Every book is a journey… now, quite literally. A new travel trend is emerging, with book retreats inviting people to escape. Into the story, yes, but not only. Moving beyond visits to famous authors’ homes or locations from novels, this new form of literary tourism is about travelling specifically to make time for reading – and to meet fellow readers along the way.
In Cambridge, the historic University Arms hotel has introduced a programme honouring the city’s literary legacy. Stay for the Story: a Reading Retreat is a two-night stay inviting guests to hand in their phones and switch off for the joy of reading. Designed to create intentional downtime, the package includes a personalised reading list and reading journal, a private consultation with a “Book Butler” for guests to discuss their favourite topics and authors, and a complimentary drink in the Library to be enjoyed during their own private reading session. Cambridge Literary Festival is involved, too, curating seasonal reading lists that feature a selection of books by authors from their own line-up. “It's fascinating to watch reading tastes shift with the seasons. At the moment, we're seeing a real appetite for crime, mystery and thriller,” notes a representative of the University Arms. “Romance is proving equally popular, particularly stories woven into Cambridge itself. Laura Barnett's The Versions of Us, which follows two Cambridge undergraduates across six decades of parallel lives, has struck a chord with guests, as has the poignant love story at the heart of Penelope Fitzgerald's The Gate of Angels.”
Also tapping into the literary history of a destination are the Reading Retreats by Slow Travel Co, set at Churchill Manor in the Cotswolds. The itinerary includes a day trip to Oxford for a literary tour, but for some travellers, the real appeal lies less in the destination itself than in the chance to spend time with people who share their love of reading.
Participants, typically women aged 28 to 74, are active on Goodreads, engage with the BookTok community and other similar platforms. Rather than simply reading at home, they come to discover new titles through conversation, a bond with fellow readers, and turn a personal interest into a shared experience. At the retreat, they exchange books on the first night, explore local villages, and gather for chef-prepared dinners. This model isn’t confined to Britain’s literary cities, either: with more than twenty reading retreats a year, the programme spans a growing range of locations, from the Maldives and Costa Rica to Aruba.
Boutique Book Breaks takes the community experience one step further: it offers readers the chance to hear directly from writers through on-site interviews and group discussions – an opportunity to meet authors in the intimate setting of a weekend getaway, rather than at a large literary festival. “Our retreats are a bit different from others on the market as we always have new release or early access books and authors onsite to chat through the story,” says founder Emma Donalson. The November edition held at the Talbot Malton, North Yorkshire, will welcome Sara Sheridan, Alison Barrow, and Deesha Philyaw, with guests receiving an advance copy of the latter’s new book ahead of its UK release. Between other bookish activities (past editions included bookshop pop-ups, bibliotherapy sessions and book-themed quizzes), guests can settle into the lounge and make progress on their reading by the two fires. So, with summer ending, time to leave the beach read behind. The book is proving to be more than something to pack for a holiday; it is now the reason for going.