A float tank is a large, enclosed bath of warm water with a lot of Epsom salt dissolved in it. There's so much salt that you lie on the surface without trying. You don't swim, and you don't need to hold yourself up. You lie back and the water does it.
At Float Planet, each float tank is in its own private room on Dale Street in Liverpool city centre, with its own shower. You have the room to yourself for your whole float.
Yes. Sensory deprivation tank is another name for the same thing. It comes from what happens when the lid is closed and the light is off: there's very little to see or hear.
The name puts some people off, because it sounds like something is being taken away from you. In practice it's a quiet room and warm water. You decide how much you shut out. The lid can stay open for your whole float and the light can stay on.
Epsom salt. It makes the water much denser than a bath or the sea, so your body sits on top of it. You float on your back, and you don't need to be a strong swimmer.
The water is warm and still. We filter it between every float through a fine 1 micron filter, and treat it with UV light and hydrogen peroxide. Every guest showers before getting in.
Physically, it feels like lying down with nothing pressing on you. No mattress under your shoulders, no chair under your back. The water holds you evenly.
Beyond that, it's different for different people, and different from one float to the next. Some people settle quickly. Some spend a while getting comfortable, moving their arms, or going over their day. Some doze off. None of that is doing it wrong.
What you do get is time with less coming in. Your phone stays outside the room. Nobody needs a reply from you. There's nothing to watch or catch up on.
This is the most common worry, and it's a fair one. You don't have to clear your mind to float.
Switching off isn't something you can force. Trying hard to relax tends to keep you busy. It comes, when it comes, from not trying. So you lie back, let your thoughts carry on if they want to, and leave it there. There's nothing to get right.
If total silence feels unfamiliar, you can leave the music on for your first float.
No. You can leave the lid open and the light on for the whole session. You can change your mind halfway through, and you can step out whenever you like. You're in control of the room the whole time.
You choose 60 or 75 minutes. Single floats start from £55, with no membership needed.
Float Planet is at 97 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2JD. We've been floating guests here since November 2018. First floats are at 10am Tuesday to Friday and 12pm on Saturday. The last float is at 6pm.
If you're searching for a float tank or a sensory deprivation tank near me in Liverpool, this is where to try one. We'll show you your room and explain everything before you start, then leave you to it.
Choose 60 or 75 minutes and pick a time that suits you. Everything is provided, so you only need to bring yourself, and a case if you wear contact lenses.
Book a float through our website.
