ACCESSIBILITY

HACKNEY BATHS SAUNA

Wheel Chair Access:

Our site does not have any accessible parking.

At the moment, none of the saunas are wheelchair accessible - the majority of them have a few steps in, with one having a sloped entrance (however a narrow door).

The changing rooms are around 15-20 meters away from the sloped entrance sauna.

LIFT IS CURRENTLY OUT OF USE AND WAITING FOR REPAIR (Updated February 2025) For the cafe and outdoor space, there is lift access at the building entrance, and another one down to the lower level, at the main stairs, directly in view on entrance. From there through the dance hall, and the fire doors straight ahead to access concrete surface of the garden, then right into the sauna area.

General access info:

There are 7 steps into the building, and then a short walk through the cafe and down a corridor, through a set of fire doors with a small lip and then, 7 steps down to the sauna area.

The (cold) showers are step free. There are no hot showers.

The cold water barrels have several steps up and you lower yourself onto the seat inside; whereas the plunges have no seat.

The cold water bath tubs have a lip that is around 50cm high and you lower yourself inside of them.

The outdoor individual changing areas have a small lip and then one step up. There are chairs in each cubicle.

There is seating available outside, as well as in the separate indoor cafe area.

The ground is a mix of cement, grated plastic drainage mats and pallet wood - there is a slight lip where the pallets are placed.

The ground is wet and sometimes water logged. We recommend you wear flip flops/shoes outside.

The Sauna area is outdoors with low level lighting (festoons and fairy lights).

There are toilets in the cafe area, including an accessible toilet.

Our appreciation goes to Dot, who helped in collating this information, for the Camp Trans Sauna Events.

STRATFORD SAUNA

General access info:

Getting Here

  • 210m from Stratford International Station and accessible via Stratford Station through Westfield.

  • Both stations have step-free access.

  • The DLR runs between the two stations (1 stop).

  • Closest car park: Westfield Car Park C (400m, Blue Badge bays available).

  • Nearest on-road Blue Badge parking: Salway Road, E15 1NF (1km away).

  • We may be able to provide on-site parking between 9am–5pm — email wolfy@community-sauna.co.uk in advance.

Entrance & Facilities

  • Step-free entrance. Ground is a mix of decking, concrete, rubber matting and woodchip.

  • Lockers have a small lip; shelving for non-valuables in the accessible changing room. Valuables can be stored securely by staff.

Saunas

  • Beryl (largest sauna):

    • Wheelchair accessible

    • Space for 1 wheelchair and 150x150cm turning circle

    • Handrail inside from door to lowest bench (2.4m)

  • Brenda (2nd largest):

    • Two steps up and two inside (highest step 30cm)

  • Iona (silent sauna):

    • Four steps to platform + one step down (highest step 22cm)

  • All saunas are within 5–7m of the plunges. No handrail support outside.

Showers & Plunge Pools

  • Step-free access to cold showers.

  • One warm shower in the accessible changing room, via short ramp.

  • Plunges are not step-free:

    • Large plunges: 5 steps up + 1 down (highest step 33cm), handrail + 3-rung ladder (30cm gaps).

    • Bath plunge: 50cm lip, no handrail.

Toilets & Changing

  • Wheelchair accessible toilet in the decompression zone (14m from entrance, flat decking + short ramp).

  • 6 cubicle changing rooms (small step up), plus:

    • One wheelchair accessible shower/changing room

    • Option to change in accessible toilet

Lighting & Noise

  • Low-level festoon lighting.

  • Contrast edging helps with visibility on drops (~10cm).

  • The site is generally quiet, with occasional construction or road noise.

  • Quiet talking expected in saunas; Iona is our only silent sauna.

  • No induction loop. Staff are not BSL fluent.

Seating

  • Limited seating available — please ask staff if you'd like a chair.

Mobility Aids & Medication

  • No mobility aids on site — feel free to bring your own.

  • Staff can store and safeguard personal equipment or medication (e.g. EpiPens) outside the sauna if needed.

  • Wheelchairs are typically stored outdoors or in our storage unit during bad weather.

Guide Dogs

Children & Babies

  • Children are welcome but must be supervised at all times.

  • Baby changing unit in the accessible shower.

  • Pushchairs can be stored like wheelchairs (see above). More info here.

Medical Info

  • First-aid trained staff always on site.

  • We can access your emergency contact/health info if you’ve provided it through your account.

  • Nearest A&E: Homerton Hospital, E9 6SR.

  • Please speak to your GP if you have long-term health conditions.

Feedback or suggestions?

We’re always working to improve accessibility. Email Hannah-Lily at hannahlily@community-sauna.co.uk with any feedback.

PECKHAM SAUNA

Number of steps or ramps to site - No steps to enter the site however the ground is uneven and occasionally muddy. Peckham sauna is not step free, Glengall garden is but it has uneven and muddy flooring 

To the saunas - Both saunas require steps to get inside. 2 steps for the shepherds hut and 2 for the Horse box. 

Plunge - No steps on approach to the plunges but requires lifting and lowering of oneself to access the water 

changing room - Changing rooms all have one step

Showers - Both showers have one step 

Lockers - Locker access is step free (Staff can help with assigning easiest lockers for guests to use) 

Hot shower - No hot shower or hot running water at Glengall 

Info about any doors - Sauna doors are both Push/Pull doors with a roller catch so no handle lifting or turning required

Changing room doors are saloon style doors with no handles. They swing back to a shut position when not held

Toilet door is a traditional handle operated door on a light aluminium door

Lifts - N/A 

Toilets Accessibility - Toilet access is step free but ground leading up to the toilet can be uneven and occasionally muddy 

Parking close by - There is paid parking on Glengall road. There is then however a small walk down and then uphill to get to the official garden entrance. 

Dry place to leave a wheelchair or other aid - Yes with the aid of Staff members

BERMONDSEY SAUNA

Curb and slope from street up into the site.

Curb step down from the slope into the sauna yard.

Flat level entrance at the back of the sauna site through the back gate that can be opened wide.

Ring sauna buzzer and ask staff to show the way to the back gate through the yard car park.

Sauna yard flat concrete surface with black rubber mats for grip.

Backless benches and chairs to sit on.Big step up to changing rooms, no hand rail.

Two big steps up into showers, no had rail.

One step up into toilet, no hand rail.Two big steps up to horse box sauna with hand rail on left side.

Two steps inside sauna to benches.Lip and doorframe step up into barrel sauna, no hand rail.

Three steps up into big sauna with hand rail on both sides.

Low level benches accessible on either side and close to the door.Two long metal bathtub cold plunge, no hand rail.

One small metal bathtub cold plunge, no hand rail.

One big square cold plunge with three steps up to it and a hand rail on the right side.

If you have any accessibility related questions, please do not hesitate to email us on support@community-sauna.co.uk