The Good Retreat Guide Online

Mountains and lake graphic.

Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre

Woodbrooke is Europe’s only Quaker Study Centre and is open to those of all faiths, and none. We aim for every visitor to leave refreshed, renewed and inspired, which is supported by the care that we give to all of our guests and the sense of community alongside the space and freedom to be alone. Set in ten acres of organically-managed gardens and woodland, Woodbrooke offers a ‘countryside in the city’ experience for those who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet want to be in a convenient location and within easy reach of Birmingham and the West Midlands. Woodbrooke was founded on the Quaker principles of peace, equality, simplicity, truth and sustainability that inform everything that Woodbrooke staff and volunteers do. The building is the Grade II listed former home of chocolate-maker, Quaker and entrepreneur George Cadbury, and offers comfortable bedrooms, a labyrinth, a silent/meditation room, a Victorian Walled Garden, a boating lake, delicious food and opportunities to attend Quaker meetings for worship. Woodbrooke also offers a well-stocked library (accessible 24/7) and free Wi-Fi access.

Open: 

Open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing day.

Accommodation: 

45 single rooms; 7 twin rooms; 7 double rooms and 1 family room. Most rooms are en-suite.

Facilities: 

We offer a labyrinth; a silent/meditation room; a Victorian Walled Garden; a boating lake; delicious food and opportunities to attend Quaker meetings for worship. Free Wi-Fi. Ten acres of gardens and woodland. Our well-stocked library is accessible 24 hours a day.

Disabled access: 

We have a small number of rooms that have been modified for those who have limited mobility - please contact us directly to enquire about these and to discuss their accessibility.

Spiritual help: 

Woodbrooke offers individually guided retreats as part of our programme both in Birmingham and at Swarthmoor Hall. These retreats have a simple shape and structure to each day, but are primarily an individual process of spiritual exploration and deepening.

The retreat experience on an individually guided retreat is of being an individual in community, supported by a retreat leader and working with whatever experiences or issues you feel led to explore during your retreat. There will be specific meeting times and space for the retreat group over the course of the retreat, but the programme will not be highly structured and there is usually no pre-set theme. You will be offered regular opportunities for one to one contact with your retreat guide during the retreat.

Meals: 

We can cater for any dietary requirements with notice. We offer a vegetarian option at every meal.

Special activities: 

Woodbrooke is Europe’s only Quaker Study Centre. We have offered adult education for those of any faith or none from around the world since 1903. Currently a year-round programme of short courses is offered, as well as retreats and longer-term programmes of study and off-site education. Woodbrooke’s learning opportunities have always been based around exploring Quakerism and the themes of interest to Quakers, such as Peace and Reconciliation, Quaker History and Spiritual Journeys. Everyone is welcome at Woodbrooke.

We offer all kinds of retreats for all kinds of people. Some of the retreats offered by Woodbrooke draw from specific spiritual traditions, such as Benedictine, Ignatian, Buddhist, Islamic or Pagan. Others offer quiet times set aside with no specific spiritual or religious input, perhaps with a creative or seasonal theme.

We also offer a perfect setting for a relaxed bed & breakfast stay, and an inspiring and nourishing environment for conferences and events.

Please see the Woodbrooke website for the up-to-date list of our retreats.

Situation: 

Located in the south-west of Birmingham in close proximity to historic Bournville. A fifteen minute drive into Birmingham city centre, or a twenty minute bus ride. The local train station is about twenty minutes’ walk away.

Maximum stay: 

We do have long-stay guests – please contact us for more details.

Bookings: 

Please email us or call our administration team.

Charges: 

B&B from GBP 43.50 (shared bathroom) or GBP 50.00 (en-suite) per night. Full-board also available. Please contact our administration team for more details.

Access: 

Please see the Woodbrooke website for travel directions.

Events list

Monday, May 27, 2013 to Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013 to Thursday, May 30, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013 to Sunday, June 2, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013 to Monday, June 3, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013 to Sunday, June 2, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013 to Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013 to Thursday, June 6, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013 to Sunday, June 9, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013 to Sunday, June 9, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013 to Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013 to Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013 to Sunday, June 16, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013 to Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 to Friday, June 21, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013 to Sunday, June 23, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013 to Sunday, June 23, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 to Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013 to Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013 to Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013 to Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013 to Sunday, July 7, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013 to Sunday, July 7, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013 to Thursday, July 11, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013 to Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013 to Sunday, July 14, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013 to Sunday, July 21, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013 to Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013 to Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013 to Sunday, August 4, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013 to Sunday, August 11, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013 to Sunday, August 18, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013 to Sunday, August 18, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013 to Sunday, August 18, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013 to Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013 to Friday, August 23, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013 to Thursday, August 22, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013 to Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013 to Monday, August 26, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013 to Sunday, September 1, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013 to Sunday, September 1, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013 to Sunday, September 1, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013 to Sunday, September 1, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013 to Friday, September 6, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013 to Sunday, September 8, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013 to Sunday, September 8, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013 to Sunday, September 8, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013 to Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013 to Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 to Thursday, September 12, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013 to Sunday, September 15, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013 to Sunday, September 15, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013 to Sunday, September 15, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013 to Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013 to Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013 to Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013 to Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 to Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013 to Friday, October 4, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013 to Sunday, October 6, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013 to Sunday, October 6, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013 to Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013 to Sunday, October 13, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013 to Friday, October 25, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013 to Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013 to Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013 to Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013 to Sunday, November 3, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013 to Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013 to Sunday, November 10, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013 to Sunday, November 10, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013 to Sunday, November 10, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013 to Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013 to Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013 to Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013 to Sunday, November 17, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013 to Sunday, November 17, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013 to Sunday, November 17, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 to Thursday, November 21, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013 to Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013 to Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013 to Sunday, November 24, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013 to Sunday, December 1, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013 to Sunday, December 1, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013 to Sunday, December 8, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013 to Sunday, December 8, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013 to Sunday, December 8, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013 to Sunday, December 22, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013 to Thursday, January 2, 2014