Designed for retreats
Filled with books

A house for retreats

Moat Hall is an 7/8 bedroom house sleeping 12 in the Essex countryside with its own library. Be inspired by colourful interiors and rooms lined with bookshelves as well as beautiful gardens with a moat. Join one of our in house Reading Retreats, or hire the house to host your own retreat for reading, writing or something else entirely.

What we offer

Reading Retreats

Escape to Moat Hall and get lost in books. Give yourself permission simply to read in a beautiful house with its own library & bookshop and home-cooked meals provided. Find the perfect spot in this historic house to curl up with a book and enjoy the company of fellow readers and a guest author.

Upcoming retreats:

October 1st – 4th, 2026
November 5th – 8th, 2026
December 3rd – 6th, 2026

Venue Hire

Host your own retreat or awayday at Moat Hall. Easily accessible from London in about an hour by road or rail, this is a venue specifically designed for group gatherings and activities. With space for up to 12 guests across 7/8 adaptable bedrooms, facilities include a heated studio barn, cosy communal rooms, and 4 acres of beautiful grounds with a heated swimming pool. From yoga to corporate strategy, we provide the perfect setting for your retreat.

PHOTOSHOOTS & FILMING

Moat Hall is available for photo shoots or filming. The house blends country charm with contemporary design and has rooms large enough to accommodate film and photo shoot crews. The moated gardens, secluded swimming pool and a wild meadow offer versatile outdoor space. Just an hour from London, Moat Hall offers you a stylish and convenient location for your shoots.

What our visitors say...

I spent a rejuvenating weekend at Moat Hall. It's so beautiful and both historical and very well restored and cared for. The interior design and the way each room has its own distinctive character, all inspired by women writers, made me feel really welcome and excited to be in a space which had so much care lavished upon it, and yet retains so much character and history. It was a great creativity-inducing atmosphere and being in these luxurious settings made me feel that my writing and this time just by myself was worth something. Being with others sharing the same interest, and all of the conversations over food and the walks in the beautiful surrounding landscape were just as important as the time I spent unwinding by myself or working at my desk. It was a very well-balanced weekend, and the care Eleanor extended to the whole group was outstanding. It's the perfect place to leave everything you usually might have to worry about at the front door, and enjoy time just for yourself in a beautiful environment, both intellectually stimulating and deeply relaxing.

I was hoping this retreat would offer me some quiet respite with like-minded fellow writers... coming together to share in a common goal based on creativity. Afterwards, I felt rested, more confident in my writing voice, and motivated to continue in the gaps of work and parenting. For a mother who feels the pressure from so many directions of their life, this was a much needed, welcomed space for writing, rest and reflection. Thank you Moat Hall!

I'll be bringing a small group for a retreat here soon and I'm so excited for us to be using Moat Hall. Even though we're not specifically a literary group having the onsite library as well as all the character the house offers will be huge additional benefits for our experience.

Designed for retreats Filled with books