My Hay Festival reading retreat runs from from 29th May – 1st June 2026.
The experience
Running from 29th May – 1st June 2026, this three-day Hay Festival reading retreat is your chance to experience the world’s most iconic literary celebration without the chaos that usually comes with it. No last-minute accommodation panics, no impossible dinner bookings—just a gorgeous countryside farmhouse, rolling Welsh hills, and a long weekend built entirely around books, fresh air, and a very good time indeed.
We’ll kick things off on Friday evening with wood-fired pizzas and prosecco under the stars—the perfect way to settle in, chat, and get excited for the festival ahead. From there, your only job is to enjoy yourself.
Mornings start slowly: fresh pastries, great coffee, and a lazy breakfast spread before we head into Hay. Expect a full day of bookshop browsing, festival events, author talks, and discovering new books you absolutely must add to your shelves. You can pack your day with events or drift between bookshops at your own pace—whatever suits your mood and your TBR.
Evenings have their own charm. One night we’ll head to a cosy pub for dinner before rolling back to the farmhouse—hot tub dip optional, comfy clothes encouraged. Another evening we’ll enjoy a catered three-course dinner at home with a guest author joining us for great conversation and plenty of bookish chat.
Back at the farmhouse, there are fires to curl up beside, sofas to sink into, and plenty of corners to disappear into with your latest Hay purchases. Stay up chatting, sneak off early with your book, wander outside to look at the stars—it’s entirely up to you.
This retreat takes all the best bits of the Hay Festival and wraps them in countryside comfort, good food, and a group of people who love books just as much as you do. Everything’s organised, everything’s easy, and every day is a mix of festival buzz and farmhouse calm.
Come for the festival energy, the fireside chats, the food, the hot tub, or simply the pleasure of being surrounded by fellow book lovers. Whatever you’re after, this retreat offers a unique way to enjoy Hay—relaxed, fun, and filled with good books.
The location
We’ll be staying in a lovingly restored 15th-century farmhouse tucked into 20 private acres of Welsh countryside—a place where old-world charm meets modern comforts without trying too hard.
Think open fires, deep bubble baths, a wood-fired sauna, and a courtyard hot tub that practically insists on a soak under the stars. Inside, you’ll find Welsh blankets by the hearth, shelves full of great reads, and a chef’s kitchen with views across the lawns.
The house is relaxed, welcoming, and made for mooching about. Upstairs, six beautifully styled bedrooms offer green views and soft French linens—perfect for ending each day warm, cosy, and completely at ease.
Expect big skies, long baths, good books, and a farmhouse that offers the perfect place to unwind.
What’s included
Your retreat fee covers everything you need for a cosy, book-filled long weekend in literary heaven.
- Three nights’ accommodation at a 15th-century Welsh farmhouse
- A wood-fired pizza and prosecco reception on arrival
- Daily breakfast (homemade granola, freshly baked croissants, seasonal fruits)
- Return transport into Hay-on-Wye on Saturday and Sunday
- Tickets to see events with Tayari Jones and Maggie O’Farrell
- Dinner in a local pub on Saturday evening
- A three-course dinner at the farmhouse on Sunday
Pricing
Private Room – £1750 per person
Shared Room (Double/Twin) – £1450 per person
A 50% deposit is required at booking, with the balance due eight weeks before arrival.
Spaces are limited — email me at lucy@thelitedit.com to secure your spot.
Your host
Hello, I’m Lucy, and I’ll be the host of this reading retreat.
I’m never happier than when I have a book in one hand and a glass of prosecco in the other—preferably somewhere with a dreamy view. I’m a reader, a writer, a wanderer, and a firm believer in the magic of books.
As an award-winning book blogger, bibliotherapist, and library curator, I’ve spent my life surrounded by stories. After studying English Literature, I read my way through the BBC’s Top 100 Books and launched The Literary Edit, which went on to win the London Book Fair’s inaugural Book Blogger of the Year Award. Now, I spend my days curating book prescriptions, building libraries, and hosting boujee reading retreats in beautiful corners of the world.