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HF Book Club in The Cotswolds: Secrets & Spies

Harrington House

■ 4 nights at an HF Country House

■ One itinerary available

■ 113kg CO2 details

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For fans of fiction writing that focuses on espionage and intrigue, our Secrets & Spies Book Club break seals the deal. Not only will you get to dive deeper into this genre and explore its ever-evolving narratives, but you'll be staying in the comfort of Harrington House - our characterful country house in Bourton-on-the-Water. These holidays are the perfect way to connect with like-minded spy-fiction fans and fabulous for solo travellers looking for friendship-forming experiences.

Accommodation

HF Country House
You get the best of all worlds at this Grade II-listed retreat just a skip away from the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water – the impossibly pretty Cotswolds town with chocolate-box cottages, old-fashioned tearooms, and low-arched stone bridges that span the River Windrush. Not only will you be within walking distance of the Cotswold Motoring Museum, the Model Village, and Birdland Wildlife Park & Gardens, but it’s an easy drive from village beauties Broadway and Bibury. For walkers and hikers, there’s no shortage of thrills, especially for those keen to explore the well-trodden trails and paths around the Windrush Valley, Lower and Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire Way, Cotswold Way, and Monarch Way.
10537_0039 - Harrington exterior

What You’ll Love

  • Meeting like-minded book lovers 
  • Discussing a variety of literary works 
  • Enjoying a guided sightseeing visit 
  • Group discussions with our expert leaders 
  • Connecting with other spy fans 

What's Included

  • Free-flowing literary discussions throughout your holiday
  • Transport to and from venues on your excursion day
  • Entry to Bletchley Park
  • Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
  • Cream tea on arrival day
  • Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
  • Daily packed lunches
  • Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
  • Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Reviews

Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

Book Club

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

This holiday wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Bletchley Park, home of Britain’s wartime code-breaking efforts, and a venue which embodies all things secrets and spies. We’ll have plenty of time to explore all that Bletchley Park has to offer. Entry to the site is included in the price of this holiday.

This Book Club break will explore the shadowy world of spies and secrets as represented in literature. Your leaders will facilitate discussions about the themes and topics featured in their chosen titles and there’ll be an open forum to discuss opinions.  

Reading List

Agent Sonya by Ben McIntyre

Recounting the life of Ursula Kuczynski, Agent Sonya tells the true story about a German woman who becomes a Soviet spy. The story follows Ursula from her homeland to China, Switzerland, and finally the Cotswolds where she settles down to bake scones and run an intelligence network. 

Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor

Set aboard an emigrant ship from Dublin to New York during the harsh winter of 1847, at the height of the potato famine Star of the Sea follows the stories of some of the key passengers on board whose lives, we discover, are intertwined. It is a novel full of secrets to be revealed, with a dark air of menace as a murderer tracks his victim, while all the time being spied upon himself.

Julia by Sandra Newman

Julia Worthing works in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. She knows how to survive under the iron rule of the Party and its leader, Big Brother. It is a world of constant surveillance and closely guarded secrets. But when she meets Winston Smith, she begins to lose her grip and can no longer safely navigate her world. A retelling of Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell, this book may be read independently of the original, and there is no expectation to do so for this holiday.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

View all

Accommodation

Harrington House

You get the best of all worlds at this Grade II-listed retreat just a skip away from the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water – the impossibly pretty Cotswolds town with chocolate-box cottages, old-fashioned tearooms, and low-arched stone bridges that span the River Windrush. Not only will you be within walking distance of the Cotswold Motoring Museum, the Model Village, and Birdland Wildlife Park & Gardens, but it’s an easy drive from village beauties Broadway and Bibury. For walkers and hikers, there’s no shortage of thrills, especially for those keen to explore the well-trodden trails and paths around the Windrush Valley, Lower and Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire Way, Cotswold Way, and Monarch Way.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out). 

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks 
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.  

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house. 

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

•  27 well-appointed guest rooms  •  Exclusive occupancy: 36 guests minimum •  Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Full-board (including cream tea on arrival)  •  Free Wi-Fi  •  Free on-site parking  •  Boot room and drying room  •  Travel cot  •  Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks  •  Books and games to borrow  •  Licensed bar  •  Two lounges  •  Walled garden and croquet lawn  •  Landscaped grounds  •  Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point Visit England - Guest Accommodation 

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan  and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a  40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home.  A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast  and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including  hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick  and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Harrington House has 27 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior. 

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV. 

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: Rooms 1 and 2 on the first floor for their master bedrooms, original Palladian design, and lovely views. Room 24 in the Windrush Cottage is a large twin room with its own private garden.  

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply. 

 

Room supplements

Superior Premium single Premium double/twin Choose your room
£25 pppn £20 pppn £20 pppn £30 per room

 

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location 

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Harrington House

Getting here

Address

Harrington House
Sherborne Street
Bourton-on-the-Water
Gloucestershire GL54 2BY

Tel: +44 (0)1451 821213

By train

The nearest station is Moreton-in-Marsh.  

However, the nearest mainline station is at Cheltenham Spa. 

Check National Rail for train times and routes. 

By taxi

From Moreton-in-Marsh, it’s a nine-mile journey taking 20 to 30 minutes.

From Cheltenham Spa, it’s an 18-mile journey taking 35 to 45 minutes.

For pricing, please contact Limozena taxis directly.

Limozena
You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended company, Limozena*. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance by contacting:

Tel: +44 (0)1451 820972
Email: denwalmsley@yahoo.co.uk

A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Harrington House.

*Limozena is not owned or managed by HF Holidays.

By bus

The 801 bus goes from Moreton-in-Marsh to Bourton-on-the-Water and takes about 30 minutes. Alight next to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Shop from where it’s a short walk to Harrington House.  

By car

There’s free car parking at Harrington House if you decide to drive. 

Directions 
From the A429 take the road into the centre of Bourton-on-the-Water. At the war memorial by the village green, turn into Sherborne Street. Cross the narrow bridge and continue to just before the road forks. You’ll find Harrington House on the left.  

By air

The nearest airport is London Heathrow Airport.

From the airport 
Take the train to London Paddington station from where there are direct trains to Moreton-in-Marsh, which takes just over two hours. Then you can get the bus or a taxi to Bourton-on-the-Water. 

More Information

Packing list - Book Club

Please bring along your own copy of the books we'll be discussing either in paper format or on a tablet/e-reader if you prefer. The full reading list will be shown on the itinerary tab as soon as it is confirmed.

We’ll also be heading out sightseeing so please be sure to bring comfortable shoes that you can wear when we’re out and about. And given the UK’s famously unpredictable weather, you may also want to pack waterproof clothing and/or sun cream.

Carbon Footprint - 113kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Alison Carr

When looking for a spark of creativity in her art, Alison takes inspiration from the awe-inspiring scenery she sees on her frequent walks in the countryside. Experienced with a range of mediums, she wants to help guests capture the beauty of the places they’ll visit on one of our art holidays.

Alban O'Brien

A self-confessed bookworm, Alban is a fan of all things literature. He describes the three pillars of his life as family, football, and Shakespeare. After a long career in education, Alban has been waxing lyrical about classic books and British beauty spots as one of our expert tutors since 2012.  

Jill Durnford (ABC)

A bookworm since childhood, Jill loves books and reading so much she moved to Hay-on-Wye – the pretty market town on the English-Welsh border that lives up to its moniker as the second-hand book capital of the world. Given Jill’s job as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide, history books (both fiction and non-fiction) are always high on her list, but she enjoys anything with intriguing characters and a thought-provoking plot.

Code: BTN04-ABC05

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Dates & availability

HF Book Club in The Cotswolds: Secrets & Spies

Members save an additional £30 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership
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We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

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If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

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Travel with confidence

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If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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