Festival of Archaeology 2025: Archaeology and Wellbeing Events
Take a look at the archaeology and wellbeing events we’ve got lined up across the UK for this year's Festival:
Relaxed Hour - Rugby Art Gallery and Museum
Monday 21 July, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Free
This session is primarily for neurodivergent children and adults, and any other visitors with sensory needs who prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends, and carers.
Suitable for children of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Yoga in the Caves - Kents Cavern, Torquay
Tuesday 22 July, 9:00 AM | £11 per person
Step into the cool, echoing stillness of Kents Cavern, Britain’s oldest home, for an unforgettable yoga and meditation session. As you stretch and breathe, let the ancient contours of these prehistoric caves calm your mind and reconnect you to the natural world. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a complete beginner, this small-group experience is designed to help you unwind in a space shaped by thousands of years of human history.
👉 Bring a blanket or wear warm layers - it’s a constant 15°C underground
Archaeology + Wellbeing Hub Day - Clitheroe Castle Museum
Saturday 19 July, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Free (Museum admission: Adults £5.10; under 18s free)
Drop into Clitheroe Castle for a family-friendly day of archaeology and discovery. Meet archaeologists, get hands-on with artefacts, and see history brought to life with weapons demonstrations and craft activities. Younger visitors can dig in the ‘Rooms of Discovery’ or earn a Junior Archaeologist certificate, while adults can enjoy talks and workshops exploring how archaeology brings people together.
Colchester Archaeological Trust Open Day - Colchester
Saturday 2 August, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Free
This year’s open day is inspired by Mind’s Five Ways to Wellbeing:
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Connect with archaeologists and fellow enthusiasts
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Get Active in hands-on activities
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Take Notice of the stories beneath your feet
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Learn from demonstrations and talks
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Give your time to celebrate archaeology with your community
Perfect for all ages, with sandpit digs, arts & crafts, and even a picnic spot to relax and recharge.
Hodgemoor Woods Heritage & Wellbeing Walk - Buckinghamshire
Sunday 27 July (Morning & Afternoon slots) | Free for Bucks Archaeological Society members, £5 for non-members
Breathe in the fresh woodland air and let your footsteps trace 2,000 years of history on this guided circular walk. Explore traces of a Romano-British settlement, medieval ridge and furrow ploughing, WWII occupation sites, and even the remains of ornamental water gardens. Connecting with the past in nature is a brilliant way to recharge and feel grounded.
This is a 3.5km walk on woodland paths, stout footwear recommended!
Archaeology and Wellbeing at the Heritage Park - Rhondda Cynon Taf
Wednesday 23 July | £3 for Children, Adults Go Free
Join us at the Rhondda Heritage Park on Wednesday 23rd July 2025 to learn about archaeology and wellbeing. We will have our VR headsets for you to try, learn about what food people used to grow and plant something up to take home with you. You’ll also get to find out how crafting is good for your wellbeing and how it goes hand in hand with archaeology. Head over to the Rhondda Heritage Park website to book tickets. Sessions are £3 for children (adults are free) and the time slots are 10:00-12:00 or 13:00-15:00. We look forward to seeing you there!
Ymunwch â ni ym Mharc Treftadaeth Cwm Rhondda ar ddydd Mercher 23 Gorffennaf 2025 i ddysgu am archeoleg a lles. Bydd cyfle gyda chi gael blas ar ein clustffonau Realiti Rhithwir (VR), dysgu am y gwahanol fwydydd yr oedd pobl yn eu tyfu yn y gorffennol, a phlannu rhywbeth i fynd adref gyda chi ar y diwrnod. Byddwch chi hefyd yn dysgu am yr effaith gadarnhaol y mae crefftio’n ei chael ar eich lles, a'r cysylltiad rhwng crefftio ac archeoleg. Ewch i wefan Parc Treftadaeth Cwm Rhondda i gadw lle. Pris y sesiwn y £3 fesul plentyn (oedolion am ddim), a bydd y sesiynau’n cael eu cynnal rhwng 10:00-12:00 ac 13:00-15:00. Rydyn ni'n edrych ymlaen at eich gweld chi!
Archaeology and Wellbeing Theme Day - Online
Tuesday 22 July, 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Free
Our Theme Day is a digital celebration of archaeology’s power to promote wellbeing.
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Learn a new skill with downloadable resources you can enjoy solo or with a group.
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Mindfulness Museum of You – Join Chris Jeavons from the University of Leicester for a guided reflective practice to prepare body and mind for archaeological adventures.
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What’s Not to Treasure? – Not all treasures glitter. We’re building an online gallery celebrating everyday collections – from shells to railway tickets, pin badges to pressed flowers – and how collecting can calm and ground us.
Throughout the day, we’ll also announce the winners of the Marsh Community Archaeology Awards on our social channels, celebrating incredible people and projects transforming how we experience archaeology, breaking down barriers, sparking curiosity, and creating opportunities to connect with the past.
The Healing Power of Heritage - Butser Ancient Farm, Waterlooville
Monday 28 July - Friday 1 August, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM each day | Adults £13.50, Children £8.50, Family tickets available
Join us as we celebrate this year’s Festival of Archaeology with the inspiring theme of Archaeology and Wellbeing. Set against the backdrop of our beautiful site, this special event invites you to explore how people in the past found meaning, balance, and calm in everyday life.
Get hands-on with ancient crafts, from pottery to chalk carving and more, and discover how these traditional skills can connect us to the past - and to ourselves. Through immersive activities, we’ll explore the role of mindfulness, ritual, and creativity in ancient communities, and how these practices can still support wellbeing today.
This is Archaeology: Open Doors and Open Minds - Why Archaeology is Good for People, and Why People Are Good for Archaeology - Online
Thursday 31 July, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Free
How can archaeology bring people together, strengthen communities, and even create positive societal change?
In this online talk, Arran Johnson and Natasha Bramall from Wessex Archaeology explore how heritage can be a transformative force for good.
From social prescribing to tackling isolation, find out how archaeology can play a growing role in addressing deep-rooted social challenges. Hear how communality, placemaking, and co-created approaches can help archaeology feel relevant and welcoming, even to those who’ve never engaged with it before. And finally, learn how sensitive adaptations to traditional methods can open doors for communities often excluded from heritage spaces.
