A growing number of people are seeking opportunities to disconnect from their smartphones, with screen-free events gaining traction across the UK. The Offline Project, led by Pelé Zachariah, has been organising such events in London since August 2025.
These activities, which include group walks, collage-making classes, and supper clubs, begin with participants handing over their devices to be secured in a lockbox. Zachariah noted that while some first-timers may feel apprehensive about being separated from their phones, many later express how much they needed the break.
This trend is part of a wider movement towards digital detox, with data from Ofcom's 2025 Online Nation report indicating that UK adults spend an average of four and a half hours online daily, predominantly on their phones. Eventbrite data also shows a 121% increase in attendance at phone-free events globally between 2024 and 2025.
Musicians and comedians are also implementing no-phone policies at their gigs, with artists like Bob Dylan, Fred Again, and Harry Styles having rules against phone use at recent UK events. Comedian Russell Howard's current tour also promises a phone-free experience.