By Emma Cubellis|January 18, 2019
Have you ever dreamt of spending a night in a cozy library? Gladstone’s Library in Northern Wales, UK is making those dreams come true. This 130-year-old library doubles as an adorable bed and breakfast — as well as a retreat for writers, readers, and curious thinkers.
Gladstone’s Library, named after William Gladstone, houses the former UK politician’s personal collection of 150,000 books. Before his death, Gladstone wished that his collection of books be made available to the public, and that the library he proudly owned be transformed into a haven for writers and thinkers to engage in intelligent and stimulating discussion.
One-hundred and thirty years later, the library has fulfilled the goal set out by Gladstone and is a place where thinkers can both stay and learn. The library has 26 boutique style rooms, and each comes with its own collection of books. Guests can stay at the library for one short night, or months at a time!
It wouldn’t be hard to stay at Gladstone’s for months with their incredible array of activities. The library is famous for their ‘Writers in Residence’ program, in which Gladstone’s hosts prestigious writers for several months to teach courses. These course offerings include workshops like ‘The Art of The Short Story’ and ‘Writing Animals’. Courses proffer attendees the chance to learn from – and write alongside – authors while gaining invaluable feedback about their work. The best part? Courses are open to anyone at any skill level!
If you find yourself lucky enough to be at Gladstone’s in either November or February not only will you be able to go to an amazing class, but you’ll also be able to attend Hearth. Hearth is a daylong, biannual event where attendees sit around the library’s cozy fire with four distinguished authors. Authors share tips and tricks of the trade, like how to get your work published. Then, together, the group writes, reads, and critiques one another’s pieces.
If you find yourself feeling a bit peckish after all the writing and reading, then grab yourself some Food For Thought. Food For Thought, Gladstone’s Library’s bistro, offers locally sourced food from the surrounding Welsh villages, all homemade daily for guests. In addition to their delicious daily offerings, the bistro also hosts classic Afternoon Tea Monday through Friday and traditional Celtic lunch on Sundays so customers can get a taste of classic Welsh cuisine.
So what are you waiting for? Great food, opportunities to learn, and the chance to sleep nestled amongst books await you in the Welsh countryside!