A man with dark hair and a beard stands outside in a garden, wearing red shorts. He is wet, with water on his chest and shoulders, and appears to be enjoying a shower under a rain showerhead. There is a wooden fence and lush greenery behind him, with sunlight filtering through the trees creating dappled shadows.

Private sauna & cold plunge in Oakwood, Leeds.

Just steps away from Roundhay Park and the hustle and bustle of Oakwood, our beautifully immersive wellness space is surrounded by nature.

We specialise in private sauna sessions for small groups of up to 6 people. Come alone, as a couple or with friends, family or colleagues.

As you arrive at our tucked away garden, you’ll step into a space that feels tranquil and atmospheric.

You’ll find a traditional Finnish sauna, 2 cold plunges, an outdoor shower and space to relax and let stress drop away.

Perfect for quiet time away from everyday life, a birthday or special celebration or a long-overdue gathering.

Book a private sauna

Our facilities.

  • Sunshine shining into Finnish sauna.

    Traditional Finnish sauna

    Experience the warmly scented, quiet cocoon of our traditional wooden sauna, with a view of the rhododendron flowers, lush plants and mature trees.

    Feel the healing, therapeutic heat melt away tension, reduce inflammation and ease chronic pain. The sauna is cardiovascular workout which can improve heart health and immune function.

    Book a sauna session
  • Smiling man in cold plunge in garden.

    Cold plunge & outdoor shower

    Immersing yourself in cold water alongside sessions in the sauna invigorates your body and mind like nothing else. And there’s always the option of a cooling shower if this isn’t for you!

    But you might quickly come to love the energy and mood boost the cold water offers. Great for recovery, it increases happiness endorphins and the effects last for hours.

    Book a sauna session
  • View from sauna of plants in the garden.

    Private garden setting

    You’ll leave feeling refreshed and relaxed after spending time in our beautiful private garden while you cool off from the sauna.

    In the background is the gentle tinkling of water from our natural pond complete with goldfish and, if you’re really lucky, you’ll catch the hooting of the resident owls.

    Nothing beats the rejuvenating power of spending quiet time in nature.

    Book a sauna session
Four women sitting outside, enjoying conversation on a sunny day, with a wooden wall and greenery in the background.

Private sauna sessions.

We intentionally offer private sauna sessions rather than individual spaces in communal sessions. Every booking includes exclusive use of the sanctuary, giving you the freedom to enjoy the experience at your own pace with the people you've chosen to spend time with.

There is something deeply restorative about having space to yourself. No strangers, no distracting chat, just birdsong, warmth, fresh air and the feeling of being completely at ease.

It's often this sense of privacy and calm will stay with you.

Why visit?

You might visit because you need a space that makes relaxing feel easy.

A chance to step away from chores, put your phone away and let some weight drop off your shoulders. Deep relaxation you can actually feel, better sleep and physical recovery after exercise or ill health are all reasons people visit Songbird for sauna bathing.

Perhaps you’ll visit to reconnect with your partner, spend healthy time with friends or simply enjoy the rare luxury of time completely alone with no-one to answer to.

Whatever brings you to this special Sanctuary, the combination of warmth, cold water, birdsong and nature has a way of helping you slow down and reset both your energy and perspective.

A blackboard sign with a wooden frame advertising a songbird sauna ritual, a cold plunge, and rest, located outdoors on a bed of small rocks with plants nearby.

What to expect.

From the moment you arrive, the Sanctuary is yours to enjoy.

Your 75 minute session includes exclusive use of the warmly scented sauna, energising cold plunges, outdoor shower and relaxation areas, all nestled within our peaceful garden.

Add in refreshing cucumber-infused water and all the fresh air you could want!

Feel the healing, therapeutic heat melt away tension while fresh herbs create beautifully scented water to create löyly (steam).

You might also discover bravery and a love of chilly water in the endorphin-enhancing cold plunges or shower.

A few rounds of heat and cold will boost your mood and metabolism for hours to come.

Go at your own pace and enjoy the freedom of having this beautiful private space entirely to yourselves.

Book your visit.

We’d love you to come and visit our beautiful garden sauna! You can easily book via our booking system here or clicking the button below.

Please note, where it says ‘single place available’ this just means you are booking out a single session time for your group.

Book a private sauna

Faqs.

  • The sauna temperature sits between 75-90 degrees celsius.

    This specific heat range, when combined with humidity from the sauna water creates a safe environment to comfortably elevate your core body temperature.

    This thermal stress is the catalyst for unlocking proven cardiovascular, mental, and physical health benefits

  • We have 2 cold plunge / ice baths. We set one between 9-12 degrees celsius and the other is ambient temperature.

  • We only offer private sauna sessions and do not offer individual drop-in places.

    You can book for between 1-6 people with the price changing according to the number coming.

    Each private sauna session last 75 minutes and includes time for changing.

  • Our sauna seats up to 6 people comfortably and you are welcome to book to come alone or with a group.

  • Bookings can be made through our online booking system here.

    Please note that you are booking 1 private session for a group of up to 6 people and not 1 seat in a communal sauna!

  • We currently offer private sauna sessions on Fridays and Sundays with time slots available throughout the day and into the evening.

    Other days may be possible. Please email to ask!

  • You’ll need:

    • Swimwear (recommend wearing under your clothes for ease of changing)

    • 2 towels (1 large / 1 small for sitting on in the sauna)

    • Flip flops

    • Plastic bag for wet items

    • Water bottle

  • We have:

    • Shared changing room

    • Private outdoor toilet

    • Cold outdoor shower

    • Fresh drinking water

    • Traditional sauna

    • 2 cold plunge / ice baths

    • Relaxation space outside

  • You’ll find Songbird Sanctuary in the heart of the suburb of Oakwood, North Leeds.

    We are just off Oakwood Lane near Oakwood clock and Roundhay Park.

    The Sanctuary space is surrounded by trees in a large and peaceful, private garden, not overlooked by any other buildings.

    The full address will be given upon booking.

  • We have a large driveway which you can turn in and which offers parking for around 4 cars.

    Songbird Sanctuary is situated in a residential neighbourhood and road access can be quite narrow.

    Please don’t park on Oakwood Mount as it is Residents Only, but choose these options:

    Our private driveway.

    Oakwood Clock car park (3 minute walk) Cost £1 for 2 hours or £2.50 for half a day.

    The surrounding streets are free and usually quiet (4 minute walk).

    If you’re able to walk, lift share or use public transport then please do.


  • All sauna bookings are final with no refunds or change of date or time, so please make sure your order is correct before you buy.

    This policy is to ensure that our small business can be sustainable.

Founder Alice laying out towels for guests
View of wooden sauna and cold plunge
Woman under cold shower smiling
Men and women enjoying sauna with sun streaming through windows.
Man in red shorts smiling under cold shower
Hammam towels hanging in sauna
Sauna Rituals chalk board
Birch sauna whisk hanging up
Girl adding water to hot stones in the sauna
Woman in cold plunge with sand timer. She is smiling!
A woman relaxing in a small outdoor bathtub with water, smiling and enjoying herself. A sign on the fence says 'Shower First Please.' There are plants and trees in the background.
A woman in a black swimsuit standing on wooden planks under an outdoor shower, with water pouring down from a metallic showerhead attached to a tree, surrounded by greenery and a wooden fence.
Four people inside a wooden sauna. Two women and two men, some smiling and enjoying the moment. The woman on the left is sitting on a bench, smiling and wearing a black swimsuit. The woman on the right has wet hair and is wearing a black top. The man
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a black tank top and black shorts, is outdoors holding and examining a bunch of green leafy vegetables.
Person holding a snowball outdoors during daytime.
Group of smiling women sitting outdoors at night around a fire pit, with lush green bushes and a house with lit windows in the background.
A nighttime scene of a backyard patio decorated with string lights hanging from a dark wooden pergola and a small black shed, surrounded by trees and bushes, with outdoor furniture and a decorative lantern.
People sitting and standing inside a wooden sauna, some in swimsuits or partially dressed, with relaxed and smiling expressions.
Two women in black dresses sitting against wooden wall, smiling and enjoying a moment.
Four people standing outdoors near a small wooden structure, wearing robes and casual sandals, smiling and laughing.

Find us.

You’ll find Songbird Sanctuary in the leafy suburb of Oakwood, Leeds LS8.

e. alice@songbirdsanctuary.co.uk
t. 07956 651654
w. www.songbirdsanctuary.co.uk

You can book a Private Sauna session here.

If you are interested in booking a Seasonal Sauna Retreat please fill in the form below to email with your preferred dates and times and we will get back to you to confirm availability. Once this is agreed, we’ll send you a private link to book and pay.

 

Full address details and directions to find us will be given upon booking.

We have some parking in our driveway but encourage you to consider parking at Oakwood Clock carpark (3 minute walk), lift sharing, walking or taking public transport, as we are in a residential area with narrow streets.

  • Helen P

    “Feel so lucky to have found this beautiful sanctuary right in the heart of Oakwood.

    Alice makes you feel perfectly at home to enjoy the sauna and plunge pools in her stunning garden.

    A true place for inspiration! I will be a regular I’m sure. Thank you so much!”

  • Simon C

    “Absolutely loved this place! A hidden gem if you’re looking for a private sauna experience in nature.

    Everything felt calm, clean, and thoughtfully set up.

    The combination of heat from the sauna and the cool fresh air outside is just perfect. It’s quiet, peaceful, and feels very exclusive—like your own little retreat.

    Perfect for couples or a small group wanting to relax and disconnect. Will definitely be coming back.”

  • Ruth

    "This was our first time to Songbird Sanctuary and it really was a sanctuary. We had a wonderful, peaceful time flitting between the sauna, cold shower and plunge pool. Alice was the perfect host. We're already planning our next visit."

  • Helen A

    “I had the most amazing experience in Oakwood, Leeds last night with my friends.

    We booked the 75-minute sauna and cold plunge experience, and from the moment we arrived, Alice the owner made us feel so welcome and relaxed. She explained everything properly, including the benefits of using the hot sauna alongside the cold plunge, which made the whole experience feel really special and mindful.

    Honestly, it didn’t even feel like we were in Leeds. Alice’s garden is absolutely beautiful and feels like a hidden gem tucked away from the busy world. The atmosphere was peaceful, calming, and exactly what we needed.

    We left feeling refreshed, relaxed, and completely reset.

    I also had one of the best night’s sleeps afterwards.

    Such a lovely experience and I can’t wait to go back. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to unwind and do something good for both body and mind.


  • Anna C

    I’ve recently had some cold contrast therapy sessions with Alice at the wonderful Songbird Sanctuary and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Alice is a gentle, encouraging and knowledgeable teacher who helped me through the cold plunge element with her calm and assured guidance, especially around the breathwork (the breathing exercises really help!). I always come away from Alice’s sessions feeling energised and positive. It’s in a beautiful setting too - the sauna and cold plunge are surrounded by trees and wildlife, so it feels like you’re miles away from anywhere, yet it’s just a few miles from the centre of Leeds, close to Roundhay Park.

  • Private Group

    “Thanks for your message and for being such a welcoming host - we genuinely had a wonderful time. Peaceful, healthy and gentle fun was just what we all needed.”