Selfridges UK
Selfridges UK
2018
Wellbeing Walks
Designing and leading tranquil walks for Selfridges staff and visitors during Wellbeing Week, revealing hidden green spaces just steps from Oxford Street that dramatically reduce pollution exposure and boost mood.
Engagement Event
Purpose
We partnered with Selfridges to create a guided tranquil walk exploring the calmer, greener side of Mayfair — right on the doorstep of one of London's busiest shopping streets. Timed to coincide with Selfridges' Wellbeing Week, Mental Health Awareness Week and National Walking Month, the 30-minute walk took participants on a route through six tranquil spaces, demonstrating how stepping just a few streets away from Oxford Street can significantly reduce noise and air pollution exposure while improving mood and wellbeing.
Approach
Seminar on wellbeing benefits of nature connection in and around the workplace
Designed a 30-minute walking route starting and ending at Edwards Mews, near Selfridges, connecting six tranquil spaces across Mayfair
Mapped environmental quality data across the route, noise levels, air pollution (NO2 and PM2.5) and green space coverage — to compare tranquil stops with Oxford Street conditions
Led guided walks during Selfridges' Wellbeing Week (13-17th May 2019)
Delivered two walkshops with Selfridges staff during Wellbeing Week to highlight the benefits of choosing walking meetings on health, wellbeing, productivity and creativity
Collected participant questionnaires capturing mood before and after the walk, tranquillity ratings for each stop, and whether participants had visited the spaces before
Delivered a map poster and findings from the surveys for display in the Selfridge's offices
Results
The walks revealed that tranquil, restorative spaces exist just moments from one of London's most polluted and congested streets — and that most participants had never visited them despite working or shopping nearby.
The tranquil spaces visited were on average 37% lower in pollution (noise and air) than Oxford Street outside Selfridges
NO2 concentrations averaged 52% lower on the tranquil route (48 µg/m³ vs 100 µg/m³ on Oxford Street)
Noise levels were 52% lower across the tranquil stops (below 55 dBA vs 74 dBA on Oxford Street)
Green space coverage averaged 45% on the route, compared to 0% on Oxford Street
Mount Street Gardens was rated the most tranquil spot at 8.2 out of 10, yet only 24% of participants had visited before
Mood shifted significantly — before the walk 49% of participants felt stressed, while afterwards, 54% felt relaxed and 26% felt refreshed or inspired
Several stops were almost unknown to participants: only 6% had visited the Terence Donovan & Twiggy Statue area, and just 20% had been to Lancaster Court
Quotes
"I've worked in Selfridges for years but didn't know any of the places visited on the walk today. On a normal day, you just go from the tube station to the office, that's it!"
Tranquil Walk participant, 15th May 2019