held
the UK coastal retreat
for queer women, trans and non-binary people
15th - 19th october 2026
the experience
Let yourself be held.
5 nourishing days nestled on the wild Suffolk coast to soften, slow down and remember what it feels like to be held- by yourself, by community, by nature itself. The kind of time we never give ourselves: five whole days, devoted entirely to you.
Yoga. Breathwork. Mantra. Sound healing. Ritual. Nourishing local food. Cold sea dips and hot tub soaks. All within the warmth of a radiant community of queer women, trans and non-binary folk (aka your newest soul family).
Far from the noise, the rush and the to-do lists, we'll gather as the leaves turn- to rest, reflect, and be witnessed in the tender holiness of our aliveness. We'll move, breathe, swim, soak, share and let ourselves be carried for a while.
A moment to remember: you don't have to hold it all on your own.
To soften. To Settle. To be held.
the location
We'll gather at our coastal retreat tucked along the wild edge of the Suffolk coast- where heathland meets shingle beach, pine woods give way to big open skies and the North Sea breathes steady beyond the dunes.
A landscape made for autumn, where time slows, the light turns golden and you're invited to soften. Mornings arrive misty over the reed beds, and evenings draw in early around the woodburner.
Our retreat home wraps you in deep sofas, wool throws, candlelight and a snug made for piling in together (and telling queer stories). At the top, we’ll meet the sunrise in our sacred yoga shala, outside- our private pool and a hot tub for soaking under the stars.
Meals shared around the long table, cooked by our private chef will be seasonal and soul-nourishing, made fresh each day with local Suffolk produce.
This is where simplicity becomes sacred. In our home away from home.
this retreat is for you if…
You're craving permission to stop, soften and let yourself be held for a few days
You want to deepen your spiritual practices, exploring yoga and breathwork more deeply in an intimate, inclusive and elevated setting with experienced teachers
You’re craving a community of LBTQIA+, spiritual, like-minded souls who truly see you + get you (bi babes with BFs/bi-curious huns/non-label folk, this of course includes you too!)
You want to unplug, slow down, and reconnect with the wild beauty of the British coast with a group of people like you (just a 2 hour train ride from London!)
You're curious about what it means to hold yourself… and to let yourself be held by others
You’re ready to choose yourself, honour your rhythms and find your soft place to land
“Life altering”
— Natalie
“This community makes me feel like myself. What a gift that is!”
— Martina
“Thanks to PLU I now know that I am worthy of all the things my heart wants for me.”
— Abigail
“Heart-first queer community”
— Ace
what’s included
5 days, 4 nights at our cosy coastal retreat home on the wild Suffolk coast
Daily brunches, snacks and dinners, locally sourced and soul-nourishing
Daily morning yoga and meditation sessions with Natalia
Somatic Breathwork journeys with Calypso
Sound healing, devotional rituals, mantra singing and ceremony
Wild nature walks, cold sea dips and cosy sharing circles
Use of the private pool and hot tub throughout your stay
Private transfer to and from the local train station
what’s not included
Train tickets
Optional treatments: massage, bodywork etc.
Taxis for any independent explorations
“A loving embrace of queer joy”
— Ace
“My life changed when I came on this retreat. It fast forwarded my journey of connecting to myself which is so much harder to navigate on your own than when you’re surrounded by people who get it. I’ve made life long best friends and couldn’t be more thankful that People Like Us exists.”
— Kathryn
a typical day
7:30-8:30: Silent reflection, tea + sunrise
8:30-10:30: Mantra, Meditation + Yoga with Natalia
10:30-11:30: Fresh local plant-based brunch
11:30-3:30: Free time: walks, naps, dips + chats
3:00-3:30: Afternoon snack + cuppa
4:00-6:00: Somatic Breathwork with Calypso
6:30-8:30: Delicious dinner made by in house chefs
8:30-9:30: Hot tub late night chats with new queer bffs
rooms, price, book
Quad Room
The perfect space for solo retreaters craving connection. Cosy and characterful, with 4 single beds, a shared bathroom and gorgeous views.
(Beds are arranged toe-to-toe, sleepover-style. Craving a little more space and privacy? Our ensuite twin rooms might be for you.)
EARLYBIRD: £1199 [£1399]
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
Ensuite Twin Room
A peaceful sanctuary for two, perfect for couples, close friends or solo travellers wanting a little extra privacy. Can be set up as two singles or a king bed.
(This room is shared with 1 other, please get in contact if you would like to book as a private room for just you.)
EARLYBIRD: £1499 [£1699]
Save your spot with a £399 deposit.
Please note, deposits are non-refundable and contribute to the total amount of your booking. You then have the option to pay your balance in full or via a payment plan. Payment plan: spit the balance in 2. All final payments are due by 4/9/26. If a slightly different payment plan is required, please drop us an email hello@peoplelikeusretreats.com and we will see if we can accommodate. Klarna and PayPal are also available at checkout. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any potential cancellations.
“An amazing, caring community that creates a safe space for queer people to come together to be held and discover more about themselves than they ever felt possible.”
— Sarah
“What I love most about People Like Us is how Calypso and Natalia show love, care, warmth, compassion, authenticity and vulnerability in a way that is entirely infectious, and how everyone in their presence is able to do the same. It’s something I’ve never experienced, and has led to the deepest, most beautiful connections that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
— Natalie
our part-scholarship
As per all of our previous international retreats, we’re offering one part-scholarship place (25% off) for this retreat, created for someone who would deeply benefit from joining us but would otherwise be unable to financially access this experience.
We especially encourage queer people of colour and trans people to apply.
This spot is in a quad room (with 3 others) and is intended for those for whom attending at full price truly isn’t an option right now. If you’re able to make the full price work with a payment plan, this scholarship isn’t for you. But if this retreat is out of your financial reach at present, but you know it is calling you deeply- we invite you to apply.
We trust you to honour the spirit of this offering.
Please only apply if you’re confident you can cover the part-scholarship price of £899 (total), including the £399 deposit due upon confirmation of your place. A payment plan for the remaining balance is available. Travel is not included.
To apply:
1. Please complete this part-scholarship application form
2. Complete the retreat booking form below ensuring you have checked the scholarship box.
Your application is not complete unless both of these forms are complete and submitted. Please ensure your name and email address match on both forms. The application deadline is Friday 31st July 2026. We will be in contact with the successful applicant no later than Friday 7th August 2026.
travel
We want your journey to HELD to be as smooth and simple as possible, so here's everything you need to know…
outbound
By train: The nearest station is Saxmundham. We'll be arranging a complimentary group transfer from the station to our retreat home at around 4:45pm on the 15th. If you'd like to take this transfer, we recommend you book an off peak return ticket. We will then confirm the advised train time closer to the date. An off peak return from London Liverpool Street is currently £60 at the time of launching this retreat.
By car: There is limited on street parking close to the retreat venue (in Thorpeness). The journey is around 2.5-3 hours from London.
return
Check out will be around 10am. We'll be arranging a group transfer back to the station on the morning of the 23rd, in time for trains around 11am. If you're driving, check out is the same time around 10am.
about people like us
People Like Us retreats are elevated, heart-led journeys for queer women, trans and non-binary people to pause the noise, land back in their bodies and reconnect with spirit and community.
Held in stunning, nature-rich locations, our boutique retreats offer space to slow down, breathe deep and be immersed in queer connection. You’ll move through yoga, somatic breathwork, sound healing, coaching workshops, cacao ceremonies and tender conversations under the stars.
Founded by couple Calypso Barnum-Bobb and Natalia Spano, People Like Us was born from a craving: for beautiful, intentional spaces where we could gather outside of party culture, move, rest, reflect and feel held by our community. What started as a one-off event in 2023 quickly became something bigger, because it turns out, a lot of us were longing for the same thing.
Today, People Like Us is a curated home for transformational, elevated retreats, somatic experiences and community rituals rooted in devotion, tenderness, spirituality and radical joy. Our spaces centre on safety, belonging and authenticity, welcoming anyone who feels called, whether you’re secure and confident in your queer identity, still exploring your sexuality, bi-curious with a boyfriend or don’t vibe with labels at all.
For the seekers, the softies, the edge-walkers and joy-hunters. For people like us
meet your hosts
Calypso Barnum-Bobb (she/they)
Leadership Coach, Somatic Breathwork Practitioner, Speaker + Writer.
Calypso is a certified Trauma Informed Coach, Somatic Breathwork Practitioner and authentic living guide who helps humans break free from the stories that limit them and come home to their full selves.
Featured in Stylist, Gay Times, and Glastonbury Festival, Calypso is known for creating heart-led, transformational spaces both in intimate coaching containers and on global stages.
With a background in public speaking, 1:1 and group coaching, somatic facilitation and holding conscious community spaces, Calypso sees gold in the places you once called broken and offers practical, spiritual, embodied tools to help you reclaim them.
Natalia Spano (she/her)
Yoga + Somatic Movement Teacher, Dancer, Sound Healer, Reiki Practitioner
Natalia is a 425hr certified Yoga Teacher, Somatic Movement Facilitator, Dancer, Sound Healer and Reiki Practitioner whose work is devoted to helping people reconnect with their bodies, hearts and creative expression.
Having trained in somatic and elemental practices across Bali, India and the UK, Natalia fuses ancient tradition with contemporary movement, holding spaces that are fluid, embodied and soul-led. Her style invites students to drop beneath the surface, move intuitively and honour the sacred wisdom of their bodies.
Natalia also owns and runs a dance studio, regularly teaches across London and internationally and leads for conscious communities and brands.
retreat booking form
Fill out the below and we will be in touch shortly with a link to pay your £399 deposit, secure your booking and join the People Like Us October retreat crew!
First come, first serve. Please note, deposits are non-refundable.
Please note, deposits are non-refundable and contribute to the total amount of your booking. You then have the option to pay your balance in full or via a payment plan. Payment plan: split the balance in 2. All final payments are due by 11/9/26. If a slightly different payment plan is required, please drop us an email hello@peoplelikeusretreats.com and we will see if we can accommodate. Klarna and PayPal are also available at checkout. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any potential cancellations.
“Humanity at it’s best”
— Vitti
“The friends and community I have made has been life changing. Not to mention the advancements I've made within myself! Love Calypso and Natalia and the space they've created and the emotions and feelings they've guided me through. Thank you so so so much!”
— Clare