Museum of Happiness
The Museum of Happiness is a not-for-profit organisation designed to teach everyone about happiness and wellbeing. It is based in Arlington House. Arlington House is a homeless hostel designed to help people get jobs and move to stable housing. It also features a conference centre, a creative space and the Museum of Happiness!
The Museum has four values: kindness, community, creativity and mindfulness.
This weekend I visited the Museum’s ‘Winter Happiness Festival’. Running for two weeks this event is designed to be a playful exploration of happiness.
Happiness Ball Pool
First up was diving straight into the ball pool. It was filled with white balls and blue cushions and lit by soothing multi-coloured lights. It was fun and relaxing. There were four of us visiting the museum and we were lucky to have the pool to ourselves!
Happiness Activities
There were a series of interactive activities designed to get us thinking about happiness.
We were encouraged to think about how we would engage with nature – so of course I said I would walk with Milly! There was a ‘letting it go’ bin and a self compassion station where we added something positive about ourselves to a mirror. There was also a gratitude tree! And if you’re a regular reader you’ll know that I’m a big fan of gratitude in my weekly #FridayFive posts.
I had a go at some origami and made a sort of butterfly! Unfortunately a lot of the art areas and happiness pledge board were full and somehow we managed to miss the photo book area! We enjoyed a fabulous chocolate truffle from the Well Bean Chocolate Company which has a brilliant mission to promote wellbeing including a positive relationship between good food and the mind.
The Museum of Happiness wants to be accessible to all.Ā Lots of their events are affordable or offered at a donation. Entry to the Winter Festival was a very wonderful Ā£5. And if I lived in London I would be going to many more of their events!
I used to live a stone’s throw from Arlington Road in Camden, for over 12 years. It was known for rehabilitation hostels for alcoholics, and huge house prices. Strange to see a happiness museum there, but I am pleased that you had a great time, Lauren.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thankyou Pete. Think they do a lot of work with people who need help, living on the house. Interesting place to visit!
I want to go in a ball pit ššš it looks amazing! As does all the other activities. Can we not organise something like this in the marquee for a weekend? X X
Iād like a ball pit in one of the offices… or stores just for collections people! X
What a amazingly lovely place that sounds. I so want to go on the ball pond!
Thankyou! It was fun š
This sounds amazing! That ball pit looks like a lot of fun. Sounds fabulous š
It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday with some fish and chips afterwards! X
Yummy. Great end to a fab day!
Sounds like such a great place! Never heard of anything like it before.
Thanks Gemma, I found them on twitter. Really pleased I had the chance to go!