Saunas by the sea

Embrace the Scandi approach to health and wellbeing this winter and enjoy a relaxing and invigorating sauna near the sea. 

Rebels Coffee & Sauna on Dover seafront and Steam Punk Sauna at Betteshanger Park are the brainchilds of local artist Tim Smithen who has created two fantastic, authentic sauna experiences in White Cliffs Country, while Whitemills Wake & Aqua Park near Sandwich now also has a sauna and cold plunge.

Rebels Sauna comes complete with changing rooms, an indoor plunge pool and shower, or it’s just a short distance to the sea if you prefer a cold plunge in the waves. The Coffee part is a cafe serving good coffee (locally roasted Harbour Coffee) and great local produce, from kombucha to kimchi, plus a range of vegan cakes from Cakesmiths, delicious Docker bread toasties, a selection of craft IPAs from Docker Brewery in Folkestone and much more. Open 7am to 6pm on weekdays, 9am to 5pm at weekends. As well as one-off visits, memberships are available for the sauna. 

Seaside saunas amplify the benefits of traditional sauna therapy. The combination of heat and sea air enhances the experience and helps to promote deep relaxation and reduce stress, and the benefits of taking a regular sauna are well documented. In Tim's words: "The idea of creating an oasis, sauna spa inside a cosy, fun coffee shop seemed a good thing to do. We are planning on hosting many sauna events and wellness activities too. Sauna is a powerful and beautiful way to spend time with yourself and others in a safe womb-like environment, so I wanted to give this opportunity to local people."

Tim's latest venture is a fantastic hand-built, wood-fired sauna in the middle of beautiful Betteshanger Park. Steam Punk Sauna seats up to eight people and comes with a refreshing cold plunge for the brave. Open Fridays to Sundays (excluding 26-28 December), share the heat with others or book a private slot for a more personal experience. Prices are £15pp for a 1-hour session or £80 for a 1-hour private session (the sauna seats up to eight people).

The sauna and cold plunge at Whitemills Wake & Aqua Park near Sandwich – £12.50pp for 50 minutes – is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Offers include £87.50 for a group of 8 or 6 individual sessions booked in advance for the price of 5. 
If you are a seasoned sea swimmer, acclimatised to cold water temperatures, there are also open water swimming sessions here where you can get your open-air swimming fix throughout the winter when the sea conditions are too rough. Keep an eye on their social media channels for updates. 

Please note: Whitemills will close for a winter break from 21 December 2025 to 12 January 2026.