Offline Club brings digital detox concept to London for those wanting real-life connections and relaxation

For some of us, being without our smartphones for a few hours prompts panic: think of all the messages we would miss. For others, however, going off-grid sounds like bliss. Now, those looking to escape the doomscrolling can go cold turkey – for a few hours, at least.

The Offline Club, which has made a name for itself by hosting phone-free hangouts in the Netherlands, has brought its concept to London. On Wednesday, the Guardian visited one of the company’s no-phone zones, hosted in a church in West Hampstead.