While Banya No.1 opened as recently as 2012, the story of Russian bathhouses in London goes back much further. It all began in Odessa in the 1820s during the Russian Empire. This is when the first anti-Jewish pogroms (targeted anti-Jewish riots) occurred. The reason for these violent attacks was that there had been rumours that … Read more

After Christmas holidays and unlimited food on our tables we all face the same problem of extra weight. Every Russian knows that Banya is one of the best ways to detox. The typical visit to Banya involves a treatment called Parenie – at the steam room with the temperature up to 60-70ºC and full of … Read more

Banya No.1, Islington Where: 17 Micawber Street, London N1 7TB Price: From £45 to use the spa space, treatments extra Apparently, Kate Moss, Liv Tyler and Renée Zellweger have all been for a session here. There are plenty of traditional treatments to try while enjoying the Slavic -style hot room. The plunge pool is a … Read more

Forget the fry-ups and the beer. Here are six ways to sample the city’s more wholesome ways to eat, relax and travel around. But the visitor to Britain is more at risk. Every hostelry, from rural B&Bs to five-star hotels, offers the full English; at the former, you will be asked the night before how … Read more

Many of us see the beginning of the New Year as an opportunity for a fresh start. One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions include health goals like diet, weight loss and regular exercises. However, most people make health resolutions way too hard which leads to quitting them in the first few weeks of … Read more

I do love a good spa experience. A few days ago, I tried something new and exciting which I have never tried before. We visited Banya No. 1, a traditional Russian bath and wellness spa located in a quiet residential area, very close to Old Street. They opened in London in 2012 and have branches … Read more