Sedbergh is England’s Book Town and has been since 2004/5.  Sedbergh Booktown’s history is book-ended by 2 epidemics in 2002 and 2022 which both restricted visitors.  Our booktown was and is an answer to keeping all of Sedbergh’s businesses and services going.  We rebooted in 2023 after Covid and are building our events and shop numbers up again, all the while being mindful of the threat and promise of AI.  Sedbergh is just 5 miles off the M6 motorway and very well-connected for travellers.  It is known for its’ peaceful ambiance and glorious scenery.

Since the beginning we have been lucky enough to have a simply huge bookshop, Westwood Books, 100,000 books in our old cinema.  Our Tourist Information office runs a multi-dealer bookshop and various town businesses sell books alongside their other goods.  We are very proud of our Book/Bus Shelter with bookcases full of books which visitors can take and return or take and replace entirely free of charge.  Farfield Mill is just outside of town (walking distance) and has 4 floors of craft makers, tuition, and a café.

Sedbergh sits between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales! Our gorgeous scenery is kind rather than rugged but still requires plenty of puff if you’re climbing.  Visitors value the ‘ Peace and quiet and open air ‘ which contribute to Sedbergh’s new designation as a WELLBEING TOWN.

Sedbergh Booktown has established various literature-based events e.g. Death in the Dales Crime Festival/October, author talks and courses.  Our Artisan Market takes place once a month April – September and we host many Fell Races (runners on foot), cycle races and even County Cricket matches.

The Black Bull, Main Street is a Good Food Guide listed hotel and restaurant with the emphasis on sustainable and local menus.  Sedbergh Golf Club is Cumbria’s ‘hidden gem’ and is quite simply a must play for any travelling golfer.  Centuries after George Fox first visited the hamlet of Brigflatts, Sedbergh, its’ Meeting House is still used.  It receives more than 2,000 visitors a year from all over the world, many coming to explore the “1652 Country”, the birthplace of Quakerism.  Long distance footpaths leading through Sedbergh are theFriends Way 1 and 2 (Quaker history)  The Dales Way, The Westmorland and Furness Way.

Sedbergh has a Nuclear Bunker strangely situated at the top of our ancient Norman Motte and Bailey Castle site at Castlehaw.  The Bunker was first built for the Observer Corps in World War II and adapted in 1965 during the Cold War.  It is easily accessible by footpath from the main road.

William Wordsworth’s sons were pupils at Sedbergh School and Hartley Coleridge, S. T. Coleridge’s son taught here.   Alison Uttley author of Little Grey Rabbit lived in Sedbergh in the 60s and 70s and Simon Beaufoy, Oscar Winning author of screen plays, The Full Monty and Slumdog Millionaire was educated here.  Poet Basil Bunting wrote ‘Briggflatts’ named after our Quaker Meeting House and is buried in its’ graveyard.  Sedbergh had one of the very first lending libraries started in 1700s.

Sedbergh is just off Junction 37 of the M6 Motorway.  There are 2 closeby rail stations at Garsdale and Oxenholme and various buses connect the nearby towns of Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Kirkby Stephen.  Manchester Airport is around 90 minutes drive.    https://www.sedbergh.org.uk/travel/

 

 

Sedbergh Book Town
c/o SLEEPY ELEPHANT, 41 Main Street, Sedbergh, Cumbria, Postcode LA10 5BL

Phone: 0044 15396 21770

booktown@sedbergh.org.uk

https://www.sedbergh.org.uk/book-town/

https://www.facebook.com/SedberghEnglandsBookTown/

https://www.instagram.com/booktownsedbergh