Runners are very good at putting their bodies through a lot, and not always quite as good at slowing down afterwards. That, in a sentence, is why TEMZ exists, and why it has quickly become a favourite with people who like to finish a riverside run somewhere a little different.
TEMZ is a floating sauna and cold-plunge experience on the River Thames. It brings together the heat of a traditional sauna, cold-water immersion and some very special riverside settings, creating a space where people can recover, socialise, switch off and try something new. Rosie Paige, who manages the Hampton Court site, describes it simply: feeling good doesn't need to be complicated.
A Nordic idea on the Thames
TEMZ grew out of a love of the outdoors and wellbeing, and the idea of bringing the Nordic sauna and cold-water tradition to the Thames. The first location opened at The Lensbury in Teddington in early winter 2025, followed by Hampton Court at The Mitre in summer 2026. It is still a young business, but the community around it is growing quickly.
The founders, Amy and Eddy, both come from the world of sport. Amy played professional rugby for more than ten years, competing at two Olympic Games, three World Cups and two Commonwealth Games, and has worked in fitness and coaching alongside an engineering degree from the University of Bath. Eddy has spent more than a decade in the sports sector, organising major international events including the BMW PGA Championship and the Gumball Rally, and supporting mental health and disability charities that use sport to bring communities together.
That shared background shapes everything TEMZ does. The business partners with The Woodpecker Project, a charity that uses exercise and community to encourage people to talk, connect and support one another, and a small team behind Amy and Eddy keeps the saunas running day to day across both sites.
Two very different riversides
Hampton Court is the showpiece. The sauna sits right opposite Hampton Court Palace, so you can sit in the heat looking out over one of the most historic stretches of the river. The surrounding area is excellent for running and cycling too, with the Thames Path, Bushy Park and Home Park all close by.
The Lensbury in Teddington has a completely different feel. It sits within the hotel's riverside grounds, surrounded by sport and activity, and with the Thames Path running alongside it is an easy place to combine a run, walk or training session with time in the sauna and cold plunge.
At both sites, Rosie and the team are starting to see regulars build TEMZ into their weekly routines, which is exactly the kind of community they set out to create.
What happens behind the calm
From the inside, a floating sauna looks wonderfully peaceful. What most visitors never see is how much goes into operating one safely on a working river. "It might look incredibly peaceful when you're sitting inside looking out across the river, but behind the scenes there's a lot involved in keeping everything running safely and smoothly," Rosie says.
The river also keeps the team on their toes. Weather and water conditions are two things nobody can control, and Rosie admits that is the hardest part of the job. Yet the rainy days often turn into the best sessions. "There's something pretty satisfying about sitting in a hot sauna while it's pouring with rain outside."
What she enjoys most is the people. TEMZ welcomes complete sauna beginners, runners recovering from training and regulars who come every week, and some arrive for a quiet hour watching the river while others bring friends and make it social. Watching someone turn up stressed or tired and leave completely refreshed, she says, never gets old.
The runner's order
If you only book one thing, Rosie recommends a sauna and cold-plunge session at Hampton Court with a running mate. Alternate between the heat and the cold, then finish by sitting in the sauna looking across the Thames towards the palace. "That's the full TEMZ experience."
The location makes it easy to earn. Bushy Park parkrun is right on the doorstep, and a Saturday morning 5K followed by the sauna and cold plunge makes for a very good start to the weekend. For longer outings, the Thames Path around Hampton Court and Teddington lets you build anything from a short riverside loop to a long run past Bushy Park, Kingston and Richmond, depending on how adventurous you feel.
Rosie's advice
"Don't make recovery an afterthought," she says. Training consistently matters, but so does giving your body time to recover and giving yourself time to switch off properly.
If you are new to cold immersion, there is nothing to prove. Start gradually, listen to your body and build your tolerance over time. TEMZ is not just for serious athletes or experienced sauna-goers either, and nobody expects you to be an expert in cold plunges. Come with a friend, come after a run, or come because you fancy doing something different.
Find TEMZ on RLS
TEMZ is keen to get more involved with London's running community, so keep an eye out for community sessions, offers and collaborations.
Open the Run Love Sprint app and visit the RLS Rewards partner directory to read more about TEMZ, see both locations and stay up to date with anything new for members.
TEMZ Floating Saunas Hampton Court (The Mitre) and Teddington (The Lensbury) Email: hamptoncourt@temzfloatingsaunas.com
Not on Run Love Sprint yet? Download the app to find people to run with across London.
