The Rise of Cottage Role-Playing Escapes
An exclusive study reveals a fascinating trend sweeping across the United Kingdom: Millennials and Generation Z are increasingly hiring holiday cottages not for traditional relaxation, but to immerse themselves in magical role-playing adventures. Driven by a desire to escape the watchful eyes of parents, partners, and society, these groups are transforming secluded getaways into fantastical realms where creativity flourishes away from everyday scrutiny.
Escaping Reality for Fantasy
"It's difficult playing at your house. You're trying to get in the mood to slay a vampire, and then someone's boyfriend comes in to get a snack," explains Georgia Johnson, a young Millennial from North London who has celebrated a decade of leaving boyfriends behind in the capital to head to remote locations with friends. This sentiment echoes among many who find domestic settings disruptive to their immersive experiences.
According to an exclusive cottages.com study, one in four Britons and half of Gen Z have now booked a staycation specifically to host events like murder mysteries, games nights, or TV-themed weekends. This surge is partly attributed to the popularity of "cosy crime" hits such as The Traitors and Agatha Christie adaptations, which have inspired more interactive and themed gatherings.
Immersive Experiences in Secluded Settings
Georgia and her costume-clad friends have travelled to various locations, including Valencia twice, a property in Kent, a friend's house in Bath, and the Lake District. For them, the environment is crucial to setting the mood. "One time, we knew we were going to have a fortune telling, so we put out loads of tarot cards and dice and had a candlelit session," she recalls. Their current game, Curse of Strahd, modelled on Dracula, has them planning a trip to Whitby to conclude the adventure with candles and spooky music.
The appeal extends beyond mere gameplay. For many, these retreats offer a safe space for creative expression. Among Georgia's group is Ben, an office worker who transforms into "officer of the post" Derbert Clifton-Brown on weekends, complete with a moustache. Creative Kash has purchased ears specifically designed for people of colour, while Oliver enjoys painting himself green. Georgia humorously notes that her mother once walked in on them and remarked she would have preferred finding them in an orgy, highlighting the generational divide in understanding this pastime.
The Resurgence of Role-Playing Games
It would be easy to dismiss role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) as a relic of the 1980s, recently revived by shows like Stranger Things. However, the reality is far more robust. Fifty-two years after its invention, DnD boasts 13.7 million active players globally. Interest in tabletop role-playing games has surged by approximately 85% since 2020, reflecting a broader cultural embrace. This growth extends to other games like Nottingham-based Warhammer, valued at £4.7 billion at the end of 2024.
Unique Venues and Community Building
James Mackenzie-Thorpe exemplifies how this trend is expanding into unique venues. Working at Kents Caverns in Torquay, Devon—a network of prehistoric caves beneath the hotel that inspired Fawlty Towers—he initially wrote a DnD adventure set in the caves for colleagues. This evolved into public sessions that have run for three years, attracting players from Cornwall and Somerset. James invests significant effort, commissioning professionally painted maps and using rechargeable lanterns to illuminate the skull-lined caves.
For James, the joy lies in witnessing personal transformations. "We have a young member who has been four or five times to play in the caves. They're non-binary and are just starting to come to terms with that. To see everyone really take that person in hand, to really help that person come out of their shell, it makes me really proud," he shares. These experiences underscore how traveling to cottages or underground locations can facilitate self-expression and community bonding.
As more Millennials and Gen Z seek these escapes, the trend highlights a shift in holiday priorities—from passive sunbathing to active, imaginative collaboration. Whether in a Lake District cottage or a Devon cave, these role-playing retreats offer a blend of nostalgia, creativity, and social connection, redefining what it means to get away from it all.
