The ultimate status symbol for 2025? A good book. In many ways, reading has never been as cool: just ask the countless celebrities who cart books around as accessories or host online book clubs (Dua Lipa, Emma Roberts and Kaia Gerber, we’re looking at you). Then there’s the power of BookTok, which has catapulted the likes of author Colleen Hoover (It Starts With Us) to the top of the bestseller lists and propelled ‘romanticy’ (romantic fantasy) into the mainstream.
Yet despite all of this, a 2024 survey found that only half of UK adults read for pleasure, with three in 10 saying that they found it difficult to finish a book. With the wellness benefits of hobbies, and reading in particular, well-documented, it’s no surprise that a host of new reading retreats have popped up to cater to those who want to get stuck into a good book without distraction.
“Between work, social media, and endless notifications, actually sitting down to read without interruption feels near impossible,” shares Lucy Pearson, a bibliotherapist and host of an upcoming reading retreat in Wales, Rest and Read with Ease. “A retreat is like hitting pause – giving yourself permission to just read without feeling guilty about all the other things you ‘should’ be doing.”
Most reading retreats involve a small group of up to around 12 people decamping to shared accommodation for a few nights, with meals provided and a schedule of optional social activities interspersed between dedicated reading time. There isn’t usually a set text, rather, it’s an opportunity to read whatever you want – whether that’s a Booker Prize winner or Harry Potter.
For Megan Christopher, founder of Ladies Who Lit, the retreats have provided a great space for women of all ages and backgrounds to bond. “The average age of our retreat guests are women in their 30s and 40s, but we’ve had a 19-year-old and a 75-year-old and they became besties,” she says. “We have really open, deep and thoughtful conversations."
24-year-old Samantha was inspired to book her first Ladies Who Lit reading retreat as an act of self-care: as a young woman with a busy corporate job, she rarely had time to read – one of her biggest hobbies. She’s now been on two. “The main thing I’ve taken from them is the friendships,” she shares. “I’ve kept in touch with lots of people from as far afield as America. But it’s also made me more confident, too, because I was brave enough to do it in the first place.”
Indeed, a lot of retreat-goers cite the low-stakes socialising as one of its chief appeals – at the end of the day, there’s always the book they are reading to fall back on in conversation. “I think one reason that reading retreats are having a moment is that they are a great way for introverts to meet other introverts,” says Daisy Buchanan, author of Read Yourself Happy. “Unlike reading on holiday, a reading retreat gives you the energy and the shared focus of the group, and the permission to do it.”
“The idea of spending time with strangers while ultimately spending most of it reading – well, that’s kind of the magic of it,” agrees Pearson. “You get the comfort of being surrounded by people who get it, without the pressure of constant small talk. You can have a chat over breakfast, then retreat into your book for hours without anyone thinking you’re being anti-social. It’s socialising but on your own terms.”
For many women, reading retreats offer an escape from the doldrums of modern life – especially those with young families. “It can be hard for women to prioritise self-care,” says Christopher. “It becomes another thing on your to-do list. On the retreats, it’s almost as if I’ve given these women permission to relax. They don’t have to think about what’s for dinner, or if they’ve done the washing – I’ve done all those things for them!”
Business is booming for reading retreats, with Ladies Who Lit selling out within hours of posting an event. Reading Retreat, set up by writer Cressida Downing and Sara Noel in 2017, has become a word-of-mouth success story, marketed initially in bookshops and libraries and garnering a dedicated following. “We have a really high repeat rate, which we weren’t expecting – some people come two, three or four times,” says Downing. “We’ve even got one reader who’s been almost 20 times.”
For Downing, the best part of running her retreats is hearing about the effect that they have on people’s lives. “We've had people come away and tell us they set up a reading nook in their own living room, or that they have instigated a reading hour with their family on a Sunday,” she says. “Apparently, reading every day brings your blood pressure down. But the main benefit is that people who read a lot have a lot of empathy. And that’s something we need in this world.”
The best reading retreats to book now
Read Yourself Happy With Daisy Buchanan, 28th September-4th October
As the author of the book Read Yourself Happy, there’s perhaps no one better suited to kick-start your love of reading than Daisy Buchanan, who is hosting a week-long retreat on the Greek island of Zakynthos at the end of September. There will be a mix of solo and group reading time, with a suggested book for everyone to read (though there is no pressure to read it), plus creative workshops led by Daisy on both reading and writing. Last year’s retreat also involved yacht trips, poetry readings, yoga and Greek cookery classes, so there’s plenty of other stuff to get stuck into as well.
Website: aweventurer.com
Reading Retreat
The UK’s OG reading retreat and a word-of-mouth success story, Reading Retreat, hosts multiple UK-based trips throughout the year. Usually taking place in country houses on sprawling estates – there are plenty of spots to do a touch of Austen-esque cosplay, should you so wish, whether that’s in the library in front of a roaring fire or underneath the apple tree in the grounds. Reading Retreat’s real USP is that it is a pure reading holiday – no bells and whistles, hot tubs or wine-tasting here – it’s for those who want the space to read rather than network. Founder Cressida also gifts everyone a book prescription if they want it, based on their reading likes and dislikes.
Website: readingretreat.co.uk
Ladies Who Lit
It’s easy to see how Ladies Who Lit has become so popular (206K likes on TikTok). Offering women-only retreats in idyllic locations (including the Caribbean, Morocco, Tuscany, Barcelona and the Cotswolds), there’s a real sense of camaraderie and sisterhood from day dot, with a first-night book swap and welcome dinner. Other activities include a Murder Mystery dinner party, plus a book discussion for the ‘book of the retreat’, though there’s no pressure to read it if you don’t fancy it. There’s typically also a daytime activity too – in Sicily this was a boat trip, while in Cornwall, it was a bracing coastal walk. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified of the next retreats and get in there quickly – they sell out instantaneously.
Website: ladieswholit.co.uk
Rest and Read With Ease by Lucy Pearson, 6th-8th June
Bibliotherapist Lucy Pearson is hosting a guilt-free weekend of reading in the gorgeous coastal village of Tresaith in Wales this June. This is the retreat for anyone who has lost their reading mojo, as it includes a 45-minute session with Pearson looking into their reading habits and blockers. As well as lots of uninterrupted reading time and book discussions, there will also be walks to a nearby pub and a bracing dip in the sea, if you fancy it.
Website: easeretreats.com