New Year is the time when we love to embark on a “new life,” all matters have been postponed until January, and there’s no turning back. Today, I won’t write about recovering from long holidays, feasts, and alcohol intoxication. Instead, I’d like to offer advice—cultivate new beneficial habits in 2024. If you already have three

Immerse yourself in the warmth of camaraderie and the steam of tradition with these ten transformative social wellness experiences at the Russian Banya. In an increasingly digital and isolated world, the timeless practices of communal steam baths offer an organic escape and a unique opportunity to strengthen social bonds. From invigorating rituals to shared meals

Korean spas and Russian banyas both focus on social wellness and sauna experiences. Korean spas provide a modern, family-friendly environment, while Russian banyas—equally welcoming to families—offer a deeply rooted tradition known for its invigorating effects, detoxification, stress relief, and rejuvenation. This article explores and compares these two unique experiences. In recent years, both Korean spas

Award-winning journalist Janice Turner received a visit to a Banya No.1 – Hoxton as a birthday present from her sons and described her experience in The Times column. Like many of our guests, she experienced a bit of cultural shock when first introduced to the intense heat and leafy branches of our signature Parenie Ritual.

Banya is not like going to a regular spa – it’s a transformative wellbeing experience that has to be seen to be understood. Banya No.1 is bringing the best of this unique, Russian tradition to locations around the world, starting in London, and our co-founder, Andrei Fomin, advocates for its benefits around the world. In

Another birthday, anniversary or Christmas is on the horizon, and you have no idea what to buy. You want something personal but not predictable; meaningful but not complicated. That’s where a spa gift comes in — a thoughtful experience that suits anyone: your friend, partner, colleague or parent. At Banya No.1 – Hoxton, we believe

The naked sauna has always been more than heat and steam. Across cultures it symbolises freedom, equality and community. For newcomers in the UK, it can feel unusual – but once you understand the history and etiquette, the experience quickly makes sense. This guide explores naked sauna traditions and nude sauna culture, from Russian banya

Every November, the UK participates in International Stress Awareness Week – a time to pause, reflect and act on one of the most pervasive issues of modern life: stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, juggling work, city life or parenting – a step into the heat of the steam, the calm of wood and the ritual

I spent my gap year in Moscow learning Russian. With not a jot of the language to get by on and taken aback by the freezing weather, my world shrunk to calendar-watching and English-language books. It was a difficult experience by most measures. I stayed for the winter and left in spring when the snow

What do Justin Bieber, Kate Moss, Bridget Jones and Jamie Laing all have in common?They’ve all enjoyed getting hit with hot birch, oak and eucalyptus twigs by a lovely semi-naked Russian man at the Banya No.1 Russian Bath Club near Old Street.
We were greeted with towels and an extremely flattering felt hat and, once we’d…

Jet lag can occur any time you travel quickly over two or three time zones and symptoms are likely to include disturbed sleep, daytime tiredness and difficulty concentrating. It may take a few days to fully recover and the more time zones you’ve crossed while travelling, the worse you’re likely to feel. Evidence shows that

The assignment was to discover the ultimate truth about hangover cures. Who does one ask about such things? I tried Andrei Fomin. After all, I reasoned, Andrei used to run nightclubs all over London – Propaganda in Wardour Street, that was him – plus he has a lot of witchy knowledge about herbs that his