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The collection is the point here, and it is a wider set than it sounds: vinyl records, comics, trading cards and coins, but also houseplants, fishkeeping, thrifting, whisky tasting and tracing a family tree. They are calm, easy to pick at for twenty minutes, and they never really finish, which is either the appeal or the warning. Maybe not if shelf space is tight, or if you already know you would not stop at one.
37 hobbies. Each has what it costs to start, how much time it takes and a first session to try.
BeachcombingSearching shorelines and riverbanks for sea glass, shells and washed-up finds.
Coin collectingSort coins by country, date and mint, hunting rare ones in change or from dealers.
Comic collectingHunt down back issues and graphic novels, bagging, boarding and organising them.
Craft beer tastingTaste beers by style at taprooms and festivals, from crisp pilsners to stouts.
DJingMix recorded tracks together live, matching beats so the music never stops.
DollhousesBuilding and furnishing tiny houses and rooms at doll scale, down to the teacups.
EntomologyFind and identify insects, from moth trapping at night to butterfly counts.
Figure collectingCollect and display action, anime and designer figures from the series you love.
FishkeepingLooking after fish in aquariums or garden ponds, from water care to aquascapes.
Fossil huntingSearch beaches and cliffs for ammonites, shark teeth and other ancient remains.
Fountain pensWrite with fountain pens and bottled ink, exploring nibs, papers and colours.
GenealogyTrace your family tree back through census records, archives and DNA tests.
GeocachingUsing GPS on your phone to track down hidden containers left by other players.
HouseplantsKeeping indoor plants thriving in pots, from leafy ferns to cacti and flytraps.
LapidaryTumbling, cutting and polishing rough stones into smooth, shiny gems.
LEGO buildingBuild LEGO sets made for adults and design your own creations from bricks.
Mechanical keyboardsBuild custom computer keyboards, choosing switches, keycaps and how they sound.
Metal detectingSweep fields and beaches with a detector, digging up coins and lost objects.
Miniature paintingPainting small figures for tabletop games or display, down to the tiniest details.
Miniature wargamingBuild and paint armies of small models, then battle them on a tabletop with dice.
Model railwaysBuild miniature train layouts with track and scenery, and run model locomotives.
Modular synthsPatch ready-made synth modules together with cables to shape sound, no soldering.
Perfume makingBlend scented oils into perfumes of your own, layering top, heart and base notes.
Personal stylePutting together outfits, hunting vintage pieces and working out your own look.
Retro computingRestore and run old computers and consoles, from repairs to loading 1980s software.
Retro gamingPlay and collect old consoles and cartridges, from the 8-bit era to the 90s.
RockhoundingHunt rivers, beaches and quarries for minerals, crystals, agates and even meteorites.
Scale model kitsGlue and paint plastic kits of planes, tanks, ships and Gunpla robots.
Sneaker collectingTrack releases, hunt rare pairs and deep-clean your trainers to keep them pristine.
Stamps & postcardsCollect stamps, postcards and old maps, sorting them into albums by place and era.
Tea tastingBrew loose-leaf teas and compare them, from small-pot gongfu brewing to tea ceremony.
Thrifting & antiquesBrowse charity shops, flea markets and antique fairs for vintage finds and old books.
Trading card gamesBuild a deck from collectable cards and duel others, as in Magic or Pokémon.
Vinyl recordsDig through record shops for LPs and play them on a turntable, building a collection.
Watch collectingLearn how mechanical watches work and build a small collection to wear.
Whisky tastingTaste whiskies side by side with a drop of water, noting smoke, fruit and spice.
Wine tastingTaste wines side by side, learning grapes, regions and how to describe them.