I visited the bizarre new London attraction launched by a top British DJ that only costs £6
THIS week, I had one of my best London experiences ever - and that’s saying something as I’ve lived in the city for 22 years now.
But during one of the coldest days of the winter, I plunged into an ice bath for two whole minutes in the heart of King’s Cross at Coal Drops Yard.
The Slow Motion Sauna at King’s Cross has launched in collaboration with the DJ and Camp Bestival founder Rob da Bank and his wife Josie, as part of the area’s "Mind Your Brain" mental health campaign - and it costs just £6 to visit.
The campaign encourages visitors to prioritise both their mental health and their brain, in a bid to mitigate the risk of future health conditions.
When I got there, I didn't think I would be able to stand more than 30 seconds in the ice water, but after spending 20 minutes in the sauna first, it was surprisingly easy to stay in the ice bath.
It really was a case of mind over matter - once I focused on my breathing it became much easier and I actually felt like I could have stayed in the ice bath for longer.
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I felt so exhilarated after it, so much so that I did it twice, then had a salt scrub and a hot shower.
At only £6 for an hour, it’s basically the same as a pint in your average London pub.
There are two outdoor saunas for visitors to choose from, one is a Lithuanian wood-fired sauna while the other is an electric sauna, which has been donated by The Finnish Institue.
One minute you’re clubbing in King's Cross, the next minute you're having an ice bath in your forties… but that dopamine hit people talk with ice water about is real and I was buzzing for the whole afternoon.
It’s there until February 11, so I’m booking again to go back with a bunch of girlfriends one evening before it finishes.
From Tuesday to Friday, visitors can between 11am and 7pm and the site is open between 9am and 5pm during the weekend.
Visitors will get an hour to use the saunas and cold plunge pools, followed by a salt scrub and shower before leaving.
Each sauna session costs £6 per person and people are encouraged to bring their own towel.
DJ and wellness guru, Rob da Bank, said: "Not only are sauna and ice baths amazing for your mental and physical health but they are such a great place to hang out with friends, meet new people and challenge yourself a little bit."
Last year, Rob da Bank and his wife Josie opened a mobile sauna on the Isle of Wight.
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