“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

For all fans of our friend THE GRUFFALO We are so very excited to share the news that he is coming back to the deep dark wood with a new adventure! We will of course be taking pre-orders and will have a small number of signed copies! Keep your eye on our website!

Welcome to my first ramblings of 2026. It is around this time of a new year that I find myself in a midwinter slump, there is all the post festive season paperwork to deal as well as shorter days. This year I have tried to change my outlook, I started to look forward to January as a time to slow down, to rest, to recover, to light candles and get lost in the flames of my open fire. Hence, it is 13th January and I am just about getting around to plans for 2026, from the co

As the end of 2025 draws closer it is a time for me to reflect on the highs and lows of being a bookseller. 2025 has certainly given indie bookshops across the UK its challenges which has certainly not been aided by our Government and I fear Rachel Reeves and her recent budget will bring extra challenges in 2026. Whist the first six months were financially difficult, to the point I was considering my options for downsizing and even closure, the Summer brought us coach loads o

Today at 4pm is our deadline to order books for collection from our Bookshops by 2pm on Christmas Eve. Whether you are looking for last minute gifts from Books to a Ride-On Defender pop into The Madhatter Bookshop and Little Madhatter Emporium for the perfect gift for all your friends and family. Or to satisfy your betwixtmas reading! Christmas Opening Hours Christmas Eve 10am - 3pm Christmas Day CLOSED Boxing Day CLOSED 27th December - 10am - 5pm 28th December - 10am - 5pm

As Christmas Day approaches I thought it might be fun to tell you our Top Ten best Sellers for 2025! Greek Myths & Tales A potent pantheon of gods, heroes engaged in epic battles, fearsome mythical creatures and supernatural transformations – such fantastical elements infuse Greek myths with a wonder and excitement that’s hard to beat. These tales of love, courage, conflict and intrigue, shared for thousands of years, still exercise a powerful influence on our modern lives.

If thrillers are your vibe then Alice Feeney is your girl! We are delighted to offer you a limited first print run, signed and with stunning spredges! (Sprayed edges for the uninitiated) It's only £16.99! Click to order your copy!

When I talk to grown ups about remembering the first book that made them fall in love with reading the most common answer is "The Faraway Tree" by Enid Blyton. They remember reading under the covers after lights outs and getting lost in the adventures of the inhabitants of the magical tree in the enchanted wood; Silky the pixie, Moonface, the Saucepan Man, and Dame Washalot, exploring ever-changing lands like the Land of Birthdays or Spells from its top, encountering creatur

Did you know that Little Madhatter is more than just a magical book shop? It’s also a treasure trove of games designed for all the family. In a world where screen time often dominates family time, games offer a refreshing way to connect, laugh, and create lasting memories. Whether you have toddlers, teenagers, or grandparents around the table, there’s something here to bring everyone together. At Little Madhatter, the collection of family games is carefully selected to offer

We are delighted to welcome back Alison Waller with a new writing course for 2026. Writing for Children Have you always wanted to write for children or teenagers? Do you have a picturebook, a middle grade adventure, or a YA novel in you? Is there a young character you want to bring to life? Writing for Children will help you discover the world of children’s literature and invite you to explore your ideas in a friendly and collaborative space. The course runs over ten weeks an

Our special guest! As a small local business we are unable to offer you sensational Black Friday deals but this Saturday we can offer you an extra big helping of JOY! We are delighted that Santa Claus will be upstairs at our children's bookshop, Little Madhatter Emporium on Saturday from 10.30 until 12.30 and 2.00 until 3.30. There is no need to book, just come along and fill your soul with Christmas spirit! As a busy grown up it is sometimes difficult to make time to remembe

As well as physical books and journals we also sell audio books via our Libra Site and this week there is a small shop sale! Why not shop for yourself and some holiday gifts. Audiobooks can be scheduled for delivery, sent instantly, or gifted via a printed certificate. And, you can now gift one audiobook to multiple recipients at the same time. Here is the link to all your audio delights - and not a penny goes to a millionaire giant! You are supporting our small local indie

There are the obvious reasons, use it or loose it and in the case of Burford High Street if the local indies close they will be replaced by nail salons, barbers and opticians. Then there is the fact that Local small businesses support the local economy by paying our taxes and employing local people. As a book shop we do more than offer books for sale we bring the community together through events like our book club, Burford Literary Festival and Burford Comedy Club. We are

At the North Pole the Elves are busy making toys and Mrs Christmas is overseeing the polishing of the sleigh and cooking up batches of magic fairy dust to mix in with the reindeer food! It takes a lot of energy to fly around the world in one night but they have the joy and wishes of all the children to help them! Father Christmas is jolly busy at the moment, making lists and checking them twice but he still has time to read your letters, reading your letters is what makes him

We've been nominated! After winning Best Bookshop in the Cotswolds 2024 we have been nominated once again for 2025 and we would love to be a winner two years in a row! Please share the bookshop love and vote for us here - thank you!

We are delighted to welcome author and artist, Harriet Lowther to the bookshop to sign copies of her book "Tell Your Dog I Love Them" on...

We have three more events to bring you as part of our Burford Lit Fest Fringe Festival. 9th October Quintin lake The Wainwright Prize...

Burford Literary Festival opened last night with a talk from renowned artist, Francis Hamel. Art was discussed, wine was drunk and a...

Comedian Paul Miller brings Burford Comedy Club to Madhatter Bookshop! Hot on the heels of harpist Lucy Nolan and poet Chris Tutton, also...

Imaginary Landscapes is the perfect combination of poetry and harp by award winning poet Chris Tutton and accomplished professional...

We are delighted to announce that from next week we will be a new stockist for The Phoenix Comic! Copies will be available at Little...