Grief Disco
Discover Grief Disco, a welcoming and uplifting space for anyone living with loss. A place to heal, connect and feel grief through music, movement and community.
Perfect For
Grief Disco is for anyone living with loss and looking for a different kind of space to hold it. It’s for people who don’t always have the words, who feel isolated in their grief, or who want to be around others who understand without needing everything explained. It’s for the heartbroken and the hopeful, for people who want somewhere gentle, human and a little unexpected to go with what they’re carrying.
You do not need to be good at dancing. You do not need to be ready to talk. You do not need to arrive in any particular state. You just need permission to come as you are.
Why You’ll Love It
Grief Disco offers something many grieving people are missing: a place to feel less alone without being forced into conversation or expected to “do grief” the right way. Through music, movement and a sense of shared understanding, it creates room for sadness, joy, memory, release and connection to exist together.
This isn’t about dancing to forget. It’s about dancing to remember, to honour and to reconnect. For some people that might look like tears on a dance floor. For others, it might be a small exhale, a moment of laughter, or the relief of being in a room where no one needs grief explained to them.
What Makes It Special
So much of grief can feel isolating. People don’t know what to say, or they say nothing. We can start to feel cut off from ourselves, from our bodies and from other people. What Grief Disco understands is that grief does not only live in words. It lives in the body too.
That’s what makes this space so powerful. It offers people a way to process loss through movement, music and presence, rather than through talking alone. There is no pressure to perform, no expectation to be upbeat and no fixed script for how you should feel. Everything is an invitation.
Grief Disco also holds something many of us forget is possible: that joy and grief can coexist. That a person can cry and dance at the same time. That love, memory, heartbreak and laughter can all be in the room together. In that sense, it doesn’t just offer support for grief. It offers a more human way of being with it.
The If Lost Take
There is something quietly radical about creating a place where grief is allowed to move.
So many of us are more familiar with the language of coping than the experience of actually feeling. We know how to keep going, keep functioning, keep answering “fine” when we are anything but. Grief Disco interrupts that. It offers something softer and, for many people, more freeing: a chance to let grief be alive in the body, not just managed in the mind.
What we love most is that this doesn’t turn grief into a problem to solve. It doesn’t rush people towards silver linings or ask them to package their pain into something neat and shareable. Instead, it makes room for what is true. Sometimes that truth is sorrow. Sometimes it is love. Sometimes it is a song that opens something you didn’t realise you were still carrying.
And sometimes healing looks less like fixing and more like finding a room where you can be fully human again.
Founders Story | Co-founded by Georgina Jones and Leah Davies
Grief Disco was born from lived experience of loss and a belief that grieving people deserve spaces that feel connecting, warm and real. Co-founders Georgina and Leah created it as a response to the loneliness that grief can bring and to the sense that many of the places available to grieving people do not always make room for the body, for joy or for community. Their approach is shaped by the understanding that no one should have to grieve alone, and that music and movement can help us find our way back to ourselves and each other.
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice
“Look for the love.
Look for the tiny moments of joy that are still here, even in the hardest seasons. Keep a playlist that helps shift your energy. Let music help you move what words can’t always reach.
And remember that grief is not something to fix or get over. It is something to feel, and you don’t have to feel it alone.”
Some Practical Details
Grief Disco is a space where people can come together around grief through music, movement and optional sharing. Some events happen in person and there are also online grief discos for people who would rather join from home. The atmosphere is invitational rather than intense: you can dance, sit, cry, talk, stay quiet, turn your camera off or simply witness. There are also small ritual elements, such as dedications and moments to remember the person or people you are dancing for.
If you are grieving and looking for support, this may be one of those rare places that helps not by asking you to explain your loss, but by giving you somewhere to bring it.
Zenaa Retreats
Discover Zenaa Retreats, a welcoming, fad-free approach to yoga and wellness retreats in the UK and abroad. Designed for real life, these nourishing escapes blend movement, rest, great food and genuine connection. Perfect for beginners, solo travellers and the yoga curious.
Perfect For
Zenaa Retreats are for the "yoga curious" including regulars, dabblers, those who prefer the back row, and complete beginners. It is designed for the "schedule-seeking, choice-conscious" crowd who value a balance of activity and downtime. Solo travellers are especially welcome and make up a large part of the community.
Why You’ll Love It
We all need a space to pause, breathe, and reconnect. In a world of high expectations, Zenaa provides a judgment-free environment to strip away the pressure and allow you to be present. It’s an opportunity to escape the daily grind, slow down through the "art of slow living," and find nourishment for the mind, body, and soul without the pressure of a detox or juice cleanse.
What Makes It Special
Zenaa stands out for its "fad-free," balanced approach to wellbeing. Unlike many retreats that focus on restriction, Zenaa celebrates food and connection. The focus is on handpicked serene venues and a non-judgmental atmosphere that welcomes all body types and abilities. It is a family-feel business (founder Katie’s mum even helps out!) that prioritises genuine connection over performance.
The If Lost Take
We’ve often written about how we can get lost in wellbeing itself and we’re very much on a mission to get you to the places that can help you find your way through it all. When we met Katie we felt like here was a retreat organiser who really understands our real-lives. The places where we get overwhelmed or stuck, burned out and disconnected. And her events aren’t about adding yet more pressure, but really meeting you where you are, with consideration and kindness too.
Founder’s Story | Katie Hodge
Founder Katie is a wellbeing advocate and planner whose passion for events and yoga creates the perfect blend for meticulously designed retreats. Her journey began ten years ago in Sydney, where she first turned to yoga to find calm for an anxious mind. What started as a personal practice evolved into a mission to bring like-minded people together to connect with nature and enjoy incredible food, the ultimate self-care experience.
After launching Katie J Yoga in 2020 she rebranded to Zenaa in 2024. Today, it is a thriving community where every detail is covered so guests feel entirely nourished and supported.
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice
“Prioritising sleep. When everything feels overwhelming or I've lost my way, coming back to a consistent and restful sleep routine is the foundation for mental clarity and emotional resilience.”
Some Practical Details
Zenaa offers luxury wellness and yoga retreats in the UK (including Devon, Bath, and the Cotswolds) and abroad (Italy, France, Portugal, and Sri Lanka). These include:
Varied Yoga: Dynamic Hatha sessions in the morning and gentle Yin or yoga nidra in the evenings.
Nourishment: Healthy, wholesome meals prepared by private chefs (always including dessert and sometimes a glass of wine).
Activities: Countryside walks, cold-water swims, creative workshops, and meditation.
Community: A warm, inclusive environment where guests often leave as close friends.
If you’re not able to attend in-person, don’t worry, there’s Zenaa Online which provides an online retreat experience. You can try out their free 7 day trial here.
Coming up:
Italy Retreat (July 2026) – A 6-night restorative escape
France Retreat (Sept/Oct 2026) – A 5-night wellness experience
Devon, UK (Oct 2026) – A weekend of nourishment and nature
Book a retreat using code IFLOST and get a special welcome gift.
Creative Frome: A Wellbeing Guide to Living More Creatively in Everyday Life
Discover how to bring more creativity into your everyday life in Frome. From Black Swan Arts to Made at Nest, explore a wellbeing guide to creative places that help you slow down, reconnect, and feel better.
There’s something about Frome that makes creativity feel like part of everyday life, not something reserved for weekends or special occasions. It’s in the windows, the workshops, and the sense that people are making things because they want to, not because they have to. And when life feels full or a little unclear, creativity offers a way back, giving us somewhere to place our attention, our hands, our thoughts.
Why creativity matters for wellbeing
Creativity isn’t just about producing something beautiful or impressive. It’s about process. It’s about making space for curiosity, for play, for noticing what draws you in.
When we engage creatively, even in small ways, we step out of constant consumption and into participation. We soften the pressure to have all the answers and instead follow something more alive: interest, instinct, experimentation. Creativity can regulate our nervous systems, reconnect us to ourselves, and remind us that we’re allowed to make things imperfectly.
In a town like Frome, that invitation is everywhere.
A wellbeing prescription for a more creative life in Frome
Start with wandering. Let yourself be led by what catches your eye, not what you think you “should” do.
Here are some of our favourite places to seek out creativity:
Black Swan Arts
Set in a beautiful old building, Black Swan Arts is a community-driven contemporary arts centre that supports local and emerging artists through exhibitions, open studios, and workshops. You might come for a specific show, or simply to wander through and notice what resonates. It’s a reminder that creativity takes many forms and that you don’t need to understand it all to be moved by it. Also check out The Write Place, a cosy place to work on that novel hidden away on the top floor.
The Silk Mill Studios and Gallery
Part gallery, part working space, The Silk Mill offers a closer look at creativity lived out by the artists who work here. There’s a sense of getting to witness the in-between stages—the sketches, the half-finished pieces, the process itself, challenging the idea that creativity needs to be polished to be worthwhile. With a rotating series of exhibitions, workshops and events there’s often something here to expand your world a little.
Ground
At the top of Catherine’s Hill, you’ll find Ground, a studio and shop created by the potter and artist Fi Underhill. Here you’ll get a sense that creativity can both be something you make and something you engage with. Take one of the gorgeous ceramic mugs home with you, so that an everyday, almost throwaway moment drinking your morning coffee becomes even better.
Made at Nest
Made at Nest is a welcoming pottery studio and coffee shop that invites you not just to buy something creative, but to try making something yourself. It offers a gentle nudge towards participation rather than perfection, and you’ll feel free to paint vases and bowls, tiny bears and exuberant elephants to your heart’s content. Oh and there’s cake.
Still Life Gin
There’s creativity in flavour too. At Still Life Gin, the process of distillation becomes its own kind of craft—thoughtful, sensory, experimental. It’s a different lens on creativity, one that invites you to taste and notice, not just look. You can also book sessions to make your own gin blend.
Seed
Seed is a thoughtfully curated shop filled with the best of British design from homewares, stationery, and objects that bring a sense of life and intention into your space. It’s a reminder that creativity can be as simple as how we care for our environment—what we surround ourselves with, what we bring in, and how we make a space feel like our own.
You don’t need to become “a creative person” to live more creatively. You just need to follow what feels interesting, even if it seems small or ordinary.
If you’re looking for more places like these—spaces that help you reconnect, explore and feel a little more like yourself—browse our guide for life. It’s filled with creative corners, thoughtful businesses and everyday places that make life feel better, one visit at a time.
Oh, and if you run a local place that you think would be perfect for our guide, apply to be part of our collection of places for happier days here.
Better Read Book Festival
Explore Better Read Book Fest, a one-day festival of books, ideas, and authors to support your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Perfect For
Better Read Book Fest is for readers interested in self-development, mental health and emotional wellbeing. It's for coaches, therapists and wellbeing practitioners. If you want to learn more about how you can support your own mental and emotional wellbeing this festival is for you.
Why You’ll Love It
Better Read Book Fest is the UK’s first literary festival dedicated entirely to wellbeing books. It's a one-day celebration of books focusing on self-development, mental health and emotional wellbeing, and their authors. The festival is taking place on Saturday 3 October in Abergavenny, south Wales.
What Makes It Special
Literary festivals may include books on mental health and self-development, and wellbeing festivals can feature wellbeing authors alongside workshops and practical experiences. But until now there hasn’t been a UK literary festival dedicated solely to books focused on personal development, mental health and emotional wellbeing, and their authors.
No workshops, no other genres, purely authors sharing their books, their experience, research and expertise with readers. These books provide validation, greater self-understanding and practical tools, empowering the reader where they’ve felt lost and alone, in an accessible form and price.
You will leave feeling inspired, informed, empowered and uplifted.
The If Lost Take
When we first heard about a festival dedicated entirely to wellbeing books, it was an instant yes. It brings together so much of what we care about: wellbeing and words, connection and community, ideas and the people who love them too.
We believe there’s something powerful about the right book finding you at the right moment. It can steady you, shift your thinking, or simply help you feel a little less alone. And already, the authors announced for this festival feel like exactly those kinds of voices.
There’s also something quietly joyful about being in a room full of people who care about these books as much as you do — who know the non-fiction bestseller list almost as well as their local takeaway menu.
We’ve interviewed Gabrielle (and speaker Suzy Reading) on the podcast, and what stands out is the warmth and intention behind this festival. It’s been thoughtfully curated with a genuine belief in bringing people together around ideas — not to prescribe what wellbeing should look like, but to help each of us explore what it means in our own lives.
Founder’s Story | Gabrielle Treanor
“Years ago when I was struggling with anxiety, people-pleasing, overthinking and overwhelm (which I later discovered was due in part to my unrecognised ADHD) it was picking a book on positive psychology off the shelf in my local bookstore, and subsequently diving headfirst into wellbeing books, that gave me a sense of agency. In these books I found explanation and understanding as well as ideas and tools to support myself.
I then embarked on a journey which ultimately led to writing my own book, The 1% Wellness Experiment (published Dec 2023), and supporting others as an ADHD coach, writer and podcaster.
My respect and appreciation for the writers who pour their knowledge, skills, experience and heart into their wellbeing books inspired me to champion and celebrate this genre by creating Better Read Book Fest.”
Some Practical Details
The festival is a day of interviews and panel discussions with the authors about their books, self-development, mental health and emotional wellbeing, and space to ask them questions. There will be the opportunity to purchase the authors’ books and have them signed by the authors. Festival merchandise will also be on sale.
Authors confirmed so far are Suzy Reading, Natalie Lue, Dr Helen Wall and Natasha Page.
The festival won't be available online but there will be interviews with the authors in a special festival season on the Pressing Pause podcast.
Venue: St Mary’s Priory Hall, Monk St, Abergavenny NP7 5ND
Date: 3rd October, 2026
IceBreakers
Part of our wellbeing guide for life, IceBreakers offers men a welcoming space to step into nature, share conversation and find connection through cold water and simple weekly rituals.
Perfect For
IceBreakers is for men of all ages and backgrounds. Some come because they’re struggling. Others come because they want more connection, more nature and a healthier rhythm to their week. You don’t need experience with cold water or wellbeing practices. You just need to show up.
Why You’ll Love It
IceBreakers is a men’s wellbeing community that meets outdoors each week for breathwork, cold water immersion and conversation. They gather in rivers, lakes and the sea to reconnect with nature, challenge themselves and support one another. It’s a simple ritual that helps men step out of their heads and back into the world.
IceBreakers isn’t about endurance. It’s about presence and connection.
What Makes It Special
Many men don’t have places where they can slow down, speak honestly or feel supported without pressure. Being outdoors, breathing together and stepping into cold water creates a powerful reset. It helps people reconnect with their bodies, their thoughts and the people around them, often leading to stronger friendships and a deeper sense of belonging.
IceBreakers isn’t a class or a programme. It’s a simple shared ritual: men meeting in nature, breathing together, stepping into cold water and supporting each other. There’s no pressure to perform, no hierarchy and no fixing, just people showing up side by side and meeting life’s challenges together.
The If Lost Take
We’ve seen first-hand what a difference an early Sunday start can make. There’s something about standing waist-deep in a river, sharing a simple “hi, how are you?” that cuts through the noise of the week.
It can become a kind of reset. A chance to let go of what’s been building, even if just for a moment. And to notice, without needing to say much, that other men are carrying things too, moving through life with their own hopes and concerns.
Turning up for the first time might feel like a big step. But Icebreakers is a genuinely welcoming group. And somehow, with each Sunday, it gets a little easier to answer the alarm, grab your dry robe, and head out the door.
You come back with flushed cheeks, and often feeling a little lighter than when you left.
Founders Story | Co-founded by Tim Bowles, Arron Collins-Thomas and Jack Horner
IceBreakers began when two friends lost people close to them to suicide and realised how few spaces existed where men could talk honestly about how they were feeling.
They hosted a small retreat and discovered that the most powerful moments came from stepping into cold water together. That shared challenge created openness, connection and real conversation.
From there, weekly gatherings began and the community grew.
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice
“Step outside.
Move your body, breathe slowly and spend time in nature, even if it’s just a short walk.
And if you can, share that moment with someone else. A conversation and fresh air can shift more than you think.”
Some Practical Details
IceBreakers core offering is a weekly outdoor gathering, usually on Sunday mornings. Each session includes breathwork, movement, optional cold water immersion and time for conversation. Some chapters also host fire circles, walks, saunas and other events that deepen connection and community.
You don’t have to be brave or “good at cold water”. Some men dip for a few seconds. Some stay waist-deep. Some just come along for the conversation.
They also organise walks, camps, saunas and get togethers beyond the cold water.
Most of what they do happens outdoors in person. However they do share stories, guidance and inspiration in their WhatsApp community, and new chapters are launching across the UK so more men can find a group near them.
They also host occasional camps and events that people can travel to.
Coming up
Alongside their weekly Sunday gatherings across the UK, IceBreakers is hosting a Spring Camp from the 24th - 26th April, 2026.
It’s a few days in nature where men step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect through cold water, movement, fire circles and honest conversation. Think of it as a deeper version of the weekly IceBreakers experience.
A special If Lost bonus
IceBreakers are offering 10% off their upcoming Spring Camp to If Lost readers, just use code LOST10 at checkout. Details of the Spring Camp can be found here.
Burmieston Farm and Steading
An off-grid, award-winning eco steading near the Scottish Highlands. Burmieston offers screen-free stays, sauna, escape barn, retreats, local food and space to reconnect with nature and each other.
Perfect For
Burmieston is perfect for families, groups of friends, or anyone looking to come together in the middle of rural Scotland.
Why You’ll Love It
Burmieston Steading is a group accommodation space on the edge of the Scottish Highlands where nature is close, the air and water are crystal clean, and there is space to be….just be.
They offer 5 ensuite bedrooms sleeping 12-13 people with a spacious kitchen and great sitting room with a library wall and a projector. Co-owner Keesje Crawford-Avis can even cook for you! They have an Escape Barn, a sauna and rural Scotland is all around. They also sell their own lamb, wool and skins as well as jams and chutneys made from orchard produce.
What Makes It Special
They don’t have WiFi or TVs, so you can really get away from screens here if you choose to. Nature and climate change are at the core of their business. The building was renovated with many eco features (they even won the Historic Scotland RIBA award for climate change in 2018) and they run Burmieston conscious that they are part of an ecosystem. Keesje can entertain you for hours if you want to know more!
The If Lost Take
So many people live in cities and rarely have the opportunity to let their senses become alive again. It’s quiet here. It’s dark at night. The weather is always present and the beds are super comfy. Burmieston gives you the space to remember there is no wall between you and the natural world (without camping), and an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones and/or the fun ones and space to be on your own. In a moment that we are longing to be together, Burmieston is all about in-person reality.
Founders Story
Keesje and Olly Crawford-Avis: “We found Burmieston in the Guardian’s ‘Wreck of the Week’ column around 2015 and wanted to start farming on a very small scale. (Olly and I met at agricultural college a long time ago). We also wanted to share this amazing spot and we opened the renovated Steading in 2017, the weekend our second son was due. It’s a truly family affair — he’s our chief customer relations officer in charge of all things on the trampoline. We are passionate about our surroundings, about community and about food. Burmieston is the physical reality of that passion.”
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice
“Take a walk on a well worn path and look for things you have never noticed before. A plant you have always walked past, a bird song you have never noticed before. And then breathe.”
Some Practical Details
They are dog friendly but do have chickens, geese, ducks and sheep around so please keep your dog well controlled. They have their own dogs too.
The team also work with a number of wellness businesses to host their events, from meetings to retreats to catering. They focus on self catering groups at weekends and B&B for singles and couples during the week.
Coming up
They have a few weekend retreats coming up: willow basket making, a weekend of wet felting with yoga and sauna, and a weekend of drawing with a brilliant illustrator. They also have the next in their series of seasonal yoga and mindfulness day retreats. New adventures are being planned all the time. More info and book can be found here.
A special If Lost bonus
Anyone who finds them here will receive a guided walk around the smallholding. You can choose either a night walk with Keesje or an introduction to our farming set up with Olly.
Manipura House, Bath
Explore Manipura House, a mind-body wellness hub in central Bath offering massage therapy, wellbeing workshops and expert bodywork in a stunning setting.
Perfect For
Anyone interested in looking after their long term physical and mental health, supporting fitness and recovery from trauma. This is also the ideal place for anyone who understands that massage therapy is more than just a one-off treat, but an essential partner for a healthy lifestyle.
Why You’ll Love It
Manipura House is a centre that takes care of your physical and mental wellness and that’s on a mission to elevate your health and restore your energy.
Hosted in a stunning Grade II Listed building in the heart of Bath, you will find exceptional bodywork, clinical massage, therapeutic massage therapy, wellbeing workshops and accessible recovery tools plus a range of wellness services, to help transform your ability to connect mind and body.
The name Manipura refers to your solar plexus, a bundle of nerves in the abdomen that regulates the body’s stress response. As co-founder Lynsey Keyes explains: “It is the centre of our identity and energy, and the key to unlocking our personal power. By tapping into this nerve centre in a variety of ways we can build a strong, confident foundation from which to grow, empowering ourselves with knowledge and awareness of our mind and body to take charge of our own health.”
What Makes It Special
Located on a stunning street, the space hosts a range of highly trained and skilled expert bodywork therapists, who understand and work with your individual needs. It’s a one-stop health hub connecting wellness practitioners through workshops and coaching sessions as well as a curated wellbeing retail offering.
The If Lost Take
One of the hardest things to do when you’re ready to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing is finding the right practitioners to support you. Manipura House takes away the guess work. Under one roof, you’ll find the people and the space you need to help you better move through everyday life.
We’ve handpicked Manipura House for our Wellbeing Guide to Life because it perfectly reflects what we look for in a wellness space: expert-led, beautifully designed, and truly grounded in whole-person care.
Whether you’re seeking to reconnect with your body, manage stress, or explore long-term support for your physical and mental health, this is a place where expert knowledge and compassionate care come together. Expect evidence-based therapies, bespoke treatments, and a deep respect for the mind-body connection.
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice:
“Our approach to healthcare should move beyond a reactive approach, to a more sustainable and enjoyable one. A holistic approach not just in name, but in the 360 degree services we engage with.”
Some Practical Details
Therapy sessions are all in person on site. Their partner therapists may have online offerings.
Gift vouchers are available
You can book directly on the website.
11 Queen Street, Bath, BA1 1HE, United Kingdom
hello@manipurahouse.com
Tel: 0122 5984379
5 Vegan Restaurants in Bath (and Beyond) for Everyday Wellbeing
Looking for vegan restaurants in Bath or the South West? These independent plant-based spots offer more than just food — they serve up community, comfort and a little slice of wellbeing.
Once a niche diet, vegan food has grown into something else entirely. Across the UK — from tiny Bath alleyways to buzzy London neighbourhoods — vegan cafés and restaurants are redefining what it means to nourish ourselves, and each other.
But it’s not about labels anymore, it’s about how food makes us feel. About where it comes from, who grows it, and who gets to sit around the table. And in an age where so much of life feels out of our hands, making a choice that feels aligned — even once a week — is a small act of care.
These five places are part of that shift. They’re serving up good food, yes — but they’re also places to pause, to reconnect, and to feel well, together. Here’s where to begin.
1.Plant.Eat.Licious, Bath
Plant Eat Licious is a hidden gem in the heart of Bath, offering a colourful, creative menu that changes with the seasons. The food is freshly prepared each day, with an emphasis on whole ingredients, vibrant vegetables and balanced flavours. Expect nourishing bowls, flavour-rich wraps, hearty mains and a counter full of house-made cakes.
Whether you're sitting in for a relaxed lunch or grabbing something to go, it’s a place that makes eating plant-based feel simple, satisfying and genuinely enjoyable.
Find out more here
2. Rooted Cafe, Bath
Located on Newbridge Road, Rooted Cafe offers a largely plant-based, seasonally changing menu that places vegetables at the centre of the plate. While not fully vegan, it’s a favourite among plant-based eaters for its inventive small plates, hearty mains, and carefully balanced flavours.
With a relaxed setting and a kitchen that clearly cares about quality and provenance, Rooted serves food that feels both satisfying and considered. A good choice for brunch, lunch, or a slower supper with friends.
Find out more here
3. Cascara, Bath
This compact, independently owned café in the centre of Bath offers a thoughtful, fully vegan menu that’s rooted in fresh ingredients and bold flavour. It’s a place where every element — from the house-made cakes to the seasonal salads and rotating toastie specials — is crafted with intention.
Whether you’re sitting in with a matcha and a peanut butter blondie or grabbing lunch on the go, it’s a brilliant example of how vegan food can be fast, nourishing and joyful. It’s also the sister restaurant to Green Rocket.
Learn more here
4. The Green Rocket, Bath
The Green Rocket has been part of Bath’s food scene for over a decade, offering an entirely vegan and vegetarian menu that’s earned a loyal following. Dishes are built around fresh, whole ingredients, with a global influence and a focus on generous portions — from vibrant salads to breakfast plates.
With its central location and laid-back setting, it’s a go-to for both locals and visitors looking for reliably good plant-based food. The cakes and coffee are worth lingering over, and the menu has enough variety to suit both weekday lunches and slower weekend meals.
Learn more here
5. Unity Diner, London
Unity Diner is a not-for-profit, fully vegan restaurant in East London serving indulgent, plant-based takes on diner classics. The menu features stacked burgers, loaded fries, “fish” and chips, mac and cheese, and rotating desserts — all made to satisfy, without compromise.
Founded by animal rights advocates, Unity Diner donates its profits to animal welfare causes. But the focus here is firmly on flavour, and the food delivers — generous, familiar and crowd-pleasing, it’s a good option for a relaxed meal that also aligns with your values.
Find out more here
Thinking of Going Vegan? Start Small.
You don’t have to go all in. Maybe it’s one meal a week. Maybe it’s your new favourite sandwich. Maybe it’s just about paying more attention.
Vegan eating today is less about following rules and more about feeling into what aligns with your values, your health and your preferences. For many, it’s part of a larger wellbeing practice. For others, it’s about curiosity. Either way, there’s no one right way to begin.
Know a place that belongs in our Guide to Life?
We’re always looking to spotlight the independent spots that nourish our lives.
→ Nominate a vegan place that helps people feel better here
→ Run or own a vegan restaurant? Apply to join our Guide to Life
Help us grow this human-centred, heart-fuelled guidebook — one small good place at a time.
Want to hear about more places like this and more ways to well? Join our mailing list for thoughtful guides, small shifts, and creative inspiration on how to feel better in everyday life.
On Shopfronts, Stories and Small Joys: Why Your Town Needs You to Wander It
From blue moon ice cream to poetry prescriptions, Explorer Days connect us to what’s quietly slipping away.
While 11,341 independent shops closed their doors in the UK last year, I opened a few dozen.
Not mine—but the doors that held others’ dreams behind them.
Each time I stepped into a refill shop, an artist-run gallery, or a corner café with toast and conversation, I reminded myself: the high street is still alive.
It just needs us to notice it again.
I’ve come to see this not as nostalgia for what once was but rather as attention to what’s still here.
When I was little, my Saturdays weren’t for team sports or shopping centres. They were for going somewhere. My dad, a wholesaler delivering to small businesses, would bring me along. I’d carry a box or two and be ushered behind the counter, past the curtain, to a back room full of cardboard crates. A stool would be found. A mug of tea would be poured. And I’d sit amongst the apples and pears, offered toast, while my dad made deliveries and traded stories.
Back then, it didn’t occur to me that I was learning something. That these places—these independents—were the scaffolding of community.
But when my mum died, it became heartbreakingly clear. The same shopkeepers she’d spoken to every week for decades came to the funeral. One closed for the day. One wept on the doorstep as the hearse passed. Others filled the church pews. And in the months after, they were the ones who kept calling my dad—not for orders, but to ask how he was.
I think about that a lot now.
We talk so much about “community,” but we forget how often it begins in these small transactions. The ones where someone remembers your name. Where you don’t need an app. Where you're seen.
I’ve been annotating Explorer Days for years now—curiousity-driven visits to nearby towns with a loose plan, a bit of research, and a lot of openness. But more and more, those lists aren’t just growing. They’re shrinking too.
Places I’ve visited, loved, written down… are now gone. A paper shop here. A gallery there. A café I meant to return to.
The Centre for Retail Research found that in 2024, 45.5% more independents closed than the year before. We’re not just losing businesses. We’re losing the people-shaped worlds they create. The social glue. The soft edges of our worlds. The stories.
But here’s what I’ve also noticed: something else is emerging.
Where one thing disappears, something unexpected might take its place. A community sauna. A poetry pharmacy. A therapy room above a florist. In one town I found a shop that sold monster supplies by day and ran a children’s literacy programme by night. In another, a magazine store that felt like a museum. In another still, a bookshop that stocked only poems
You don’t stumble upon these in the same way while shopping online.
Explorer Days aren’t about escape. They’re about attention
They're how I practice wellbeing when I don’t know where else to start.
When I’ve been indoors too long, when I’ve felt out of step or out of touch, when my inner restlessness needs something gentle and grounding… I take a train. I wander a high street. I go somewhere I haven’t been before.
There’s often a pattern: An independent café. A bakery. A creative space. A bookshop
Something small yet still wonderful
I write down the name of the shop in the book I buy, so when I finally pull it from the shelf months later, I remember where I was before the story started.
These small wanderings help me reconnect. To where I live. To what matters. To what I might have missed.
And they’ve reminded me that our towns aren’t static. They’re waiting. Like Victorian debutantes, hoping someone might notice them and ask them to dance.
Maybe that someone is you.
What’s the last independent place that surprised you?
The bookshop you didn’t know you needed. The café you found when you got a bit lost. The artist-run space hidden behind the pharmacy.
Let’s help each other find more of those.
Download the Scavenger Hunt for Curious Locals
This is designed to help you rediscover what’s already around you. Take it out this weekend. Let it guide your steps.
And while you’re at it…
Nominate a Place for Our Guide to Life
We’re building a lovingly curated directory of places that make you feel more human—from refilleries and bakeries to museums, bookshops and creative sanctuaries.
Know somewhere that deserves a wider spotlight? Nominate it here
Own a place yourself? Apply to be featured
Because the world doesn’t need more noise. It needs more noticing.
Vallis Farm
Seek out this farm in Somerset centered on learning and creativity, exchanging skills and ideas, while connecting you with the healing properties of nature. It’s truly a place to grow.
Go here if
You are looking for a beautiful space to share and swap skills, learn, grow and be in nature.
What is it?
Vallis Farm is a home for learning and creativity, for exchanging skills and ideas, a place to grow.
Why you need it
Nature has healing properties and this farm offers something special. Not only is the landscape stunning, the house warm and inviting but the people are welcoming and friendly.
What they offer
A range of workshops, supper clubs, weekly events such as yoga and pilates. They also encourage people to volunteer on the land to learn about their approach to sustainable gardening while being in the most healing of environments - the great outdoors!
What makes it different
Vallis Farm is a rather special place. The old Georgian farmhouse is warm and beautifully decorated with lots of spaces available to use depending on your needs.
The outside is even more stunning, just under 10 acres of rolling hills and woodland, a market garden using no-dig methods to grow local produce, a beautiful kitchen garden and roundhouse as well as shepherd’s huts that you can stay in. It's a truly restorative place to spend time.
What else do you need to know
You can book a range of spaces — whether that’s rooms in the house or the whole farm site — by the hour, for a half day or a full day, depending on your needs and budget.
Vallis Farm also welcomes people to pop up to have a look around. There is always someone there to say hello and show you this amazing place.
In their own words
Vallis Farm is led by an evolving collective of highly experienced craftspeople, compassionate educators and committed stewards of the land.
“We started Vallis Farm as a place to provide affordable spaces to local people. We have areas that have permanent tenants who are artisan craftspeople in their own right. We want people to know they will always be welcome to come and share their skills and knowledge with others. We truly are a place to grow and learn.”
Where inspires them
“It's proven time and again that nature has huge restorative effects. Not just on our mood but also on our memory, cognition and executive functions. We believe that being outside repairs the soul. If the weather is not our friend, our beautiful house has green views from every window which are also proven to help repair and restore our mental health. Having a place to just "be" is the most inspiring thing for us.”
Goodwood Art Foundation
Discover the Goodwood Art Foundation, a feel-good creative destination blending contemporary art, nature and wellbeing on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex. Explore a stunning landscape of thoughtfully curated artworks that encourage a sense of curiosity.
Perfect for
Art lovers, nature wanderers, the creatively curious and the quietly overstimulated.
For anyone craving inspiration with less noise and a way to feel more connected—to the world around you, to ideas and to yourself.
Why you’ll love it
The Goodwood Art Foundation isn’t just a gallery in the traditional sense — though you’ll find two stand-out exhibition spaces here — but also an invitation to experience art in a natural setting.
Set across the rolling chalk hills of the Goodwood Estate, it’s a space where sculpture and landscape meet in quiet conversation. Here, you get to wander at your own pace, following one of the three sign-posted trails. As you seek out the next sculpture, you’ll walk through ancient forests or wildflower meadows, coming across a natural amphitheater, chalk quarry and cherry grove as you do so. Pause a while and sit with something unexpected — an enchanting soundscape hidden in the trees perhaps or a view to the sea in the distance.
For the opening, Ann Gallagher, the former director of collections of British Art at Tate, has sensitively installed works by major contemporary artists — including Veronica Ryan, Rose Wylie and Isamu Noguchi — within the natural setting. There’s also a stunning solo exhibition of Rachel Whiteread, the first woman to win the Turner Prize.
What makes it special
Leading landscape designer Dan Pearson has created a 70-acre landscape that shifts according to 24 2-week botanical seasons. You’ll get a sense of how the land, the weather, the seasons and light all interact as you visit at different times of the year.
It’s the kind of place where you leave feeling lighter—and perhaps even a little rewilded, inside and out.
The story behind it
The Goodwood Art Foundation, newly opened in May 2025, is a non-profit on a mission to “foster wellbeing, creativity and lifelong learning for people of all backgrounds and abilities, through engagement with art and connectedness to nature.”
Founded by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the Goodwood Art Foundation is gounded in three pillars: art, environment and education, and explores how these can better support our physical and mental wellbeing, creativity and capacity to learn.
The If Lost take
We believe creativity is a form of self-care. There’s a palpable sense of permission here: to explore, to wonder, to allow ourselves to just be.
It’s also one of those rare spaces that nourishes your nervous system and your imagination at the same time.
Everything about it moves slowly, intentionally. There’s no rush. And that’s very much the point.
It’s a full-body exhale kind of place.
Practical details
Location: Situated within the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, West Sussex (also home to world-class motor and horse racing.)
Top tips: Wear comfortable shoes and dress according the weather forecast. There are indoor spaces but you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors.
Check out Cafe24 for a full-menu with ingredients sourced from Goodwood’s regenerative farm. It’s located in a stunning steel-clad building designed by Studio Downie Architect.
Know somewhere that helps people feel better?
Nominate your favourite creative or feel-good place—or apply to be featured in the guidebook. Complete this form.
Distil Coworking Somerset
Discover Distil Coworking Somerset—an inspiring rural coworking space set in a restored mill with gardens, café and community. Ideal for creatives, freelancers and small business owners looking to feel more connected and work well in beautiful surroundings.
Perfect For
Creatives, freelancers, small business owners, remote workers — or anyone craving a more inspiring alternative to working from home.
Why You’ll Love It
Housed in a beautifully restored former mill, Distil Coworking Somerset offers a calm and inspiring place to work with beautifully restored wooden floors, abundant natural light and views out to a landscaped courtyard. It’s the kind of place that makes you exhale as soon as you walk through the door.
Whether you're a small business owner looking for an inspiring workspace for your team, a parent looking to be super productive around the school run or you want a change from the commute to the city — Distil Coworking Somerset is designed to make your working day better.
With plenty of free parking, choose the scenic route and work from a beautiful location in the heart of the Somerset countryside.
What Makes It Special
Set within the wider Kilver Court development, Distil offers more than just a desk. Booking a coworking space here includes access to the lush 3.5-acre gardens — perfect for stretching your legs between meetings, taking a walking call or a giving yourself a moment of pause under the trees.
You’ll also find fashion and homeware outlets like Toast and Mulberry and a newly renovated café with a wellbeing-focused menu. It’s all part of what founder Sam Cunningham envisioned when he transformed this site: “a thriving creative business ecosystem that drives growth, sparks innovation, and encourages collaboration.”
Whether you're looking for a quiet corner to enjoy a warm cup of tea, to scribble ideas in a notebook or simply to close your eyes and let the gentle rustle of leaves spark fresh inspiration, this is garden coworking.
The If Lost Take
We often think of coworking spaces as urban hubs — but Distil is part of a growing movement to bring creative, connected workspaces to rural settings. While countryside living has its charms, working from home in remote areas can sometimes deepen feelings of isolation and disconnection. Spaces like Distil shift that story — offering a place to come together, connect and work alongside fellow creatives, freelancers and entrepreneurs who also call Somerset home.
Founder’s Go-To Wellbeing Advice:
“You spend a third of your life at work — choose environments that nurture your wellbeing and people who help you thrive. The right environment can do more than just support productivity; it can restore calm, spark creativity, and invite genuine connection.”
Some Practical Details
Book a desk, meeting room or the podcasting studio. Facilities include free parking, superfast WIFI, private call booth, shower and kitchen with coffee and tea.
During every booking, receive 10% off at the café and access to the stunning Kilver Court Gardens — the perfect place to recharge during the working day.
Distil Coworking will soon have an events programme up and running, including the option of remote attendance at some events. For anyone visiting the area, they also offer day passes as well as the option of booking by the hour.
Kilver Court, Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5NF, United Kingdom
hello@distilcoworkingsomerset.co.uk
If Lost Reader Benefits: Use code 'InnerCircle' for 10% off your first month when signing up to a monthly membership.
If you prefer to book on a pay-as-you-go basis, use code InnerCircleHotDesk for 20% off your first day pass.
HowTheLightGetsIn Festival
Discover HowTheLightGetsIn Festival in Hay-on-Wye — the world’s largest philosophy and music festival. Join Nobel Prize winners, Grammy artists, thinkers, and dreamers for a long weekend of ideas, talks, live music, comedy, and connection.
Perfect For
Anyone who feels most alive when they’re learning something new. For the curious, the restless, the thinkers and the dreamers—the ones who want their minds moved as much as their bodies.
Why You’ll Love it
Ideas sit so close to wonder here. New thinking propels your imagination forward, with academics out of the universities and into fairground fields, dancing late into the night.
You’ll spend your days soaking up mind-expanding discussions on subjects like black holes, AI, anxiety, and epidemiology, and your evenings beneath glitter balls at riverside discos or swaying to live music.
It’s a rare space where Nobel Prize winners and Grammy award-winners share the same billing—and where you leave feeling stretched in the best way.
What Makes It Special
HowTheLightGetsIn is the world’s largest philosophy and music festival (that these go together says it all). It’s not just about intellectual sparring or abstract debate—it’s about weaving ideas into real life, combining heavyweight talks with laughter, connection, and dance.
The magic comes from the mix: sitting under a tent roof in the afternoon listening to leading thinkers, then catching comedy sets or live bands as the sun goes down.
The Story Behind It
It all starts with the name.
“There is a crack in everything… that’s how the light gets in.”
These Leonard Cohen lyrics trace the festival’s origin story and tone. The “light” here is unarguably ideas—but also a reminder that light comes through imperfections, through play, through music, and through gathering. Held bi-annually, the festival takes over Hay-on-Wye each spring for one long, invigorating weekend, and Greenwich in the autumn for a shorter city edition.
The If Lost Take
HowTheLightGetsIn isn’t just about absorbing knowledge—it’s about feeling the spark of aliveness that comes when we expand. This festival offers intellectual adventure and playful escape all at once: a space to be both serious and silly, thoughtful and joyful, stretched and soothed. For anyone seeking a festival that feeds both brain and soul, this is your place.
Practical details
Location: Hay-on-Wye, Wales
Tickets: A range of options available, including day and Flexi passes. Under-25s and students receive a 40% discount; children under 12 attend free.
Accommodation: Choose from self-pitch camping, pre-pitched tents, or glamping.
Accessibility: The festival is committed to inclusivity, with accessible facilities and support.
More info & booking here
Why We Created a Wellbeing Guidebook (and What It Might Unlock for You)
Discover why feel-good places matter for your happiness. This wellbeing guidebook explores how everyday spaces—from creative studios to independent bookshops—can support your emotional wellbeing and inner world.
What do we really need when we’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of our next step? Not more noise. Not more sitting with our ever spiraling thoughts. Not pressure to fix or upgrade or optimise.
Often, we just need a place to pause.
A space that makes us feel something again.
Somewhere that helps us remember who we are.
That’s why we created our wellbeing guidebook—an ever-growing collection of feel-good, real-world places that support emotional wellbeing, gentle exploration, and the kind of connection that genuinely helps.
Because sometimes it’s the right place that can help us find our way back to ourselves.
Why Place Matters for Our Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing isn’t just something we do in private with a journal, or during a one-hour class. It’s also shaped by the spaces we move through every day.
Whether it’s a forest walk, a quiet café, a workshop, a cold-water swim, or a tiny bookshop full of soul—the right space can ground us, support us, or simply give us a new perspective.
Science backs this too: studies show that spending time in certain environments—especially nature-connected or creativity-rich spaces—can lower anxiety, boost mood and regulate the nervous system.
Connection Is Part of the Cure
The modern world is increasingly isolating. We’re online, overstimulated, and often emotionally undernourished.
But when we step into the right places—places that welcome, hold, inspire or comfort us—we’re reminded that we don’t have to do everything alone.
That might be a shared table at a local supper club. A movement class where no one cares what you look like. A gallery that sparks something long dormant. These places reconnect us: to others, to our bodies, to our creativity, and to the wider world.
Why Exploring Out There Helps Us Explore In Here
You don’t have to travel far to feel a shift. Sometimes going just a few streets away can spark something powerful.
This guidebook isn’t about bucket lists or big-budget retreats—it’s about discovering destinations for wellbeing that feel human, thoughtful, and accessible. It’s about using the outer world to support your inner one.
Because when you change your environment, even briefly, you often change your story. And that’s where something new can begin.
The If Lost Start Here Guidebook: What It Is
It’s not just a list. It’s a lovingly curated collection of spaces that help people feel better in real life. Every entry is chosen with care—not because it’s trendy, but because it offers something meaningful.
The guide features places that support:
Mind–body wellbeing through movement or stillness.
Creativity and self-expression
Experiences of awe, presence and joy
Know a Place That Deserves to Be Seen?
If you run, own, or simply love a place that helps people feel better, we’d love to hear about it.
Because sharing these spaces matters—and someone out there might be looking for exactly what you offer and what you’ve found.
Want more like this?
Our newsletter offers small, thoughtful ideas for navigating everyday life—especially when things feel uncertain, busy or a bit off-track.
Think of it as your life companion: one part inspiration, one part practical support, always written with care.
Sign up here to receive occasional, meaningful emails from If Lost Start Here.
Park Run
parkrun is a free, weekly 5k running and walking event held in parks across the world. Welcoming all ages and abilities, it’s a simple way to boost wellbeing, build community, and create healthy habits.
Perfect For
Anyone looking to reclaim movement as a joyful, social, accessible part of life. If you're trying to build consistency, shake off the emotional cobwebs or just do something kind for your body, start here.
Why You’ll Love It
If you’re looking for gentle accountability, fresh air, and a reason to lace up your trainers on a Saturday, parkrun is one of the most welcoming places to start.
These free, weekly, timed 5k runs are held in parks all over the world—open to all ages, all paces, and all intentions. Whether you're running, jogging, walking, or volunteering, parkrun is a simple and powerful reminder that movement feels better when it’s shared.
What Makes It Special
Free and inclusive – No fees, no finish time pressure—just movement for the joy of it.
Community without cliques – You’ll find everyone from elite runners to stroller-pushing parents and total beginners, all in it together.
A weekly ritual – Show up, move your body, feel a sense of rhythm and reset.
The Story Behind It
parkrun started in 2004 with just 13 runners in a London park, created by Paul Sinton-Hewitt during a difficult period of his life. What began as a personal project quickly grew into a global movement.
The idea was simple but radical: free, community-led events that encouraged people to be active, connected, and outside, no matter their ability or background. Today, parkrun happens in over 2,000 locations across the world—powered entirely by volunteers, held together by community spirit.
Something Else We Love
That feeling of togetherness at the starting line—whether it’s your first or your hundredth parkrun. Plus, the coffee afterwards is basically a sacred part of the event.
parkrun has now gone international — with the idea taking off from Denmark to Japan.
The If Lost Take
We love parkrun because it strips movement back to what really matters: being outside, doing something positive for your body, and feeling like you belong. It’s a gentle nudge toward momentum—whatever that looks like for you.
Bristol Lido
Bristol Lido is a restored Victorian open-air pool and spa in Clifton, offering cold water swimming, sauna, and seasonal food in a peaceful city-centre setting. A perfect mind–body reset, it invites you to slow down, move gently, and reconnect.
Perfect For
Anyone craving a reset without leaving the city—whether that’s through movement, stillness, warmth or just a little space to think again.
Why You’ll Love It
Hidden behind a row of Georgian townhouses in Clifton, Bristol Lido is one of those places that feels like a secret well-being sanctuary in the middle of the city.
At its centre is a sparkling, heated open-air pool (to 20-24 degrees year around — these things matter), surrounded by steam rooms, saunas, treatment rooms and a restaurant overlooking the water.
Whether you’re trying to glide through the water, floating under grey skies, or warming up with a post-swim coffee, it’s the kind of place that grounds you in your body and quiets your mind—without ever leaving the city.
What Makes It Special
A historic city-centre oasis – Originally opened in 1850, lovingly restored into a modern, serene space for rest and movement.
Connection built in — Experience one of the supper clubs and make friends beyond your bathing suit.
Eat well, feel well – The poolside restaurant feels like a genuine treat—nutritious, seasonal food from local sources.
The Story Behind It
Rescued from dereliction and reopened in 2008, Bristol Lido was brought back to life by a group who believed in reimagining the public bathing experience for modern life. They’ve since expanded their vision to Reading with the Thames Lido.
Something Else We Love
Outdoor swimming always feels like a mini-holiday, particularly when the pool is in its own courtyard and has those cute Victorian changing rooms. You also don’t need to be a member: two hour guest swims are available with pre-booking.
The If Lost Take
We love Bristol Lido because it’s a reminder to slow down even in the busiest of cities. You don’t need a full retreat—sometimes all it takes is 45 minutes, a pool, and a moment to connect with ourselves again.
Festivals That Move You: 5 Mind–Body Gatherings to Bookmark This Summer
Discover five of the UK’s most inspiring wellbeing festivals for summer 2025—featuring yoga, trail running, wild swimming, live music, mindfulness and more. From Love Trails to Wilderness, these gatherings offer movement, connection and joy in stunning natural settings.
When we talk about mind–body wellbeing, we often imagine yoga mats, silent retreats, and solo meditations. But what if feeling well could be louder, looser, and shared with thousands of others under open skies?
These festivals go beyond the traditional wellness format—they bring together movement, music, community, and nature in ways that are joyful, embodied, and deeply connecting.
Here are five to discover:
1. Love Trails Festival
10 — 13 July, 2025 | Gower Peninsula, Wales
A festival where trail running, adventure, and music are brought together, Love Trails is for those who see movement as a form of freedom. Morning runs, cold dips, wild swims, yoga sessions, and night-time dancing—it’s about moving through the weekend with curiosity and community. If you’ve ever wanted to combine endorphins with exploration, this one’s for you.
The If Lost Take:
We love it because it proves that fitness can be soulful and adventure can be mindful.
2. Boardmasters
Wednesday 6 – Sunday 10 August, 2025 | Newquay, Cornwall
Surf. Skate. Sounds. Set against the cliffs and beaches of Cornwall, Boardmasters blends a coastal lifestyle with world-class music and wellness. Think: morning beach yoga, breathwork, cold water therapy, surf sessions, and then dancing under the stars to big-name DJs. It's a sun-kissed reset that brings together body and rhythm, rest and exhilaration.
The If Lost Take:
This is wellbeing for the wave-chasers, sea-dippers, and free spirits who feel better with sand between their toes.
3. Wellnergy Festival
13th & 14th June, 2025 | Wimbledon Park, London
Wellnergy blends fitness, mindfulness, music, food, and mental health into a one-day experience that’s accessible, thoughtful, and full of positive energy. With talks from psychologists, live workouts, laughter yoga, and nourishing food stalls, it’s designed for those looking to dip into lots of feel-good tools without the overwhelm.
The If Lost Take:
We love how welcoming and inclusive this festival is—a taster menu of wellbeing, served with heart and good vibes.
4. Wilderness Festival
31 July — 3 August, 2025 | Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Wilderness mixes music, wild swimming, feasting, wellbeing workshops, and open-air theatre into one of the UK’s most beloved boutique festivals. The Sanctuary area offers everything from forest bathing to dynamic yoga and fire rituals. This is where mind-body meets wild creativity, and you’ll leave sweaty, inspired, and maybe a little changed.
The If Lost Take:
It’s a beautifully curated pause from real life—a reminder of what’s possible when we come back to our bodies and the land.
5. Verve Festival
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September, 2025 | Wiltshire, UK
Tucked into the Wiltshire countryside, Verve is a small, beautiful wellbeing festival designed to restore and uplift. Think open-air yoga, creative workshops, soulful conversations, forest walks, live music and seasonal food, all with a focus on mindful, meaningful living. Intimate, accessible, and community-led, it’s one of the UK’s best-kept secrets for a conscious weekend in nature.
The If Lost Take:
We love Verve for its intentional pace and gentle spirit—a space where wellbeing feels joyful, local, and connecting..
These festivals invite you to move differently, connect deeply, and come back to yourself—through rhythm, nature and shared joy. Whether you're craving a hit of endorphins, a soulful workshop, or a dancefloor under the stars, there's a mind–body gathering waiting to meet you this summer.
Want more ideas like this? Join our mailing list for thoughtful guides, small shifts, and fresh inspiration on how to feel better in everyday life—no festival wristband required.
Frome Boulder Rooms
Frome Boulder Rooms is a modern, inclusive bouldering centre offering climbing for all levels, from beginners to experienced climbers. With a welcoming community, strength training areas, and expert coaching, it’s a place where movement, confidence, and connection come together.
Perfect For
Anyone who wants to move, build strength, and challenge themselves in a fun, supportive environment—whether you’re an experienced climber or just looking for a new way to move your body and clear your mind.
Why You’ll Love It
Frome Boulder Rooms is a climbing gym that encourages movement, strength, and connection.
Designed for all levels—from complete beginners to seasoned climbers—this state-of-the-art bouldering centre offers a welcoming environment where you can challenge yourself, learn new skills, and build confidence one climb at a time.
Whether you’re here to push your limits, train with friends, or just have fun on the walls, this is a place where movement and community come together.
What Makes It Special
A modern bouldering facility – Thoughtfully designed walls with routes for all abilities, from easy climbs to serious challenges.
More than just climbing – Strength and conditioning areas, coaching, and movement classes to support every aspect of your training.
A welcoming space – A friendly, inclusive atmosphere where you can climb at your own pace, whether you're here for fitness, fun, or flow.
The Story Behind It
Founded by a team of passionate climbers, Frome Boulder Rooms was created to make climbing more accessible, more social, and more fun.
With a mission to build a space where movement meets community, they designed a centre that isn’t just about strength—it’s about mind-body connection, confidence, and progression.
Whether you’re tackling your first climb or working on advanced techniques, this is a space where everyone is encouraged to learn..
Something Else We Love
The friendly, community-driven vibe—Frome Boulder Rooms isn’t just about scaling the walls; it’s about sharing the experience. Whether it’s a social climbing night, a women’s session, or coaching for all abilities, this is a place where support and encouragement come as standard..
The If Lost Take
We love Frome Boulder Rooms because it proves that climbing isn’t just about reaching the top—it’s about the process. Whether you’re here for fitness, focus, or fun, this space reminds us that every challenge can be tackled one move at a time..
Why I Collect Places: A Human-Centered Guidebook to Better Wellbeing
Discover why independent bookstores, cafés, museums, and unexpected spaces are vital to our wellbeing. Why we’re writing a guide to help you find places that make life feel just that little bit better.
There’s a certain kind of magic in finding a place that feels just right. A small bookstore where the owner remembers your name. A café where the coffee is secondary to the conversation. A public park that holds space for quiet moments.
I’ve always been drawn to places like these—the ones that anchor us, remind us of who we are, and offer ways back to ourselves, and each other. It’s why I started Our Guide to Life, a collection of human-centered spaces that nurture our wellbeing in ways that often go overlooked as we rush through our days.
Wellbeing Beyond the Expected
When we talk about wellbeing, the conversation so often stops at wellness trends—meditation apps, self-care routines, morning rituals. And while all of that has its place, what if wellbeing was also connected to where we live, how we shape our worlds, and how we create space for each other.
That’s what I’ve been exploring. Beyond the polished wellness industry, there are places—hidden, local, ordinary—that hold a different kind of support.
The museum that allows your mind to soar and your imagination to expand.
The coworking space that brings people into your days, and not just more ways to be productive.
The bakery that somehow soothes you, even if croissants are a far cry from green juice.
These places aren’t selling a version of self-improvement. They’re simply there, existing in a way that makes life a little softer, a little easier, and sometimes even a little more magical.
Why Now?
We’re living in an era of increasing isolation. Studies show that loneliness is as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. At the same time, the places that have historically brought us together—independent cafes, bookshops, music venues—are struggling to survive.
The irony is, we need them more than ever. We need places where we can show up as humans. Places where we don’t have to earn our belonging, where connection isn’t transactional, and where simply being present is enough.
This is why I collect places—not just for myself, but for anyone who might be looking for a way to feel at home in the world again.
A Guidebook for Everyday Wellbeing
Our Guide to Life is an evolving collection of the places that matter—places that meet you wherever you are and offer something real. It’s a growing map of
Independent and unexpected spaces—community gardens, unusual storefronts, gathering places.
Places that hold stories—libraries, bookshops, cultural hubs.
Third places that aren’t home or work—cafés, coworking spots, creative studios.
Spaces that make room for joy—live music venues, art workshops, immersive experiences.
Some of these places will be in your own backyard. Some might be places you’ve never thought to look. But they all share one thing in common: they make life into something to explore, making us more connected and more human.
A Collective Exploration
But this isn’t just my guidebook—it’s ours.
The places that matter most to you might be different from mine. Maybe it’s the beach at sunset where you exhale fully for the first time in days. Or the record shop where you’ve had the best conversations with strangers.
We all have places that ground us, restore us, and remind us that we belong. And when we share them, we make it easier for others to find their own.
So, tell me—where’s your place? The one that holds you when you need it most? The one that brings you back to yourself? Your happy place? Your calm place?
Let’s build this guide together. Because the right place, at the right moment, can change everything.
P.S. If you run a place that you think would fit in our Guidebook reach out to us. We’ll send you details to apply.
Glove Factory Studios
Glove Factory Studios in Bradford on Avon is a beautifully designed coworking space set in a restored Victorian glove factory. Home to a thriving community of creatives, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, it offers inspiring workspaces, events, and even a wild swimming pond.
Perfect For
Freelancers, creatives, and entrepreneurs who want a unique workspace—somewhere that encourages focus, connection, and maybe even a mid-morning swim.
Why You’ll Love It
Tucked away in the Wiltshire countryside, Glove Factory Studios is far more than a workspace—it’s a hub for creativity, collaboration, and connection. Set in a beautifully restored Victorian glove factory, it’s home to independent businesses, freelancers, and creatives who want more than just an office—they want a space that inspires ideas, fosters community, and embraces work-life balance in the best way possible.
With light-filled studios, a rural setting, and a café that feels like a creative meeting ground, this is a workspace designed for people who think differently, work independently, but love being part of something bigger.
What Makes It Special
An inspiring setting – A heritage industrial building meets modern design, creating a workspace that feels both professional and creative.
A built-in creative community – More than just a place to work, it’s a network of like-minded people, with regular talks, events, and collaboration opportunities.
Surrounded by nature – With open countryside, walking trails, and even wild swimming nearby, this is a space that understands the balance between productivity and wellbeing.
The Story Behind It
Glove Factory Studios was founded with the belief that where you work should inspire you, not drain you. Over the years, it’s evolved into a thriving community of designers, writers, makers, and entrepreneurs, all drawn to its unique blend of rural calm and creative energy. From its history as a glove-making factory to its reinvention as a workspace for modern independents, its story is one of transformation, creativity, and new possibilities.
Something Else We Love
Their onsite wild swimming club, the Glove Dippers—yes, really. With a natural swimming pond, members can take a dip before, after, or even between meetings. It’s the kind of workplace perk you don’t know you need until you try it.
We also love it for coworking, dropping in when working from home gets a little lonely. Oh and the gorgeous cafe on site, Wild Herb at the Field Kitchen is the perfect any-time of day pick me up.
The If Lost Take
We love Glove Factory Studios because it proves that work doesn’t have to happen in dull offices or overrun cafés. It’s a space that prioritizes both creativity and wellbeing, offering a place where people can build businesses, spark ideas, and create their own version of that illusive work-life balance.
Some Practical Details
Holt, Bradford on Avon, UK