Whatever your prior experience of music festivals, it’s time to park that and take a look at what Latitude Festival has to offer. Offering so much more than music, the festival is home to plenty of zones and arenas where you can improve your physical health, calm your mind, soothe your soul and boost your brain.
Physical wellbeing
Although you’ll certainly be burning calories while you dance the day away at Latitude Festival, that’s not the only way attending the event will help your physical wellbeing. Here are some other ways you can embrace your fitness goals while enjoying the festival atmosphere:
- Paddleboarding and wild swimming in fresh waters of Henham lake.
- A range of guided mindful rhythmic movement sessions take place in the Temple of Connection.
- Yoga classes for all abilities run throughout each day in the Yoga Tent. What could be better than a morning flow at a festival near “the sunrise coast”?
- Simply walking from one part of the festival to another will help you to get your steps in.
- The Retreat provides a luxury spa experience at the festival with ice baths, saunas and bookable treatments.
Mental wellness
With the Mind, Body and Zen zone at the festival, you’ll find plenty of activities dedicated to boosting your wellbeing. These areas provide much-needed downtime during a busy day at the festival so be sure to seek them out for a regenerating rest:
- The welcoming Mind Tent provides space for a moment of peace, alongside mental health support if desired.
- Head to the Zen Stage to listen to talks from wellbeing experts and join immersive mindfulness activities.
- The festival also plays host to hosts to the Recovery Tent, a dedicated space for all stages of a recovery journey.
- I’ve previously shared how important crafting is for mental wellbeing, so the Craft Tent is a must-visit for getting into the ‘flow’ of a painting or creativity session.
- Paddleboard yoga combines mindfulness and meditation with balancing skills to fully engage your brain and body.
Soul regeneration
Alongside the physical and mental health benefits of Latitude Festival, you’ll find plenty of peaceful places dotted around the site to encourage you to relax and unwind. Here are just a handful of the chill-out zones you can enjoy:
- Find sanctuary in the quiet zone of the Zen Den and the Heart Bus.
- Stroll through the woodlands to find the Tree of Life, where you can listen to relaxed storytelling and thought-inspiring talks.
- When the sun goes down, the festival fields and woods come alive with twinkling lights – a beautiful sight, so take a mental picture.
- One of the elements I loved the most about Latitude in previous years is the lightshow on the fountain, which makes everyone stop and stare as time stands still.
- Also, you’ll just find loads of places to chill out all around the festival site; hammocks in the trees, beanbags, deckchairs, bales of hay. Sit back and relax.
Brain boosting
- Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture is a new arena to Latitude this year, combining an interactive museum with experiments and performance to help you learn something new.
- Head to The Listening Post to hear literature readings, poetry, podcasts and speakers, with a bookshop right next to the tent for you to take your favourite tomes home with you.
- Sharpen your wits listening to dozens of comedians in the Comedy Arena during the day.
- Admire the work of artists, which you’ll find dotted all around the site – just keep your eyes open and you’ll be treated to a visual spectacle everywhere you go.
- Of course, music the key element of Latitude Festival and listening to it is good for the brain, especially if you’re one of the people who experience frisson goosebumps when you hear a beautiful tune.
I hope this round-up of all the fabulous mind, body and soul-boosting activities at Latitude has inspired you to enjoy a weekend at the festival. Let me know what else you’re looking forward to at this year’s Latitude festival in the comments and I’d love to hear your favourite parts of the festival from previous years – what’s not-to-be-missed??
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I attended Latitude festival as a member of the press but was not asked to write this blog post. This piece contains my own opinions and experiences of the festival and I am not responsible for your experience of the event.
