Spanish-born and globally renowned, AIRE Ancient Baths boasts eight incredible locations, including Barcelona, Sevilla, New York, and Copenhagen. With London’s doors now open, it was time to experience this centuries-old ritual.

Inspired by Ancient Traditions

Inspired by the bathing traditions of ancient Rome, Greece, and Ottoman civilisations, AIRE temples are dedicated to relaxing both body and mind.

The London site, once home to Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, transports you into a candlelit historical haven. The journey takes you through thermal baths of varying temperatures, allowing you to step back in time.

A Tech-Free Immersion

AIRE recommends leaving your phone behind, so in true immersion style, I locked mine away for some much-needed tech-free time to wholeheartedly savour the experience.

Hop between thermal baths offering diverse sensations: the Tepidarium (36°C), Frigidarium (14°C), or my favourite, the Caldarium (40°C). Don’t miss the steam bath, Vaporium, Florarium flotation temple, or the glorious salt scrub that leaves you refreshed.

Moments of Tranquillity

Between baths, elegant candlelit areas provide spaces to sip green tea and hydrate. These pockets of joy invite reflection on a ritual that, for Londoners, has often been solitary—yet it’s a centuries-old social tradition from Romans to modern Japan, Turkey, and Russia.

In Ancient Greece, bathhouses hosted philosophical discussions and even libraries. In the Middle Ages, mixed bathing ceased due to disease fears. In the 1960s and 1970s, New York bathhouses became safe havens for gay men.

Back to AIRE London

But back to AIRE. I felt utterly secure; despite concerns about crowds, I enjoyed nearly 30 minutes of solitude. Then came my 30-minute relaxing massage. The therapist put me at ease, explaining each step. I sank into the comfiest headrest (trust me, it matters!) for a medium-pressure grapeseed oil massage covering my legs, back, and head.

A Timeless Ritual

As my dreamy experience ended, the 18th-century phrase ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ came to mind, linking health, hygiene, and purity. This ancient practice deserves to be experienced.

A restored 19th-century warehouse next to El Born market in Barcelona; a rural farmhouse dating to 1467 in Vallromanes (30 km from Barcelona); a Mudejar house-palace in Seville’s Santa Cruz neighbourhood; and a building on the ruins of Almeria’s old souk are among AIRE’s Spanish sites. In the USA, find properties in New York City’s TriBeCa (a former textile factory) and Chicago’s River West (industrial heritage). Expansion continues with Copenhagen’s 2020 Carlsberg Byen site (former beer factory), followed by London (2021) and Toronto (2022).

AIRE Ancient Baths London is at 2-3 Robert St, WC2N 6RL, Covent Garden. Book your ancient bath experience from £90 or a couples escape with Cava and truffles for £200 on their website: AIRE London.

Follow @aireancientbaths_uk on Instagram and tag #AireAncientBaths #WelcomeAireLondon #BeAire.

Written by Kaya Cheshire for Luxuria Lifestyle