Practical advice for choosing, installing and caring for your wooden hot tub.

The Garden Soak Guide

Planning a hot tub for your garden? Explore straightforward guides to heating options, running costs, wood care and installation. From choosing between a wood-fired stove and a heat pump to planning for restricted garden access, find answers to the questions that come up before you buy.

running costs, Heating units

Why a Hot Tub Could Be Your Holiday Let’s Best Next Investment

nic carr • Oct 26, 2026

A cottage with a private hot tub offers guests something easy to picture: a day exploring the countryside, followed by a warm soak under the evening sky. For holiday homeowners, that experience has a clear commercial appeal. Hot tubs are among the most searched-for property features on the Sykes website, according to its 2025 Staycation Index....

Heating units

Wood-Fired or Heat-Pump Hot Tub: Which Heating Option Is Right for You?

Birchwells Spas • Oct 19, 2026

The right heating system depends on how you want to use your hot tub. A wood-fired stove gives you the atmosphere of a real fire, while a heat pump can keep the water at your chosen temperature, ready when you are. For many owners, the choice comes down to convenience, running costs and whether burning wood is practical at

running costs, Heating units

Hot Tub Running Costs in the UK: What You'll Actually Pay For

Birchwells Spas • Oct 19, 2026

A hot tub’s running costs are made up of more than its energy use. You’ll also need to account for water treatment, refills and occasional maintenance. The biggest variable is usually how the tub is heated: with electricity or a wood-fired stove. There isn’t one reliable monthly figure for every hot tub. Size, insulation, weather, water...

garden access, flat-pack

Flat-Pack, Sectional or Modular Hot Tub? A Practical Guide to Garden Access

Birchwells Spas • Oct 19, 2026

If you’re searching for a sectional hot tub, a modular hot tub or a hot tub that can get through a narrow side passage, the main question is often the same: how do you get it into the garden without lifting it over the house? A crane can be one solution, but it can add hundreds of pounds to your plans. A flat-pack hot tub offers another option:...