FORGET SLEEP SYNCING or facial yoga, outdoor bathing is the new self-care. From rudimentary lo-fi showers to luxe roll-top bathtubs, zen-worthy soaks are fast becoming the new status symbol. On TikTok, #outdoorbathing has 31.7 million views and counting. Not only does it look rather fabulous – tin and copper tubs will better withstand the British weather, FYI – you can also reap the benefits of cold-water immersion, such as better sleep and improved metabolism, from the privacy of your own home. No smug lido selfie required.

Journalist Lena De Casparis recently installed an outdoor bath in the Leyton home she shares with her boyfriend and two daughters. ‘The decision to put a bath in the garden was by far one of the best in our whole renovation. We’re a big bathing family – me and my two girls all love taking baths as a family and separately. We bought it for £25 off Facebook Marketplace and got our handyman to sand it down, re-enamel it and paint the outside too.’ Not only do they use it to cool off on warm days as well as helping to water the surrounding plants, it’s also proven unexpectedly functional for her family’s day-to-day. ‘I often find bathtime antisocial as it involves sitting in a bathroom away from cooking dinner or guests who are often around the kitchen table. This means bathtime can happen while the evening revelry carries on.’

Looking to dip your toe in the water? Happily, you don’t need acres of land. But you do need to think about logistics. ‘The main thing to consider is how to get water to it. It will need both hot and cold. This can be achieved by running a hosepipe from a tap connected to the outside wall of a house, if it’s one that has both hot and cold water,’ says Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk), whose signature tin tubs are popular for backyard bathing. ‘To empty, you could either direct the water straight to a drain or let it soak into the garden, as you would a paddling pool. Alternatively, a plumber can hook the bath up to the water pipes for hot water on tap and, potentially, for drainage too.’

Not only is the allure of al fresco bathtime influencing our home improvement ideas, it’s dictating our travel plans too. For boutique rental site Kip Hideaways (kiphideaways.com) it’s become a driver for bookings. From treehouses in Dartmoor to forest cabins in Shropshire, over a third of its properties now offer an open-air bathing situation. ‘[Demand] has grown hugely and it’s year-round,’ says Jessy Harrison, head of PR. ‘It’s partly the social media effect, partly from a wellness point of view.’

At Aller Dorset (allerdorset.com), a fashionable hideaway of shepherd’s huts in Dorset, its freestanding outdoor bathtubs, festooned with fairy lights and in bold, Instagram-friendly hues, have become its USP. ‘The baths are undeniably a big feature and are considered a significant part of what makes our huts so distinctive,’ says founder Cat Earp. ‘Guests enjoy the novelty of it, the peace and quiet, being at one with nature and also the fun. When people arrive, they often mention their excitement for the baths first, never fazed by the weather.’ Not only does it add to the overall R&R, it’s a good way to road-test whether you want to recreate one at home. Go on, take the plunge.