Brits just wanna have fun, as ‘Raving Slabs’ appear in London
● 27 is the average age when Brits have the most fun according to research from Three Mobile.
● Getting from ‘shall we?’ to ‘sorted’ takes Brits nearly nine days on average when it comes to making plans.
● Over half (55%) say just three minutes of fun can lift their mood and help to disrupt the mundanity of everyday life.
● Three has teamed up with DJ Woody Cook to invite commuters to ‘Let Fun In’ with ‘Raving Slabs’, a giant, first-of-its-kind, interactive soundboard in central London.
24 August 2026: Think the fun stops in your teens? New research from Three Mobile today reveals 27 is the average age at which Brits believe life is at its most fun. With most people (69%) wishing they could make more room for spontaneity and fun and disrupt the mundaneness of everyday life, the mobile brand is ready to get the party started, and everyone’s invited!
Teaming up with DJ Woody Cook, Three is inviting the nation to ‘Let Fun In’ as part of its new campaign – transforming ordinary, grey British paving slabs into vibrant ‘Raving Slabs’ for London commuters. The giant, playable soundboard hidden in the pavement is the first of its kind, bringing a surprising soundtrack to the dullest of days.
For the very first time, Londoners can create music with every step, as they walk or dance across the specially-built slabs, triggering lights, beats and playful melodies. Passers-by can freestyle to create their own track from a selection of sounds curated by Woody, or from samples of The Donnas ‘Dancing With Myself’, as featured in Three’s latest TV advert. Whether stopping to build a unique track or simply strutting to a beat on the way to work, Three is inviting people to embrace the spontaneous moments in life and let a little more fun in.
Woody Cook said: “As a DJ, the magic is always in the unexpected. When life starts feeling a bit rinse-and-repeat, it’s great to switch things up. Raving Slabs is all about taking those night-out vibes and dropping them into the middle of your Monday commute. Three has started the chain reaction, now it’s over to everyone else to follow the beat, lean into the spontaneity and make everyday moments a lot more groovy!”
Adult life often has an unfortunate habit of crashing the party, with over half (56%) saying fun and play get bumped down their priority list as work, responsibilities and life admin take over. The practicalities of organising fun can quickly kill the vibe too – with cost (31%), finding a date everyone can do (27%) and being exhausted after work (20%) amongst the biggest mood-hoovers.
While Brits love spontaneity, getting from ‘shall we?’ to ‘sorted’ can be anything but, as it takes an average of nine days for a plan to go from first suggestion to finally being agreed.
But it doesn’t have to take days to lift our mood, it only takes a few minutes. Three’s research also found that doing something enjoyable for just three minutes can be enough to reset their mindset and inject some joy into their day (55% of Brits agreed). With playing a favourite song (29%), enjoying a tasty treat (27%) or playing a quick game on their phone (23%), being the top mini mood-lifters.
Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James said: “We often assume fun needs hours of free time or a big plan, but that can make it feel like another thing on the to-do list. Three’s research shows that just three minutes of fun can make all the difference. Sometimes a small, spontaneous moment is all it takes to break the routine and change the feel of your day. Whether it’s simply being open to an unexpected invitation, a laugh with someone or a moment of play. Letting fun in little and often can make it feel much more achievable in everyday life.”
More often than not, fun starts with the phone in our pockets, offering more than just connections to others; it can help us discover, share and say yes to the moments that make life memorable. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Brits said they felt instantly happier when an invitation lands on their phone. Yet the group chat can be both a launchpad and leave us in limbo, as four-in-ten (42%) admitted that plans often go nowhere, while those that do happen take an average of 12 messages to agree on.
Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at VodafoneThree, said: “We know people haven’t lost their appetite for fun, but sometimes life can just get in the way. Our ‘Let Fun In’ campaign is about making it easier to say ‘why not?’ when a chance comes along. At Three we’re giving customers more ways to make more of those opportunities – whether that’s a plan that fit your plans or benefits that unlock more fun. ‘Raving Slabs’ brings that idea to life in a playful way, showing how a small surprise can brighten even the most ordinary day.”
Three is making it even easier for customers to ‘Let Fun In’ with a range of brilliant treats and rewards on the Three+ app*.
Three Mobile’s ‘Raving Slabs’ experience is free to enter and open to the public on 24 August 2026 (07:00 to 18:00) at One New Change, London EC4M 9AF (near St Paul’s).
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Notes to Editors
Research carried out across 2,000 Brits by 3Gem on behalf of Three Mobile between 13th and 18th August 2026.
About Three’s Raving Slabs
The installation is a custom-built musical pavement made up of 18 interactive pads, each playing a different beat or sound when stepped on. As people move across them, they build a track together in real time, with every sound designed to stay perfectly in sync. Complete with responsive lighting and powered entirely by portable batteries, the installation turns an ordinary stretch of pavement into a playful, live music experience. The Raving Slabs experience is free entry and open to public from 07:00 to 18:00 on Monday 24th August at One New Change, London EC4M 9AF.
*Three+ example offers
- Two cinema tickets for £10, plus one extra at Cineworld and PictureHouse, or £5 ticket if flying solo
- £2 barista-made drinks at Caffè Nero or £1 coffees at hundreds of local cafés
- 2-for-1 tickets at Flight Club or Electric Shuffle at Bottomless Brunch
- The chance to win an eight-night dream island-hopping adventure around Croatia, for you and three friends, plus £500 spending money
See Three+ app for further details and T&Cs.
The top ten things Brits say they would realistically consider doing with three spare minutes are:
- Listen to a favourite song – 29%
- Have a favourite snack or treat – 27%
- Play a quick game on their phone – 23%
- Play with their pet – 23%
- Have a quick catch-up or laugh with someone – 22%
- Watch a funny video or Reel – 22%
- Send someone a message/photo to make them smile – 21%
- Look back through favourite photos or videos – 21%
- Pour their favourite drink – 20%
- Daydream about something fun – 19%