SCRUTOPIA SUMMER SCHOOL

Civilisation: What does it mean to be civilised?2026 theme

what is scrutopia

2026 dates: arrival on Monday 20th, with the course running Tues 21st July - Mon 27th July 2026.

The Scrutopia Summer School founded by Roger Scruton offers a unique philosophical retreat, with a rich programme of lectures, tours, music, and conversation over dinner.

Participants are drawn from a number of countries and many age groups who join together for university-level seminars, a taste of college life, and the chance to explore the Cotswolds and its hidden gems.

Our distinguished faculty of lecturers will address the theme - Civilisation: What does it mean to be civilised? Which will provide an opportunity to consider our valuable heritage as well the changing world we live in.

Hosted at The Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester and Sundey Hill Farm, where Roger lived and worked for 30 years.

Confirmed speakers for 2026 include:
Sir Anthony Seldon - Gala Dinner Special Guest Speaker
Professor Georgios Varouxacis
Dr Mikolaj Slawkowski-Rode
Dr Ján Hreško
Professor Ewa Atanassow
Dr Ralph Weir
Dr Samuel Hughes
Jonathan Gaisman KC

Click the button below to apply or to see what we got up to in 2025.

Accommodation

The Royal agricultural university

Set in magnificent grounds, The Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester is a Victorian Gothic college following the ideals set by Ruskin for Oxford Colleges. Each en-suite bedroom offers lovely views across the beautiful Cotswold landscape.

Kemble station is a 10 minute drive and has links to Heathrow Airport.

Full board is included in the course and most meals will be catered here.

A magical week of erudition, conviviality and intense friendship. It could only be formed so quickly and deeply in the musical atmosphere you have managed to create.


Previous Special Guest Speakers include


Kathleen Stock OBE

Lord Michael Gove

Lord Daniel Hannan

Lord Jonathan Sumption

David Goodhart

Sir Julian Brazier

James Gray

Danny Kruger MBE

I had a glorious time with all of you (hounds included) at Sundey Hill Farm and Scrutopia. I enjoyed the discussions very much. It’s a pity I’ve missed Scrutopia so far. It was especially good to get a feel for the RAU and it’s surroundings. You have built up something of real value, and I feel it to be an honour to be involved.
Thankyou, Sophie (and Lucy and André) for organising such an amazing summer school with a perfect balance of intellectual activity, natural as well as man-made beauty, music and plenty of conviviality – with a liberal flow of wine! I enjoyed every minute in the company of the Scruptopians who had wished to share their love of Roger’s work from very different positions in the world and their personal lives. Going through my notes, I realise how much thought and effort you must have invested in the programme. What a treat you prepared for us, making these eminent people come to Cirencester to deepen our insight in Roger’s universe!
Just wanted to formally thank you for the tremendous 8 days in the Cotswolds, England. It was an intensely intellectual as well as personal experience. I got to meet very interesting people from all over the world. And also saw the beauty of English countryside (which I had honestly never quite seen before). And of course, the great conversations every evening - which really were the heart of the event.
CONTACT
 

To contact The Roger Scruton Oikos, please email: 
contact@rogerscruton.com

or visit our CONTACT page for further details

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