The rise of the reading retreat: 10 hideaways for book lovers

Published

10 July, 2025

Edited

29 July, 2025

It’s official: reading retreats are all the rage. In the time-poor, over-stimulated modern world we live in, people are finding reading for pleasure slipping to the bottom of their ever-growing to-do list. The solution? Reading retreats. One of this year’s hottest new travel trends, the premise is simple: a group of book lovers + a good read + a stunning backdrop.

While there are a plethora of organised group retreats available, catering to readers of all ages, backgrounds and literary tastes, you can also make sure that one-on-one time with your book remains firmly on the agenda by ensuring that your next holiday hideaway comes with an inspiring reading nook. The good news is we know the perfect place… The bad news is you now have to choose which books to fit into your suitcase.

Colville Terrace IV

London

Few cities conjure literary charm quite like London, and Colville Terrace IV captures that magic in every detail. Tucked into the heart of Notting Hill, this bohemian, light-filled flat is the perfect setting for your next great read. With sun streaming through unique round windows and skylights, and a private garden that begs for long afternoons with tea and a novel, it’s a space where stories can truly come alive.

The Peaks

Telluride

Tucked into the storybook setting of Telluride, The Peaks is where nature and narrative meet. With gleaming wood interiors and sweeping views of the San Juan Mountains, this five-bedroom haven is the perfect place to retreat, recharge, and read. Curl up by the large bay windows watching the snowfall with a book by your side, as The Peaks offers the kind of quiet majesty that turns a mountain chalet into a soulful literary escape.

Rue Suger

Paris

From Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde and Henry James to Simone de Beauvoir, Victor Hugo and Émile Zola, Paris has inspired some of the world's most iconic authors over the centuries. With entire walls dedicated to a vast collection of books, Rue Suger perfectly captures the literary romance of the city. Curl up on the armchair with a good read and lose yourself in the magic of your surroundings.

Villa Manzia

Bali

If your idea of bliss is curling up with a great book in a serene, soul-soothing setting, Villa Manzia might just be your dream hideaway. Nestled amid the rice fields of rural Babakan in Bali, this seven-bedroom sanctuary offers quiet corners and breezy verandahs perfect for getting lost in a novel. Whether you’re lounging on an oversized daybed under the shade of a rice-vista pergola or soaking up the hush of a golden afternoon by the 17-metre pool, Villa Manzia offers a peaceful, expansive retreat where stories unfold as easily as the view.

Villa Como Views

Lake Como

With 360° views that look like they stepped out of a fantasy novel, Villa Como Views is the ultimate spot for a reading retreat. Find a spot on the sun-kissed terrace and curl up with a good novel, punctuating your day with dips in the sparkling infinity pool to cool off between chapters.

10th Street Country

New York

Country farmhouse melds with industrial chic at the gorgeous 10th Street Country, a spacious three-bedroom home in the effervescent East Village. A book lover’s paradise, the bare brick walls are punctuated by towering bookshelves housing a vast collection of titles. Whether you're inspired by the history-soaked streets outside or the warm elegance within, this is the kind of space where stories unfold naturally.

Villa Gwynt A Mor

Turks and Caicos

Perched high above the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos, Villa Gwynt A Mor is the kind of place where stories linger on the breeze and inspiration rises with the tide. With panoramic views, secluded gardens, and sun-drenched terraces, this sprawling estate is a sanctuary for the soul – and a dream lit-scape for book lovers seeking stillness and space. Find your reading rhythm on a limestone patio beneath an open-air pergola, with sounds of the sea as your soundtrack to a deep read and unforgettable escape.

The Cliffhanger

Ibiza

Nestled into the honeycomb clifftop, The Cliffhanger is a thing of sheer beauty. Overlooking the beautiful Xarraca Bay in Ibiza this heavenly hideaway opens up a quieter side of the island, where morning swims, slow lunches and afternoon reading sessions are the order of the day.

Westbrook Avenue

Los Angeles

Tucked away in the verdure of the Hollywood Hills, Westbrook Avenue comes with nearly an acre of private landscaped grounds simply bursting with pretty reading nooks. Take your pick between the terrace, the pool, the jacuzzi or the firepit and enjoy LA's famous golden sunshine paired with a good book.

L’Écrin de Bellefontaine

Provence

Cradled by the craggy Alpilles mountain range, L’Écrin de Bellefontaine is a secluded sanctuary where you can forget about the rest of the world and lose yourself in a good novel. Sleeping up to 16 guests, this gorgeous villa has a reading nook for every preference, whether that’s beneath the atmospheric vaulted ceilings of the living space, outdoors in the shade of the poolside pergola or in the magnificent freestanding bathtub - the choice is yours.

Tempted by a reading retreat?

Speak to our Destination Specialists who will help plan your dream trip.