunas start from around £2,000 to £3,000 for a self-install kit, but a properly installed cabin-style garden sauna with electrics, lighting, a quality heater and a changing area would typically start from £8,000 to £15,000 and can go significantly higher for bespoke builds,' Jamie tells us.
Building considerations
Installing a sauna requires careful consideration around power supply, drainage, ventilation and whether the structure requires planning permission.
'Most garden saunas fall within permitted development rights but anything over a certain height or footprint, or in a listed building or conservation area, will need to be checked with the local authority first.'
The space required
Even compact saunas can accommodate at least two people and a heater, so they require a minimum amount of space.
'Anyone with a small garden should think carefully about proportionality,' the expert says. 'A garden sauna that dominates the available outdoor space tends to feel oppressive rather than luxurious.'
Neighbours
Those with limited outdoor space should also think about how a sauna could affect adjacent properties.
'Neighbours are worth considering too, particularly in terraced or semi-detached properties where steam and heat dispersal can become a source of friction if the positioning is not thought through carefully,' explains Jamie.
The upkeep
Once installed, saunas require ongoing financial and time commitment, from energy costs to regular cleaning and maintenance.
'Running costs are often underestimated,' Jamie warns. 'An electric sauna running at full temperature for an hour costs roughly 50p to £1.50 depending on the heater size and energy tariff, which is not prohibitive, but wood-burning models involve the ongoing cost of fuel and considerably more maintenance.'
Is a garden sauna right for me?
If you can justify the upfront investment, commit to the running costs and dedicate the space, an sauna could be the perfect addition to a spa-inspired garden. 'The homeowners who get the most value from a garden sauna are those who would genuinely use it two or three times a week rather than those buying into the aspiration of it,' adds Jamie.
If that feels like too much of a commitment, it may be worth joining a local sauna club instead. In many Nordic countries, saunas are community spaces where people gather, connect and unwind together. So while a private sweatbox might be the ultimate luxury, enjoying a shoulder-to-shoulder sauna session with fellow enthusiasts could actually be the more authentic experience.
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