Reading retreats
Reading Retreats at Moat Hall offer you the opportunity to simply relax with books in the company of a small group of fellow book lovers. The retreats are hosted by Eleanor, founder and co-owner of the award winning Pages of Hackney bookshop. Not sure what to read? She can help you decide. Your own personal selection of books will be waiting for you on arrival, and you can also browse the Moat Hall Library & Bookshop. All meals, an author talk and book credit are included. Prices from £500 a three night stay.
Your reading retreat
- Time to simply read in this beautiful Grade II listed house with its own library & bookshop.
- Choose a spot to curl up with a book, perhaps by the fire in one of the cosy communal rooms, or outside overlooking the moat.
- If you prefer solitary reading, each bedroom has a comfortable reading chair as well as a writing desk.
- Take a break and wander the 4 acres of gardens, explore a local walk, or head down the road to the pub.
- Enjoy the comfort of homecooked meals, prepared onsite throughout your stay and shared with fellow readers. The retreats include all your meals and you’ll share in some light prep and clean up for one lunch or dinner during your stay.
Upcoming Reading Retreats:
October 1st – 4th, 2026
November 5th – 8th, 2026
December 3rd – 6th, 2026
What to expect
The retreats are hosted by Eleanor, who founded the much loved bookshop, Pages of Hackney. A lifelong book lover and bookshop owner of nearly 20 years, she will look after you throughout your stay and can help you decide what to read.
All meals are eaten together with Eleanor and fellow guests, but if you prefer not to socialise or take part in activities otherwise, then there’s no requirement to do so. It’s really all about giving you time and space for reading.
You’ll share in the preparation and clean up for one of the meals, but don’t worry, we’ll do all the food planning, leaving you free to read and relax.
READING CONSULTATIONS
After you have booked your reading retreat, the next step is a chat with Eleanor, who will talk with you about your reading preferences. Based on your conversation, she will choose up to 10 books that will be waiting for you to browse at Moat Hall. You may buy as many as you like, and discuss them in your follow-up one to one during the retreat. All guests have £30 of book credit, which can be used for any of your personal selection or on books from the shelves of the Moat Hall Library & Bookshop.
These consultations are optional, and you can let us know when you book if you prefer not to take part.
AUTHOR VISIT
A guest author will join us for dinner one evening and give a reading. This is a lovely way to enjoy the company of a published author and to talk with them about their craft, including how and why they write the books we love to read.
The schedule
Days are planned around meals, offering you plenty of time simply for reading. You might finally start a book you have been meaning to read for years or enjoy one you’ve recently discovered. If you aren’t sure where to start, you can peruse your personal book selection or browse the shelves of the Moat Hall library. We offer you the chance to fully immerse yourself in reading without distractions. Freed from the chores of everyday life, you can dedicate yourself to nurturing your love of books. When you want to take a break, you can enjoy all that the Moat Hall grounds have to offer or one of the beautiful local walks.
Guests arrive on Thursday between 4 and 5pm and leave by 11am on Sunday. Our daily schedule generally looks like this:
Thursday
Friday
10:30am
Saturday
11:30am
Sunday
The schedule
Days are planned around meals, offering you plenty of time simply for reading. Guests arrive on Thursday between 4 and 5pm and leave by 11am on Sunday. Our daily schedule generally looks like this:
Thursday
Social gathering in the garden or by the fire, depending on the weather
Friday
Author reading and Q & A
Saturday
Sunday
Writing retreats
In 2027, Moat Hall will also host untutored writing retreats. These will be run on the same schedule as reading retreats, but the guest author will give a workshop in the afternoon instead of an after dinner reading. When you join us for a writing retreat we ask that you have your own independent writing project in mind, with this time giving you the opportunity to make progress within a relaxed and nurturing setting. On the final evening, you will have the chance to read some of your work to the group to share and celebrate the writing you have done during the retreat.
Upcoming Reading Retreats
October 1st – 4th, 2026
November 5th – 8th, 2026
December 3rd – 6th, 2026
FAQS
What's included?
- Welcome drink
- All meals, cooked onsite
- Coffee and tea breaks
- Author dinner and reading
- Pre-retreat consultation (optional)
- One to one follow-up reading consultation during your stay (optional)
- A personal selection of books to browse on arrival (optional)
- £30 worth of book credit (and the opportunity to purchase more books)
- Exclusive access to the private Moat Hall Library & Bookshop
- Advice on local walks and other activities
Room rates - prices from £500 per person
Single Occupancy
Double Occupancy
Toni Morrison – a large room on the first floor with a front garden view and a huge private bathroom with freestanding clawfoot bathtub and walk-in shower. Super king or twin beds available.
£750
£1,100
Virginia Woolf – a large ensuite room with shower on the first floor with a front garden view. Super king or twin beds available.
£700
£1,000
Jane Austen – an attic bedroom with a garden view. Super king bed. Bathroom shared with one other person.
£650
James Baldwin – an attic room with a moat view. Super king bed. The bathroom is shared with one other person. Please note that head height is restricted for those over 6ft.
£650
Emily Dickinson – an attic bedroom with a shared bathroom and a moat view. The bed is a King size.
£650
Jean Rhys Pool House – a self-contained ensuite bedroom with shower located in a building separate from the main house next to the swimming pool. Please note that the pool may be in use by other retreat guests from mid May to mid September. The bed is a double.
£650
£600
Please let us know when you book if you’d prefer your room set up with a double or twin beds, if you are in a room that allows both options. If you book a single occupancy room, it will be all yours and you will never be asked to share.
Bedroom: Toni Morrison
A large room on the first floor with a front garden view and a huge private bathroom with freestanding clawfoot bathtub and walk-in shower. Super king or twin beds available.
Single occupancy: £750
Double occupancy: £1,100
Bedroom: Virginia Woolf
A large ensuite room with shower on the first floor with a front garden view. Super king or twin beds available.
Single occupancy: £700
Double occupancy: £1000
Bedroom: James Baldwin
An attic room a moat view. Super king bed. Please note that head height is restricted for those over 6ft. The bathroom is shared with one other person.
Single occupancy: £650
Bedroom: Jane Austen
An attic bedroom with shared a garden view. Super king bed. The bathroom is shared with one other person.
Single occupancy: £650
Bedroom: Jean Rhys Pool house. Self-contained ensuite bedroom with shower located in a building separate from the main house next to the swimming pool. Please note that the pool may be in use by other retreat guests from mid May to mid September. The bed is a double.
Single occupancy: £650
Bedroom: Emily Dickinson
An attic bedroom with a shared bathroom and a moat view. The bed is a King size.
Single occupancy: £650
Bedroom: Doris Lessing
Our most petite room with a small double bed and shared bathroom one floor above.
Single occupancy: £600
Please let us know when you book if you’d prefer your room set up with a double or twin beds, if you are in a room that allows both options. If you book a single occupancy room, it will be all yours and you will never be asked to share.
