Situated in the friendly and historic village of Hawarden, Gladstone’s Library offers good food and comfortable accommodation at very reasonable prices. The 23 bedrooms have all been refurbished to a high standard, some to include en-suite facilities. Hawarden is easily accessible from the rail and motorway networks and provides an excellent base for exploring Chester and North Wales.

Founded in 1889 by former Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, Gladstone’s Library is a Grade 1 listed building and Britain's only residential library - we offer bed, board and books.

The 30,000 books with which Gladstone started the Library have now grown into a unique collection of more than 250,000 books, pamphlets and journals covering a wide range of subjects including art, theology, literature and history. Non-residents who are interested in using the Library should contact Karen Parry for details on becoming an External Reader or a Friend of the Library.

Gladstone’s Library is more than just a library - it is also home to a permanent exhibition commemorating the life and political career of its founder. The Gladstone Exhibition is open from Monday to Friday from 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. The Coffee Shop is also open at these times offering a tempting selection of homemade cakes and biscuits. A buffet lunch is served from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Pre-booked groups are welcome. We offer group tours of the Library which may be combined with lunch, dinner or just a cup of tea/coffee.

    

Gladstone’s Library is also a three-star conference venue with facilities which are ideally suited to groups up to 30. We have three meeting rooms which can be set up to meet your individual requirements. We offer highly competitive rates with special reductions for registered charities, churches and voluntary groups.

Whether you stay for a month or just pop in for a cup of coffee, you will find a warm welcome at Gladstone’s Library.