Always dreamed of bathing al fresco? We’ve found the best bath tubs to install in your garden – and the best holiday accommodation with outdoor baths to sample the luxury before you buy.
Beyond ordinary: immerse yourself in nature with one of these stunning outdoor baths
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We’re all familiar with the sight of a hot tub perched on a patio or nestled in a spot enjoying views of the local landscape… but have you ever considered an outdoor bath? This fairly new trend transplants your usual cleansing routine into the garden, allowing for complete solo relaxation whilst immersed in nature.
As long as you’re able to plumb in hot and cold water, you can create a smart wash station, perhaps on a wooden terrace or tucked inside a rustic outbuilding – or hide your bathtub amongst trees and shrubs for ultimate seclusion. For evening soaks, why not string up some fairy lights or dot solar lanterns around to create a cosy glow?
The best outdoor baths for luxurious al fresco bathing
We’ve searched online to find the best bathtubs to install in your garden. While they’re durable enough to stand up to wear and tear, we recommend keeping them under cover when not in use so they stay looking as good as new.
Copper Bath Tub
If you’ve always dreamed of reclining in a copper bath, now’s your chance to invest in one. Opting for a copper bathtub might just be the best way to get the look of luxury, thanks to its gleaming, warm-toned exterior.
This one is handcrafted with 16 gauge copper, which makes it a high-quality piece designed to stand the test of time.
As it’s made from copper, it will naturally oxidise and form verdigris when exposed to rainwater so we recommend keeping it in a covered area and protecting it with waterproof sheeting when not in use.
Super Deep Double Ended Inset Bath
Buy from Better Bathrooms (£629.97)
If you have a raised decking, rockery or terrace area, a sunken outdoor bath could be ideal. This one is spacious and has a backrest on either side to allow two people to sit across from one another.
It’s also extra deep, so you should be able to fully immerse yourself under the water for complete relaxation outside.
For a smart finishing touch, why not tile around the edge of the tub or build in steps leading up to it?
Japanese Oak Wood Soaking Bath
Buy from Homary (£1529.99)
For something a little different – and a true statement piece – consider this traditional Japanese soaking tub, which has enough depth to completely immerse yourself underwater.
This one is made from high-quality oak, so it’s one of the best outdoor baths to install inside a log cabin or on a covered wooden decking area.
The pack comes with a step stool to make getting in and out easier.
Freestanding Concrete Bath
Buy from Etsy (£2420.00)
Durable and practical, concrete is one of the best materials for an outdoor bath. It’s scratch- and stain-resistant, and it’ll fit right in with modern and rustic homes alike.
To create this bath, the makers have added lightweight microcement to a standard acrylic tub. When you buy it, you can choose your favourite colour, from ultra-pale ‘pearl’ to dark ‘anthracite’.
If you need a specific size, you can contact the brand for a custom order too. The makers even create microcement sinks, tables and chairs to complement the bathtubs, so check out their shop for matching furniture.
Freestanding Double Ended Bath
This elegant tub puts a twist on the classic acrylic baths we all know and love. It has angled sides for extra space and features a smart grooved design for contemporary style.
This bath doesn’t come with pre-drilled holes, so you’re free to install wall-mounted or freestanding taps and relax on either end of the tub.
BC Designs Boat Traditional Freestanding Bath
If you like the look of a metal bath but don’t want the warm tones of a copper tub, this could be one of the best outdoor baths for you. Although it’s handcrafted from 99.5% 15-18 gauge copper, it’s coated all over with polished nickel to give it a shiny silver finish.
In fact, you can buy this bath in four different finishes – copper; copper and nickel; nickel; and tin – giving you plenty of choice over the final look of your outdoor bathing area. All are traditionally handcrafted and have a unique look.
Milano Legend Traditional Roll Top Freestanding Bath
Buy from Big Bathroom Shop (£1274.99)
The Milano Legend could be one of the best outdoor baths for traditional style, as it features the classic roll-top rim and four feet.
It’s also a great option if you want to add a pop of colour to your set-up, as it comes in a range of finishes, from neutral blacks and whites to brighter tones. You can even change the finish of the legs, depending on the type of metal you prefer.
Plus, choose matching taps from the same Milano range. Pre-drilled tap holes don’t come as standard with this tub, but you can drill your own if you don’t want freestanding or wall-mounted taps.
To help boost strength, chip-resistance and heat retention, this bath is made with fibreglass-reinforced acrylic, and hand-finished with a hard-wearing gloss paint, so it’s a great choice for outdoor bathing.
Don’t forget a bathmat!
A wooden duckboard is a practical choice for outdoor bathing, as it’ll cope well with stray leaves and mud. This one from John Lewis is also rubber-coated for extra protection against water splashes.
Made from bamboo, it’s a sustainable choice, and will add a smart look to your outdoor bath set-up.
Holiday accommodation with outdoor baths
To experience the luxury before you invest, why not book yourself a getaway at one of these peaceful retreats? They’re all furnished with their very own outdoor bath.
Hinton Hideaways, Somerset
Hinton Hideaways is a collection of three cosy cabins set in 260 acres of organic Somerset farmland. Choose between The Hide, with a bath in an open-fronted cabin, and The Nest, with both a roll-top bath and a two-person tub.
Travel with a group and you could rent The Hideaway too, which has a private wood-burning hot tub for its guests.
Book Hinton Hideaways via TripAdvisor
Eco Retreats, Machynlleth, Wales
Eco Retreats offers three eco-friendly, off-grid yurts with their own wood-fired outdoor baths. They’re among just five holiday lodges set across 50 acres of land on the owners’ 1,300-acre farm, which is located in the Dyfi forest around five miles from Machynlleth.
There’s no electricity, TV or WiFi, so you can enjoy peaceful walks along the river or mountain bike trails during the day, before returning to your candle-lit yurt for an evening spent around the campfire. You’ll also get cooking facilities, a private eco-loo and the use of organic and sustainable products made by ethical businesses.
Choose Ash Valley Yurt for an outdoor bath, or go for Meadow Yurt if you want the option to shower al fresco too. Alternatively, River Yurt features a riverside bath and outdoor shower for ultimate relaxation.
Book Eco Retreats via TripAdvisor
Humble Bee, Devon
There aren’t many places you can stay to find out what it would be like to live in a towering human-sized beehive – but this holiday lodge is one of them. It has three floors, connected by a spiral staircase and kitted out with a king-size bed, kitchen-diner and even underfloor heating. You’ll find a private outdoor bath on the decking.
While the Humble Bee hive can be booked alongside The Bird Box, The Potting Shed and Lily Pad for groups of up to eight people, it’s tucked away in the woods just outside the Devon village of Okehampton on the northern edge of Dartmoor.
You won’t get WiFi here, but there is phone signal.
Book Humble Bee via Sykes Cottages
Upper Grove Farm, East Suffolk
One for animal-lovers, Upper Grove Farm is home to rare-breed sheep and pigs, as well as guinea fowl, chickens, pheasants, ducks and partridges. The guest accommodation here is “WiFi- and TV-free” for slow living off-grid, but it doesn’t hold back on luxurious touches like memory foam mattresses and rainfall showers.
For a private roll-top bath in the open air, stay in Stackyards, a restored 1950s goods wagon with a king-sized bed, wood-burner and kitchenette. It’s located just 10 miles from the Suffolk Heritage Coast, in seven acres of woodland and 100 acres of farmland, ready to welcome guests on dog walks and countryside adventures.
Book Upper Grove Farm via Booking.com
Woodcutters Cabin, Peak District
For a contemporary holiday let with all the mod-cons, consider this Woodcutters Cabin in the Peak District. Not only does it have an outdoor spa bath on the terrace, but it comes with free WiFi, a fully-equipped kitchen, air conditioning and a flatscreen TV loaded with streaming services.
Outside the cabin, you’ll find a neat garden with an outdoor fireplace, ready for evenings spent outdoors.
This is a compact holiday home, perfect for romantic couples trips or solo retreats.
Book Woodcutters Cabin via Booking.com
For alternative design options, see our guides to the best outdoor showers you can buy and how to create a natural swimming pool or pond in your garden.
Looking for other holiday ideas? See our list of the top Airbnbs with gardens.