How to participate in a psilocybin therapy in the UK?
A psilocybin experience 3 hours from London
3-day or 5-day all-inclusive stay, 100% legal.
English-speaking support team.
1 year post retreat integration program.
Institute founded by a Londoner.
Psilocybin, a Mental Health Ally?
Psilocybin is a natural substance found in magic mushrooms of the psilocybe family. Researchers are now studying it for possible benefits in mental health care. Some studies from the UK and the US show it can help with problems like depression anxiety and PTSD. Other results suggest it may also help treati alcoholism and eating disorders.
During psychedelic experiences, psilocybin changes how the brain works. It stimulates serotonin receptors, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Under the influence of psilocybin, the nervous system can produce fantastic hallucinations and boost or reset emotions. This is what we call altered states of consciousness.
It can also help people take distance from certain memories and feel deeply relaxed.
Let’s talk!
Schedule a free information session in English with one of our facilitators.
Consuming Psilocybin in the UK
Even though scientific research is conducted in the UK— for example, at Imperial College London — magic mushrooms are illegal across Great Britain. But in the Netherlands, magic truffles are fully legal. That’s why many people from the UK travel there for a psilocybin retreat. In the Netherlands, they can take part in a psilocybin ceremony. This is the starting point of an breathtaking psychedelic journey.
Psychedelic retreats follow several steps. We offer remote preparation, individual interviews, integration process. On site, we also offer relaxation exercises. This careful approach is what we call the set and setting. To make the experience deep and meaningful, the team must guide it with attention and care.
A Psychedelic Retreat with British Overtones
Tangerine Retreat was precisely founded by a Frenchman living in London for over 6 years. He first tried a magic truffle trip for personal reasons. And, for him, it was very enlightening! After this experience, he understood how they could provide a real breath of fresh air and help process pain or trauma. However, British law only permits antidepressant medications or traditional therapy. These methods are sometimes ineffective or too slow for many people.
Tangerines Retreat’s formula, thus, is to offer British citizens the opportunity to take part in a psychedelic retreat. He found an option to comply with the law on psilocybin in the United Kingdom. The stay is accessible within a few hours from Heathrow or by Eurostar. If you come by car, plan for a night in Amsterdam.
The program of a retreat
The principle of the mushroom trip is to define a subject one wishes to progress on. Afterwards, participants must relax and trust the team of English-speaking facilitators. They take a dose of psilocybin and lie down in a ceremony room. Once ingested, for 5 to 6 hours, the truffles will alter the participants’ neurochemistry. The effects are unique to each individual.
Emotions, flashback, visions, euphoria, or insights emerge throughout the ritual. The team supervises and reassures to enable everyone to reach into their unconscious. This allows them to find what they need. This experience blends concepts borrowed from the spiritual, scientific, and personal development worlds.
To delve deeper, learn about the powers of psychedelics with our list of the most inspiring documentaries on magic mushrooms!
A Fresh Start Near England
Since psilocybin-assisted therapy is not available in the UK, Tangerine Retreat’s center offers the closest solution to the swinging city for a transformative experience. We have created an environment that combines expertise, safety, and legality. All of this is just three hours away from the British Isles.
How long does it take to get there?
Amsterdam is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, or Bristol. Then, count an extra 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the retreat location.
Next date for UK residents or English speakers
Psychedelic Retreat in the Netherlands
From May 20 To 22, 2025
Spoken language(s) : 
- Ceremony: one opportunity to take psilocybin ;
- Retreat preparation : individual sessions before and during the retreat ;
- Retreat integration : 1-year group video session after the retreat ;
- Duration: Choose your retreat experience: 3 days and 2 nights or 5 days and 4 nights ;
- From € 1,890.
Connect with nature
The retreat takes place in a location specially chosen to promote a peaceful mind. It offers an opportunity to reconnect with our primal sensations. This green haven is surrounded by forests and is located 20 minutes from the train station and amenities.
An all-inclusive stay
During your stay at the retreat center, you will enjoy individual and shared rooms. There are also communal spaces available for the group. Upon arrival, the team offers simple and fun workshops to break the ice and make everyone comfortable.
Chef says “bon appétit”
We like to please the participants and make them comfortable. This obviously involves attentive and kind discussions. However, everyone eagerly anticipates mealtime, and for good reason: the chef on-site offers delicious vegetarian meals and desserts.
FAQ about psilocybin in the UK
Is psilocybin legal in the UK ?
In the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories, hallucinogenic mushrooms are considered a drug. Since the 1960s, all psychoactive drugs have been classified as controlled-substances. Undeniably, the use of psychedelics is not rooted in British culture. That's why British law has established a classification system for illegal drugs. Different categories group psychoactive substances based on the legal consequences faced. Magic mushrooms are classified as Class A. This one is the same category as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), or LSD. Possession or consumption is punishable by imprisonment for up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. That's why there is no legal psychedelic retreat in the UK.
Are psilocybin mushrooms spores legal in the UK?
Mushroom spores are the equivalent of a seed for plants. By cultivating them, it's possible to grow mushrooms, psilocybes or others. However, at the spore stage, they do not contain psilocybin. That's why it's not prohibited to possess them under English law. However, caution is advised, as when the spores are properly cultivated, they transform into psychedelic mushrooms. Once transformed, they are indeed prohibited in Great Britain.
Can I consume psilocybin truffles at home in London?
Legally, you can't consume psilocybin in the UK. Whether in the form of truffles or mushrooms, psilocybin is classified as an illegal drug in London.
Psychedelics can cause temporary emotional fragility. This makes it important to have one or more sober, experienced individuals present to reassure the person during the trip. Consuming psychoactive substances in a stressful, noisy environment or without supervision can lead to an unpleasant bad trip.
Is psychedelic assisted-therapy expected to be legalized in Great Britain?
As of now, in 2024, psilocybin in the UK is illegal. There are no bills under discussion in the House of Commons. Although psychedelic therapies in Oregon or Australia are permitted, the Crown remains respectful of the UN's 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. However, the Department of Health and Social Care allows researchers to investigate the effects of psilocybin on mental disorders (treatment-resistant depression or addictions).
However, at the moment, no therapy is offered by mental health professionals.
Is it illegal for a British person to attend a psychedelic retreat in Amsterdam?
No, because the law of the territory prevails. In a country where psilocybin truffles are legal, anyone can buy or consume them, regardless of nationality.
But, upon return, customs cannot penalize you for your actions abroad. However, be warned, it is not possible to bring back the fruits of your adventures in your bag. Mushrooms are prohibited in England. This applies even if they were purchased legally elsewhere.
How to join a scientific trial in the United Kingdom ?
To join a research project, you need to keep up with the news on clinical studies. King's College and Imperial College regularly publish about them on their respective websites. However, places are limited, the admission criteria are often quite specific, and it only takes place in London. In other counties (Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, or Hampshire), it is impossible for the time being.
Are psilocybin mushrooms addictive?
No, ingesting psilocybin does not cause any addiction, regardless of the dosage. People who have a psychedelic experience in a controlled environment do not seek to repeat it often. They also do not use it for recreational purposes.
What are the effects?
Hallucinogens cause a mind-alteration that can take the form of a mystical revelation or an emotional surge.
Generally, the medium-term effect is a better understanding of oneself, greater ease in socializing with others, and a boost in energy. In research protocols, the medical use of psilocybin explores the reduction of depression symptoms that the molecule provides. The long-term effects vary and depend on the individual: aid in trauma processing, mood improvement, motivation, better emotional connection.
What are the side effects and contraindications?
In rare cases, just after ingesting a hallucinogen, it is possible to experience sensations of nausea or panic. These symptoms quickly disappear.
As for contraindications, they concern individuals who are on antidepressant medication. Hallucinogenic drugs are also highly discouraged to those with psychiatric disorders (psychosis, paranoia or schizophrenia). In these cases, it is crucial to consult a psychiatrist in the nearest town in England. Similarly, in cases of untreated high blood pressure, you avoid any consciousness-altering substances.
Why Tangerine ?
It's very simple. Our founder was walking along the Thames river and reflecting on his project. As usual, he was listening to music. When his playlist shifted to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, he heard that famous verse from The Beatles :
Picture yourself in a boat on a river;
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies;
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly;
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
...and just like that, everything fell into place!
Image of vwalakte and rawpixel.com on Freepik
