Booking your first float is the easy part. It's the run-up that fills with questions — what do I wear, what if I can't switch off, what actually happens in there for a whole hour?
All perfectly normal questions, and you're in good company. Many of the people who float with us are complete first-timers, and more than 350 of our guests have left five-star reviews — most of them started exactly where you are now. So here's the honest, step-by-step walkthrough we'd give you at reception, from parking on Chapel Lane to the unhurried feeling most guests describe on the drive home.
Before you arrive
A little light preparation goes a long way, and none of it is complicated. We've written a fuller guide on how to prepare for a float, but the essentials are these.
Don't shave or wax on the day of your float. The water is rich in Epsom salt, and salt water has a way of finding freshly shaved skin. Leave a little time and you won't notice a thing.
Skip the fresh hair dye and false tan, too. The water is very good at lifting both, which is bad news for your colour and for our pod, so leave a decent gap after either. Very new tattoos are on the avoid list too — give fresh ink time before you float.
Go gently on caffeine. There's no rule against your usual morning coffee, but arriving wired makes the settling-in part slower than it needs to be. Something light to eat an hour or two beforehand is ideal — floating hungry is distracting, and floating very full isn't much better.
One more note, relevant to a small number of people: if you have a condition that could affect floating safely — epilepsy, a heart condition, asthma, a skin condition, allergies, very low blood pressure or certain mental health conditions — have a word with your GP before booking. Floating may suit earlier pregnancy, but we don't float guests beyond 35 weeks.
Arriving at the studio
We're at 82 Chapel Lane in Wilmslow, open 9am to 9pm every day, and there's free on-street parking on Chapel Lane and the surrounding roads — so give yourself a few unhurried minutes to park and wander in.
Your 60-minute float sits inside a visit of roughly 90 minutes, and that extra half hour is deliberate. It gives you time to arrive without rushing, shower before and after, and get dressed at your own pace. Nobody hovers outside the door.
Every first-timer gets a proper walkthrough before their session. We'll show you your room, explain how everything works and answer whatever is on your mind. No question is too small — we've heard them all, and the slightly sheepish ones are usually the best ones.
Getting ready
You'll have a private float room to yourself, with your own shower. Once the door closes, the space is entirely yours.
Shower first — a quick rinse to take off the day's moisturiser, make-up and hair products, which keeps the water pristine. We provide vegan-friendly toiletries, so all you really need to bring is a towel (or hire one of ours for £2).
As for what to wear: most guests float without anything at all. It sounds bold until you remember the room is completely private — and swimwear tends to create little points of pressure and distraction that you notice far more in the pod than you ever would in a pool. That said, it's your float. If you're more comfortable in swimwear, wear it.
The float itself, hour by feel
Step in, lie back, and the water does the rest. It's warm and so rich with Epsom salt that floating is effortless — there's no technique to learn and no swimming involved. The water simply holds you.
The first twenty minutes. Expect to fidget. Almost everyone does on their first float. You'll adjust your arms — some people rest them by their sides, others settle them loosely above their head — your neck will take a while to trust the water, and your mind will probably produce a to-do list out of nowhere. All of this is completely normal. It's your body slowly working out that, for once, it doesn't have to do anything at all.
The middle stretch. Somewhere past that settling-in period, most people find things become quieter. The line between where your body ends and the water begins starts to soften. Thoughts still come and go, but they tend to arrive with less urgency. Don't try to force a blank mind — chasing silence is a reliable way to stay busy. Just follow your breathing and let thoughts drift past like traffic on a distant road.
And you stay in control throughout. The pod door never locks, you can keep the lid open if you prefer, and you can sit up, get out or take a break at any point. If enclosed spaces are the thing making you hesitate, that deserves a proper answer of its own — we've written one: is float therapy claustrophobic?
Afterwards
Once your hour is up, there's still no rush. Shower again — thoroughly this time, because Epsom salt is enthusiastic about staying in hair — then get dressed at your own pace.
As for how you'll feel, people describe it differently. Guests tell us about loose shoulders, a pleasantly quiet head, colours seeming a touch brighter, the drive home feeling strangely calm. Some notice it immediately; for others it lands later that evening as a deep night's sleep. However it arrives, give yourself a soft landing — if you can, avoid scheduling anything demanding straight afterwards.
The quick answers
- How long is it? 60 minutes in the pod; allow about 90 minutes for the whole visit.
- What do I bring? Just a towel, or hire one of ours for £2. Toiletries are provided.
- What do I wear? Most guests float without clothing — the room is completely private. Swimwear is fine if you prefer.
- What should I avoid beforehand? Shaving or waxing on the day, fresh hair dye, false tan, very new tattoos, and too much caffeine.
- Can I stop at any time? Yes. The door never locks and you're in control from start to finish.
If there's anything else on your mind, our FAQs page covers the lot.
Your second and third float
Here's the thing experienced floaters tend to agree on: your first float is the introduction, not the main event. Part of that first hour is spent learning — where your arms go, how the water behaves, what real quiet sounds like. By your second float, the novelty has worn off in the best possible way; your body remembers the position and settles far faster. By the third, many people find they reach that deep, quiet middle stretch within minutes rather than twenty.
That's exactly why our Intro to Float Therapy pack exists: three 60-minute floats for £99, a £45 saving on booking them individually at £48 each. It's for new customers, it's valid for twelve months, and it's for your own use — so there's no pressure to rush the sessions. If you'd like a feel for how those early floats tend to unfold, we've written about navigating your first three sessions too.
Ready when you are
That's the whole picture — no mysteries left, we hope. When you're ready, you'll find everything you need on our float therapy page, with current prices and packs here. And if you'd rather talk to a human first, call us on 07810 145975 — walking first-timers through their first float is genuinely one of the best parts of the job.