The best sound baths in London
First there was yoga, then came acupuncture, cold water therapy and the Headspace app. But now, busy Londoners seeking respite from the chaos of city life are increasingly turning to sound baths for some much-needed zen time. First thing's first: there's no actual bathing involved. This new wellness trend is a fully-clothed experience in which expert sound therapists work with various instruments to guide you into a meditative state. The different frequencies emitted by gongs, crystals and Tibetan bowls work to soothe the mind and heal the body, stimulating the brainwave frequencies associated with total relaxation and switching on the nervous system's repair mode.
The 'bathing' element refers to immersing the body in harmonious sound – all you need to do is to lie down, get comfy and listen. Little wonder it's become so popular. But beyond forcing you to slow down and relax, this ancient practice has numerous physical and mental health benefits, including better sleep, improved mood and reduced stress.
Below, we've rounded up the definitive list of the best sound baths in London, from the big names to know (and follow religiously) to ultra-spoiling private sessions in luxury hotels, intimate experiences in boutique fitness studios and group events in some of London's most spectacular venues.
The Wellness Foundry
Set up by fashion designer-turned Tarot master and psychic artist Fiongal Greenlaw, The Wellness Foundry specialises in spiritual guidance in all its forms. Most recently, the London-based company has added sound healing expert Nyomi Gray sound healing to its roster of global practitioners. Offering private sessions both virtually and in person in London, Gray draws on her musical training to deliver ‘intuitive’ sound baths specifically tailored to each client’s needs – whether that be energising, healing, pain relief or therapeutic relaxation, achieved through a combination of traditional Tibetan singing bowls, chimes and tuning forks as well as voice and breath work.
Website: wellnessfoundry.co.uk
180 Health Club
London’s latest creative hub 180 The Strand is well known for its exhibitions, buzzy co-working space and regular glitzy events, but less for its health club. Open to members only, it offers a packed timetable of fitness classes, the latest wellness tech such as cryotherapy and ozone saunas, and mid-week sound baths. Held by the ethereal Lauren from Saiki on the peaceful top floor of the club, the ‘Unplugged’ sessions are a wonderful mid-week treat that use gongs, singing bowls and chimes to lure you into a deep, meditative state – and prep you for a good night’s sleep.
Website: 180thestrand.com
Crystal Sound Lounge
With workplace stress at an all-time high, many companies are trying to combat it by offering wellbeing experiences to employees – including sound baths. The name to know? Crystal Sound Lounge, London’s leading private sound meditation brand that helps clients ‘lie down, listen and let go’. They’ve worked with everyone from Chanel and Soho House to big banking firms, setting up their qualified practitioners in office spaces and private venues all over London, gongs included. You can book private group sessions, which make a great (and unique) birthday gift for a stressed-out loved one, or even a Sunday treat for when you’re feeling too lazy to leave the house.
Website: crystalsoundlounge.com
Leo Cosendai
Swiss-born Leo Cosendai is the veritable OG of London’s sound bath scene and undoubtedly the man responsible for its recent boom. An author, teacher and celebrity favourite, he is all about combatting stress and making meditation accessible through the transformative power of sound – whether via in-person events or his hugely successful ‘Third Ear’ app (a commuter favourite). Naturally, he’s very in demand and constantly travelling around the world – gong collection in tow – to host seminars and retreats everywhere from Six Senses hotels to the Sahara desert, but keep an eye on his Instagram for the occasional London-based event. Think spectacular 100-person sound baths in the Natural History Museum as well as more intimate experiences at OM, the new sound bath destination at The Other House in South Kensington.
Website: leocosendai.com
Simone Salvatici
A talented composer, multi-instrumentalist and classically trained musician, Simone Salvatici has an innate understanding of the sonic arts, which led him to specialise in sound therapy almost a decade ago. He has been hosting immersive sound bath meditations all over London (and beyond) ever since, racking up a loyal coterie of followers thanks to his unique combination of hypnotic singing and trance-like Gongs in particularly epic locations. Think full moon sound meditations in evocative North London churches, invigorating yoga and gong bath combos beneath the Natural History Museum’s iconic blue whale skeleton, and even overnight back-to-back sessions lasting from 10pm through to the morning (with breakfast at the end).
Website: sselvatico.com
Cloud Twelve
Only Notting Hill could be home to somewhere like Cloud Twelve, a wellness and lifestyle hub spanning an indulgent spa, salon, cutting-edge wellness clinic and members-only kids club. It’s pretty genius: a one-stop-shop for those needing some ‘me time’ – with the added benefit of childcare just downstairs. Leave the little ones in safe hands and escape for a spoiling, hour-long sound bath with in-house expert Svetlana. She uses a combination of bells, percussion, singing bowls and gongs to create deep, resonating vibrations and guide you into a state of meditation that will do wonders for your physical and mental health.
Website: cloudtwelve.co.uk
ARON_KLEIN WWW.ARONKLEIN.CO.UKRe:Sound at Re:Mind Studio
Calm comes naturally at Re:Mind, London’s first meditation-only studio hidden away in Victoria’s chic Eccleston Yards enclave. Bathed in natural light and filled with plants, Himalayan lamps, plush cushions and herbal tea on tap, the space is perfectly decked out for a much-needed escape from the frenetic capital. There are multiple 50-minute ‘sound healing’ experiences on the timetable each week, so you can explore the transformative effects of everything from crystal bowls and tuning forks to traditional gongs in one place. Each class is limited to an intimate 12 people, and there are private, one-to-one sessions on offer too. Expect to leave feeling warm, fuzzy and deeply relaxed.
Website: remindstudio.com
The Mandrake
Luxury London hotel The Mandrake is the first in the world to offer a ‘Spiritual Wellbeing Concierge’ service, providing guests with a curated selection of rituals to be enjoyed from the comfort of their rooms. Happily, their ‘Soundscape Alchemy’ programme is available to book for non-residents too and features a variety of sound bath experiences – from individual ‘Sound Frequency Alignment’ sessions to a cosmic sound journey that uses ancient gongs and healing instruments to ‘awaken dormant energies’. The hotel also regularly hosts well-known practitioners including the Mystic Sisters and Annica Sound for public sessions combining Reiki, crystal healing and sound therapy.
Website: themandrake.com
Sound Awakening
Louise Shiels, founder of Sound Awakening and seasoned sound healer, is one of those rare people that you instantly trust. Her soothing demeanour, desire to nurture and intuitive skill with various instruments mean her sound baths are some of the most special around – not to mention the fact that they are regularly held in Stoke Newington’s ultra-chic Soma Studio. Sessions begin with a short Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) practice, as you are encouraged to ‘simply rest and receive’ – while some also make use of cacao to help disperse blockages around the heart and allow the sound vibrations to penetrate deeper. Shiels also hosts ‘afternoon nap’ sessions each Wednesday via Zoom (as divine as they sound), as well as restful retreats in Norfolk and the Cotswolds.
Website: soundawakening.co.uk
BLOKsound at BLOK London
A boutique luxury gym in Clapton, East London, BLOK aims to strengthen both body and mind by offering a variety of fitness classes alongside yoga, pilates and sound baths. California-born David Tran is the studio’s resident ‘Gong Guy’ who leads hour-long BLOK sound sessions weekly to ‘stimulate the alpha and theta brainwave frequencies associated with meditative, clear and peaceful states of mind.’ Even better, Tran often teaches a yoga class beforehand too, so you can double up and take care of both body and mind in one go.
Website: bloklondon.com
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
One of London's finest and most spoiling spas, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park boasts a vast wellness menu that now includes treatments with in-house sound therapist Leah Powell. Day visitors and in-house guests can book private sessions with the certified practitioner, who is renowned for creating transformational and profound healing experiences. Powell uses ancient gongs and crystal singing bowls to ease even the most sceptical clients into deep meditation, altered states of consciousness and cellular regeneration in luxurious settings.
Website: mandarinoriental.com
The Wellness Clinic at Harrods
Some of the finest remedial, aesthetic and wellbeing specialists come together under one roof at the sparkling new Wellness Clinic at Harrods, including the recent addition of sound healing resident Harriet Emily. Softly spoken, calm and confident, her presence alone is enough to melt away the day’s stresses – but it’s her one-to-one and group sessions lasting a blissful 75 minutes that instil a lingering sense of zen. Emily fills her private Sound Sanctuary with cloud-like mats, soft blankets and cosmic-inspired lights to create the perfect environment to switch off and enjoy the vibrations she creates using Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, chimes and gongs.
Website: harrods.com