When life gets tough, a spa is where I go to relax and forget about life for a few hours. Whether it’s having a swim in one of the pools, detoxifying in a steam room, or destressing with a full body massage, nothing beats a good spa day. When I think of a spa, rarely

From where to go to why to try it… Russian banyas are undoubtedly one of the most Instagrammable spa trends out there, with countless influencers recommending the ‘Parenie’ treatment for its health benefits as well as the photo opportunities, but what does it actually entail? Looking up Russian bathhouses in London, l landed on Banya

Anyone who’s been following Girl on the River for a while will know I am a passionate convert to saunas and their beneficial effects, ever since I raced in Finland a couple of years ago and a lakeside sauna session transformed me from a wobbly, aching, potentially-injured mess to good as new. Since then I’ve

We’re just going to go ahead and say it. It’s been too long since somebody last thrashed your naked body with a bunch of twigs. So to remedy this immediately, we suggest that you take yourself off to Hoxton, head into Banya No.1, and settle in for a three-hour, full-body detox session. With twigs. For

Banya No.1 is a traditional Russian spa club based in central London, offering organic spa treatments, wellness rituals and well-appointed steam and sauna facilities. Our editor, Joy Joses, went along to review, and after three hours of rejuvenating spa therapy and an unusual treatment involving being thrashed with a bouquet of leaves (!), she is

Looking for something completely different? Look no further. I have just discovered Banya No.1, a wonderful Russian bath and wellness spa that offers invigorating organic treatments like no other. If you like spa treatments in London, this is definitely one to check out. Banya has been around for centuries and is very popular in Russian