William Morris in Djúpivogur

When William Morris Visited Djúpivogur.

When most people think of William Morris, the British designer, poet, and social thinker behind the late 19th century’s Arts & Crafts movement, they picture tapestries, intricate wallpapers, and a fierce dedication to handcrafted beauty. I personally picture his iconic work ‘The Strawberry Thief’.

What you may not have heard is that Morris once travelled through Iceland on horseback and one of the places it is believed he stopped on his way was the our home the small fishing town of Djúpivogur, tucked between sea and mountains in the East Fjords.

As my own family settles into Djúpivogur, I’ve become fascinated by the local culture and history. Finding fact that fellow brit Morris once stood on these same shores was fascinating. While researching Morris’s trip I found his journey to Iceland wasn’t for just for his interest in the Icelandic Sagas and escaping his failing marriage, it was a search for simplicity, integrity, and a more honest way of living. A search I resonated with his journey as it mirrored many of the qualities I found in Djúpivogur.

Let me tell you a little more I found in my research….

Why William Morris Came to Iceland in 1871

In 1871, William Morris left industrial England and travelled to Iceland by steam ship. At the time, Iceland was remote, rugged, and largely untouched by modern industry. Morris was supposedly longing for:

A slower pace of life A society connected to nature and craft Stories, sagas, and landscapes that still felt ancient relief from the pressures of urban England

Iceland represented everything he believed in: beauty, tradition, craft, and intentional living.

His travel diaries describe Iceland as wild, poetic, challenging, and deeply moving; “awful in its desolation,” but also filled with “sublime beauty.”

William Morris Arrives in Djúpivogur

When Morris reached Djúpivogur, the town was already an important harbour and trading post. He wrote in his journal:

‘The first turn of the screw woke me about three this morning, and we were soon in the head of Berufirth but had to wait for a pilot to take us in to Djupivogur (the trading-station) as it was still rather thick. A sad dripping misty day it was when we cast anchor in the harbour; after the first quarter of an hour the mountains were not to be seen, nothing but the dripping shore, and the black houses of the merchant-stead. We went ashore for an hour or two, had coffee in the merchant’s house, looked over his store for fox-skins and found none: then C.J.F. and I wandered away among the rocks inshore, happy enough if not exactly extremely well’ (IJ p 181).

The merchants house where Morris would have had his coffee is still standing today and is the coffee shop- Langabúð. Check out more in my guide on where to eat and drink in Djúpivogur.

Djúpivogur and the Cittaslow Movement: Is the town a modern embodiment of Morris’s Values

What fascinates me most is that Djúpivogur is now Iceland’s only official Cittaslow town, part of a global movement that values:

• Slow food
• Community connection
• Craftsmanship
• Sustainability
• A calmer pace of life

In many ways, Djúpivogur today is reflection of Morris’s values maybe as a result of his visit and influence.

The town particularly honours:

Local makers and artisans

Traditional skills

Small-scale business

Unhurried living Eating seasonally and locally

Beauty in everyday tasks

If Morris visited now, he would recognise the same spirit he once admired just expressed through modern slow living.

Seeing Djúpivogur Through Morris’s Eyes

I often think about what the town looked like when Morris arrived. The iconic pyramid mountain, Búlandstindur, would have towered above him as he explored. He would have seen seabirds, fishing boats, and the same fjord I look at every morning.

Why William Morris’s Visit Matters Today

Morris’s journey highlights something that still resonates today about Iceland, and about Djúpivogur:

People have always come here looking for nature, adventure & peace

The landscape inspires creativity and introspection

The culture supports slow, meaningful living

Beauty is found in the everyday, not the extravagant

In a world that often celebrates hustle culture and endless productivity, Djúpivogur, like Morris’s legacy gently reminds us that life doesn’t have to be lived in fast-forward.

Walking in His Footsteps as a Modern Visitor or Resident

If you’re visiting Djúpivogur, or thinking of moving to Iceland, you can follow Morris’s path by:

Walking along the harbour where ships once brought him ashore

Visiting local art and crafts that echo his philosophy

Exploring the coastline he described as “otherworldly”

Experiencing the quiet that he found so restorative Learning to appreciate simplicity, just as he did

Have a coffee at the merchants house Langabúð

Living here, I often feel as though Morris would enjoy visiting in modern times of the slow mornings, the handmade traditions, and the way the village chooses connection over convenience.

Final Thoughts: A Meeting of Past and Present

William Morris came to Iceland searching for culture, history, beauty, meaning, and relief from a world moving too fast.

More than 150 years later, people, myself included, are coming to Djúpivogur for the same reason.

This towm is a reminder that slow intentional living isn’t a new fad. It’s been a conscious choice since the industrial revolution people longed for and always cherished once they found it.

Djúpivogur is, and always has been, a place where life moves at the pace of the tides and maybe was lucky enough Morris to find this long before any of us.

Want more stories from Djúpivogur?

I share videos, photos, and journal posts about:

Slow living in a small Icelandic village, nature and sustainability. Everyday life in the East Fjords as an English and Icelandic family.