The Biggest Hobbies of 2025 (That Aren’t About Making Money)
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In a world obsessed with productivity, side hustles, and digital hustle culture, the UK is experiencing a refreshing return to joy-first activities.
From knitting to calligraphy, nostalgic and mindful pastimes are seeing a revival — and crucially, they’re not being monetised.
Google Trends data supports this shift, with searches for how to get a hobby soaring by 9,900% in the past three months. It’s clear that people are craving hobbies that offer more headspace and less hustle.
Here, Paul Gray at Chums reveals the biggest hobbies of 2025 so far and the surprising ways they can benefit your mental and physical health.
1. Walking Trails – 373.31% Uplift
According to Sport England and Transport for London, 15.2 million people in the UK now choose to walk from A to B over other transport options. The growing popularity of walking as a hobby is also being fuelled by viral trends like TikTok’s “hot girl walks” and a 28% rise in walking holidays across the UK.
Searches for walking trails have jumped by 373.31% in just three months, showing this simple, free activity is becoming a wellness staple. Walking can also reduce symptoms of depression by 36% and improve cardiovascular health — making it one of the most accessible and effective hobbies for both mind and body.
2. Reading as a Hobby – 9,900% Uplift
Gone are the days when reading was reserved for fiction alone. Now, people are diving into everything from true crime to manifestation guides and memoirs. Whether it’s escapism or education, reading as a hobby has seen a dramatic 9,900% rise in search interest.
Studies by the University of Sussex show reading can lower stress by 68%, improve cognitive function, and reduce anxiety and depression by immersing the reader in another world — all while enhancing empathy and imagination.
3. What Is Geocaching – 5,700% Uplift
Geocaching is the modern-day treasure hunt you didn’t know you needed. Participants use GPS to track down hidden “caches” — waterproof containers containing logbooks or small trinkets — from websites like Geocaching.com.
The hobby appeals to everyone from Gen Z to over-60s and is known for combining light physical activity, problem-solving, and adventure. It’s also associated with improved working memory and lower blood pressure, making it both mentally and physically rewarding.
4. How to Knit – 154.32% Uplift
Knitting is back — and it’s not just for nanas. Around 6–7 million people in the UK knit regularly, with yarn sales growing by 2.1% year-on-year. Since Tom Daley went viral for knitting during the Olympics, the craft has become synonymous with modern self-care.
According to The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81% of knitters say the hobby makes them feel happier, and 50% say it helps manage symptoms of depression. It’s tactile, creative, and meditative — all in one.
5. Painting Candles – 9,900% Uplift
Thanks to TikTok, painting candles has become a visually satisfying, screen-free hobby for the creatively inclined. Usually done with acrylic paint on pillar candles, the trend is as relaxing as it is aesthetic.
Craft-based activities like this help participants enter a flow state, boosting dopamine and reducing anxiety. These fine motor tasks also improve hand-eye coordination and promote mindfulness.
6. Beginners Calligraphy – 9,900% Uplift
Whether via in-person workshops or viral tutorial videos, calligraphy has emerged as the ‘it’ hobby of the year. Its rise in popularity is reflected in a 9,900% uplift in search interest.
Calligraphy offers a mix of focus, fine motor skill development, and calm. A study published in Occupational Therapy International found that handwriting-based tasks like calligraphy improve cognitive flexibility and reduce stress by activating the brain’s prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for emotional regulation.
Whether you’re looking for something mindful, creative, or just fun, the biggest hobbies of 2025 show one thing clearly: we’re finally reclaiming our free time — not to monetise it, but to enjoy it.
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