Writer's Digest Writing Retreat: London & Bath 2025


Join Writer’s Digest and fellow writers on the writing retreat of a lifetime to the country of literary giants like Shakespeare and Dickens, Austen and the Brontës, Smith and Ishiguro.

Tour Dates

September 12 – September 20, 2025

Tour Prices

$6,799 (USD) per person, double occupancy

$7,899 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Tour Includes

  • 4-star hotels
  • All breakfasts and dinners, 1 lunch
  • Coach transportation from London to Bath and back to the London
  • Admission to all museums and gardens performance at Globe Theatre
  • Friendly and knowledgeable local tour guide
  • Dedicated writing time in a scenic English manor house with your Writer’s Digest hosts
Bath, England
Bath, England

Itinerary

The Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat in London & Bath strives to operate according to our published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary. 

In preparation for these site visits, the editors of WD will offer suggested readings from writers who’ve written specifically about places and artworks that we’ll see. These readings will include poems, essays, memoirs, and novels spanning centuries.

AT A GLANCE

Friday, September 12: Arrive in London and the Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria. Group Dinner. 

Saturday, September 13: British Library, Blue Circle walking tour in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia. Group dinner. 

Sunday, September 14: Sherlock Holmes Museum, tour of Regent’s Park plus writing time. Group dinner and evening performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Monday, September 15: Westminster Abbey tour (including Poet’s Corner). Trafalgar Square with tour of the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Time to explore Cecil Court (aka Bookseller’s Lane). Group dinner. 

Tuesday, September 16: Travel to Chawton for a tour of the Jane Austen House Museum and Chawton House Library. Picnic lunch in Chawton House Garden. Continue to town of Bath and Bailbrook House Hotel. Group dinner. 

Wednesday, September 17: Tour of Jane Austen Centre. Dedicated writing time at Bailbrook House. Group dinner. 

Thursday, September 18: Dedicated writing time at Bailbrook House. Group dinner. 

Friday, September 19: Free time to explore and/or write in Bath. Travel to London and Hotel RIU Plaza London. Group dinner. 

Saturday, September 20: Travel to airport on your own and departure, or continue your travels on your own.

DETAILS

Day 1, Friday, September 12: Arrive in London and the Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria. Group Dinner.

Tour members arrange their own transportation to the London Heathrow Airport and then on to the Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria, where a reservation has been made for them.

We will gather for a welcome dinner this evening in the hotel restaurant (included in tour price).

Day 2, Saturday, September 13: British Library, Blue Circle walking tour in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia. Group dinner.

Begin the first full day of our retreat with a complimentary breakfast at the hotel. Then we’ll head to our first literary stop: The British Library. You’ll be overwhelmed (in the best way!) by all of the literary treasures on display, including manuscripts of Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, Jane Eyre, Mrs. Dalloway, and much more. Then, find a table and chair to spend time noting what you saw or what could inspire your own work.

Enjoy lunch on your own, then gather back as a group for a walking tour around Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia. Our professional tour guide will take us through the historic, literary neighborhoods stopping at multiple Blue Circle homes—homes that writers were known to live and work in. Not only will you see where these great authors wrote, you’ll be walking in their footsteps, through the streets and squares that inspired them.

After the guided tour, we’ll head back to the hotel for a group dinner (included in the tour price), followed by free time on your own to write or perhaps take a stroll down the street to see Buckingham Palace.

Day 3, Sunday, September 14: Sherlock Holmes Museum, tour of Regent’s Park plus writing time. Group dinner and evening performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Today will be jam-packed with sights, so be sure to take full advantage of the complimentary breakfast before we set off on our first stop at The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221b Baker Street. Here we’ll be immersed in the décor of the Victorian era and the clues that helped Holmes and Watson solve their mysteries. As you look around, you might get inspiration for your historical novel or figure out a critical clue to the mystery you’re writing.

After the museum tour, you’ll have lunch on your own, then we’ll meet nearby at Regent’s Park. Enjoy a guided tour of the immaculate gardens, then take some time to wander on your own, find a park bench, and work on your writing.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy a group dinner (included in tour price) followed by a performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays at the oak and thatch replica of the original Elizabethan open-air Globe Theatre (performances go on no matter the weather so be sure to dress appropriately).

Day 4, Monday, September 15: Westminster Abbey tour (including Poet’s Corner). Trafalgar Square with tour of the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. Time to explore Cecil Court (aka Bookseller’s Lane). Group dinner.

After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel a short distance to Westminster Abbey. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the stunning cathedral, including the famed “Poet’s Corner” where many of England’s finest writers found their final resting place.

You’ll have lunch on your own, followed by a trip to Trafalgar Square with the Nelson Column and iconic lion statues. Do some fantastic people watching in the square then participate in a guided tour of the National Gallery, beginning with the tile mosaic on the floor of the main vestibule. It depicts famous British figures from the 1920s and ’30s as characters from mythology. The sheer volume of paintings in the National Gallery will provide ample writing/story inspiration for the days to come.

After the National Gallery, we’ll take a short walk through Leicester Square to Cecil Court, otherwise known as Bookseller’s Row. Here you’ll enjoy time on your own to stroll through the charming lane filled with bookshops of all types, along with map stores, stationery shops, and many other independently owned shops.

We’ll then head back to the hotel for a group dinner (included in the tour price) followed by time on your own to relax or do more exploring.

Day 5, Tuesday, September 16: Travel to Chawton for a tour of the Jane Austen House Museum and Chawton House Library. Picnic lunch in Chawton House Garden. Continue to town of Bath and Bailbrook House Hotel. Group dinner.

Begin the morning with a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, then grab your bags because we’ll be traveling to the English countryside. Our first stop will be in the town of Chawton where we’ll enjoy a tour of the Jane Austen House Museum. This is where she lived and wrote her six novels. We’ll see the letters she wrote, her writing desk, and other artifacts of her life.

Next, we’ll head to the Chawton House Library, a gorgeous country home (referred to by Jane Austen as the “Great House”) which now collects more than 4,500 rare manuscripts and early editions of works written by women from 1660–1860. Included in our visit is a tour of the library and a picnic lunch (included in tour price) in the impeccable English gardens.

After our tours and lunch, we’ll finish our journey to the countryside just outside of Bath, where we’ll stay at the Bailbrook House Hotel. After our group dinner (included in the tour price), enjoy time on your own exploring, writing, or relaxing.

Day 6, Wednesday, September 17: Tour of Jane Austen Centre. Dedicated writing time at Bailbrook House. Group dinner.

Start the day with a complimentary breakfast at the Bailbrook House, followed by a trip into the town of Bath where we’ll tour the Jane Austen Centre. Here, we’ll learn more about the role Bath played in literature, specifically in Austen’s works, during the Regency. From the social structures, clothing, and food to the architecture and proximity to the Roman baths, there is much to inspire your own writing.

Enjoy lunch on your own in town, then we’ll head back to the Bailbrook House to begin our dedicated writing time of the trip.

We’ll have our first group dinner at the hotel, followed by time to relax.

Day 7, Thursday, September 18: Dedicated writing time at Bailbrook House. Group dinner.

Enjoy a complimentary English breakfast at the Bailbrook House before a full day of writing. Explore the hotel grounds, look back at your notes from London, Chawton, and Bath, and spend time dedicated to using all that inspiration on whatever project you’re working on. While this is self-directed writing time, your WD hosts will be right there, writing with you and/or available for chats about your work.

Lunch will be on your own, but we’ll all gather in the hotel restaurant for a group dinner (included in tour price).

Day 8, Friday, September 19: Free time to explore and/or write in Bath. Travel to London and Hotel RIU Plaza London. Group dinner.

After a complimentary breakfast in the Bailbrook House, participants will have free time to explore more of the town of Bath or to find a place to settle in and do more writing before gathering on the private tour bus for the trip back to London.

We’ll be checking back in at the Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria for the night and one more group dinner (included in the tour price).

Day 9, Saturday, September 20: Travel to airport on your own and departure, or continue your travels on your own.

As our retreat comes to a close, we hope you continue to find writing inspiration from our time together. Tour members can choose to return home or continue traveling on their own.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.

Jane Austen's House in Chawton, England
Jane Austen's House in Chawton, England

Pricing

Tour Pricing:

$6,799 (USD) per person, double occupancy
$7,899 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Tour Price Includes:

  • 4-star hotels
  • All breakfasts and dinners, 1 lunch
  • Coach transportation from London to Bath, and back to London
  • Admission to all museums and gardens
  • Friendly and knowledgeable local tour guide
  • Dedicated writing time in a scenic English manor house with your Writer’s Digest hosts

Tour Price Excludes:

  • Airfare. Each tour member books their own flight to London Heathrow Airport on September 12, 2025.
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • 6 lunches + all drinks/snacks
  • Tips to coach driver and tour coordinator

Payment Schedule:

A $1,975 (USD) deposit is due when you book your tour.

Final payment, in full, is due on August 1, 2025.

After August 1, 2025, please contact us to confirm that there are still spots available on this tour. If we are able to accommodate your reservation, full payment, reservation form and proof of insurance will be due immediately.

NOTE: Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat offers thoughtfully arranged tours. Each tour is guaranteed to proceed as soon as the minimum of 15 reservations has been met. If our reservation minimum is not met, Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat reserves the right to cancel the tour. Deposits/payments will be refunded in full if the tour is canceled.

If you need to cancel your reservation, the deposit and final payment are fully refundable until the deposit deadline, June 16, 2025. After June 16, 2025, we are not able to refund the deposit. After August 1, 2025, no refunds for deposit or final payment will be issued.

Please DO NOT make your airline reservations until Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat has guaranteed (by email) that the tour will proceed.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, England
The Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, England

Accommodations

4-star relaxation and comfortable coach travel.

Hotel Accommodations

After full days touring London and Bath plus writing time, we will retire to the comfort of 4-star hotels.

September 12–15: Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria
September 16–18: Bailbrook House Hotel
September 19: Hotel RIU Plaza London Victoria

Coach Travel:

Daily transportation will be provided by a modern, comfortable coach operated by an experienced driver.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.

Westminster Abbey and London Skyline
Westminster Abbey and London Skyline

Terms & Conditions

Responsibilities:

As the hosting organization, Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat provides reservation services and has chosen Garden Tours, a professional tour operator, as its designated tour operator. As the designated tour operator, Garden Tours arranges for the actual tour of all sites. Garden Tours also acts as an agent for services connected with specific tours hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat, such as ground transportation, lodging, accommodations, and meals. Each service provider is solely responsible to the participant for providing their respective services.

By making a reservation for a tour hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat, the participant certifies that she/he does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for themselves or other participants. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours reserve the right in their sole discretion to accept, decline to accept, or remove any participant on a tour hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat.

Price:

The tour prices in this agreement are based upon current exchange rates, tariffs, and taxes. Fluctuations in these rates could result in a price adjustment without prior notice until the tour is paid in full. Once the price for the tour is paid in full, the fee will not be adjusted due to any later change in exchange rates, tariffs or taxes.

Liabilities & Booking Conditions:

Garden Tours is established in the Netherlands, and rights and responsibilities for all tours operated by Garden Tours will be governed by Dutch and EU laws only. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat will have responsibility only for the proven negligent acts and omissions of its employees or agents and suppliers, subcontractors, servants, and/or agents of the same while acting within the scope of or in the course of their employment in respect of claims arising as a result of death, bodily injury, or illness caused to the signatory to the contract and/or any other named persons on the booking form.

Smoking:

All participants in tours hosted by Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat agree to comply with a non-smoking policy on all coaches, in restaurants, and in all lodging places.

Liability:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours have no responsibility or liability to any person for loss of baggage, money, or other property whatsoever. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours have no responsibility or liability for any loss or additional expenses caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions (such as rain, wind, or fog), civil disturbance, riot, illegal acts of third parties, strikes, wars, floods, sickness or any circumstances amounting to Force Majeure.

Complaints:

In the unlikely event that you have a complaint, you must promptly notify the Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat host or the Garden Tours tour coordinator directly, so they can take remedial action on the spot. If the matter cannot be solved directly, any complaints must be submitted in writing to Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat within 20 days after the date of your return.

Your Tour Canceled by Us:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat aims to provide your tour as booked. We reserve the right to cancel your tour under any circumstances, but if we cancel your tour, except where this is because you have not paid, you will receive a full refund.

Changes in Itinerary Details:

Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours strive to operate according to the published itinerary. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or opportunities that would enhance the itinerary, adjustments may be necessary or appropriate. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat and Garden Tours reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the agreed-upon itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of participants. Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat will let you know about any significant changes as soon as possible if there is time before your departure. Otherwise, we will announce changes on the tour.

Cancellations:

If you should need to withdraw from the tour for whatever reason, you must notify Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat in writing. Cancellation becomes effective when written notice is received. Deposits and final payments will be refunded for cancellations made before the deposit deadline (June 16, 2025). Deposits are nonrefundable for cancellations made between June 16, 2025 and the final payment deadline, August 1, 2025. There will be no refunds from Writer’s Digest Writing Retreat on or after the final payment deadline.

Insurance:

Travel insurance is required in case you need to cancel your trip after the final payment deadline, you have health emergencies while on the tour, or other unforeseen issues arise. Squaremouth and Insure My Trip are two travel insurance search sites. If you are under 70 years old, World Nomads is usually an economical travel insurance choice. You will be required to provide your travel insurance declarations page to Writer’s Digest by August 1, 2025.

Health & Safety:

Writer’s Digest follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination country.

Photography Notice:

Writer’s Digest will be taking photos and videos of the tours for future editorial and promotional use. Tour participants may occasionally appear in these images.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.

Regent Street, London
Regent Street, London

Reserve A Spot

Secure Your Reservation:

To reserve your spot on this tour:

  1. Fill out and submit the online reservation form.
    Reservation Form
  2. Submit your tour deposit of $1,975 USD by calling 800-333-0133 or completing a checkout through our online store.
    Pay Deposit Online

Questions? Contact us at writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com or 800-333-0133. We would love to chat with you about this exciting trip!

Note: After August 1, 2025, please contact us to confirm that there are still spots available on this tour. If we are able to accommodate your reservation, full payment, reservation form and proof of insurance will be due immediately.

Payment Details:

Deposit amount: $1,975 USD

Full payment:
$6,799 (USD) per person, double occupancy
$7,899 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Note: For reservations made after August 1, 2025, the full payment will be due immediately.

Additional information about the tour costs, including details about inclusions and exclusions, can be viewed under “Pricing”.

PLEASE NOTE: Writer's Digest Writing Retreat reserves the right to cancel the tour. Deposits/payments will be refunded in full if the tour is canceled.

Writer's Digest Writing Retreat follows COVID-19 safety updates from the CDC and our destination countries.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.

Tour Hosts

Portrait of Amy Collins

Amy Collins

Literary Agent

With over 30 years in publishing, Amy Collins is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, representing authors across the fantasy, romance, horror, thrillers, pop-culture, cookbooks and lifestyle genres. Formerly a book buyer, publisher, and sales director, Amy pairs deep market insights with dedication to her clients. A USA TODAY bestselling author herself, her works include It’s the Little Things (Simon & Schuster). She’s often featured in classes and articles by Writer’s Digest and speaks globally at conferences. To give back to the writing community, Amy manages Upcoming Classes - Agents Helping Authors, supporting writers with scholarships and can be found at Amy Collins – Agent, Speaker, Teacher.

Portrait of Moriah Richard

Moriah Richard

Managing Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine

Since obtaining her MFA in fiction, Moriah Richard has worked with over 100 authors to help them achieve their publication dreams. As the managing editor of Writer’s Digest magazine, she spearheads the world-building column Building Better Worlds, a 2023 Eddie & Ozzie Award winner. In 2024, she received the Inspirational Women in Literature award from the And I Thought Ladies organization for her work uplifting women in the publishing industry. As a reader, Moriah is most interested in horror, fantasy, and romance, although she will read just about anything with a great hook.

Contact 800-333-0133 or writersdigestretreats@aimmedia.com for more information.