I wonder if there are any places in London where you can spa naked as a mixed couple? Ole Pettersen

Times Online spa expert, Miranda Allard responds:The quick answer to your question is “no” and certainly not mixed. This is down to two reasons. One is hygiene and the other is a straightforward case of our bashful British culture.

Having worked with spas in Central and Eastern Europe I am well aware that in these areas it is considered to be unhygienic to enter a sauna or steam room with anything more than a towel. The opinion is that when all the salts and toxins are excreted through the skin it is unpleasant to catch and harbour this “dirt” within a bathing costume. However one should sit on a towel to maintain cleanliness for the next person who will be occupying your spot. In the UK it is the other way around – we feel we should catch our own waste products within our bathing suits and shower off in private.

I do believe that the main issue is one of culture and we just don’t, and never have, gone public with nudity apart from a few naturist colonies. London today is a very mixed cultural bag and we aim not to offend whenever possible and the reality is that we can’t go wrong if we keep our clothes on!

I have noticed that some spas overseas, where nudity is normal practice, are actually beginning to offer facilities to segregate men and women in the hope that the growing market of guests from the UK will be more comfortable with nudity in a non-mixed environment. But in answer to your question for mixed, nude spas in London I am afraid it is a strong case of “when in Rome...”

Miranda Allard runs SpaContacts.com which features a limited selection of spas invited by her to join

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