Festival of British Archaeology 2025: Rediscover the Past & Boost Wellbeing 🌿

📅 Dates & Theme

The Festival of British Archaeology 2025, run by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), takes place from 19 July to 3 August 2025, under the inspiring theme of “Archaeology and Wellbeing” Wikipedia+6Archaeology UK+6Awareness Days+6Wikipedia+7Archaeology UK+7Industrial Heritage Networks+7. This year the festival is aligning with the Five Ways to Wellbeing, encouraging activities that help people give, be active, learn, take notice, and connect through archaeology Archaeology UK+4Archaeology UK+4Industrial Heritage Networks+4.

Why It Matters 🌍

• Promotes Mental & Physical Health: Whether exploring archaeological sites outdoors, studying artefacts mindfully, learning excavation skills, or socializing at events, archaeology supports holistic wellbeing Archaeology UK+14Archaeology UK+14LinkedIn+14.

• Widespread Engagement: Featuring hundreds of in-person and virtual events across the UK coordinated by community groups, heritage bodies, and institutions, the festival truly unites people National Trust+8Awareness Days+8National Today+8.

• Heritage in Focus: It promotes public interest in preserving the UK’s rich archaeological legacy and encourages community-led storytelling and pride Archaeology 2030+12Awareness Days+12National Today+12.

Highlights & Event Ideas 🎉

1. Community Digs & Field Schools

Join local excavations to get hands-on experience in uncovering Britain’s buried history — perfect for connecting with nature and learning practical skills.

2. Guided Tours & Site Walks

Explore archaeological sites and museums led by experts. For instance:

• Medieval village events at National Trust properties like Corfe Castle and Chedworth Roman Villa LinkedInNational Trust.

• The Festival finale weekend on 2–3 August at Cliffe Castle Museum in Bradford — featuring prehistoric demos, living history, textile and pottery crafts, and wellbeing walking tours Bradford Museums and Galleries+1Archaeology UK+1.

3. Expert Talks & Digital Sessions

Hybrid online talks such as “Hidden Histories” with Jim Butler and mobile-podcast workshops with Chris Gregory offer opportunities to grow and learn Archaeology UK.

4. Family-Friendly Crafts & Workshops

From Roman oil lamp moulding and brass rubbings at Maidstone Museum (2 Aug), to Cotswold flint-knapping and medieval crafts at Salisbury Museum’s event over the weekend of 26–27 July Awareness Days+5Maidstone Museum+5The Salisbury Museum+5.

How to Participate 🤝

1. Discover Events: Explore the official festival listings on the CBA website — filter by region and topic.

2. Organize Your Own: Community groups can register events via the organiser portal, tapping into CBA’s resources, marketing graphics, and wellbeing guidance Archaeology UK+12Archaeology UK+12Archaeology UK+12Archaeology UK+1Industrial Heritage Networks+1.

3. Share Your Media: Use social media with #FestivalofArchaeology to inspire others.

4. Volunteer & Donate: Giving time or a small donation supports community activities and outreach.

Boosting SEO & Digital Reach

• On-site well-being benefits: Emphasise how archaeology fosters mindfulness, nature exposure, social bonding, and lifelong learning.

• Optimise for search: Include strategic keywords like Festival of British Archaeology 2025, archaeology wellbeing, and CBA July events UK.

• Backlinks: Link to authoritative sources like the Council for British Archaeology, National Trust, National Museum pages, community dig societies, and digital learning platforms.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

The Festival of British Archaeology 2025 offers more than a peek into the past—it’s a chance to improve your wellbeing, learn, and connect through archaeology. With practical workshops, expert-led tours, family crafts, and digital talks, it’s the perfect way to spend a July afternoon or weekend immersed in history and community.

Don’t miss it: head to the CBA event listings, mark your calendar, and prepare for a journey that unearths both heritage and–you.