For years there have been dark mutterings about the demise of books and the deterioration in young people’s concentration skills leading to a deplorable decline in reading. However, a cultural phenomenon has been creeping up on us ever since 2010 when Richard and Judy started their non-elitist Book Club as a website linked to WH Smith. Today so many people belong to book clubs that even Siri is incapable of sourcing a rough estimate of how many. Alongside the clubs, hundreds of literary festivals have sprung up and now lie at the heart of even the smallest towns’ social calendars.
Book It Now! The UK's Greatest Literary Festivals
Words by
Charlotte Metcalf
3rd April 2024
Whether you've got great expectations of being far from the madding crowd or want to be near to the sea, the sea with normal people, there's a UK literary festival that's perfect for you.
Some festivals specialise: Ledbury hosts the UK’s biggest poetry festival in July (actress Juliet Stevenson’s favourite); Sherborne in Dorset celebrates travel writing in April, while if crime’s your thing, head north where there are plenty of festivals revelling in all its gory glories, from Harrogate’s festival or Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Festival (both July), to Bloody Scotland Crime Writing in Stirling in September. In June, beautiful Chalke Valley in Dorset plays host to the world’s biggest history festival, founded in 2011 by historian James Holland with James Heneage of Ottakar bookshops. (James and Charlotte Heneage now run the popular Kardamyli Festival in Greece, based in the late Patrick Leigh Fermor’s house.) There are plenty of children’s literature festivals too, with Barnes in London hosting the biggest during July.
Literary festivals are now such an established part of our cultural life that it’s impossible to list them all, but here are ten of the best to book between the spring and autumn.
Cambridge Literary Festival, 17-21 April
Set in historic locations like the Palmerston Room near the Bridge of Sighs and the Cambridge Union, the excitement this year is that Armistead Maupin, the much-loved American author of Tales of the City, is making his debut appearance at the festival. Also confirmed are Scottish poet laureate, Jackie Kay, playwright and novelist, George the Poet, Green MP, Caroline Lucas, comedian Helen Lederer and Christian Lewis, the ex-paratrooper who walked round Britain’s coastline with his dog, Jet.
Learn more and book tickets cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
Hay Festival, 23 May-2 June
Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye
In 1987 Peter Florence and his parents dreamt up a book festival in the tiny, picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales, already full of bookshops. 36 years later, the festival has editions in 30 global locations from Cartagena to Mexico. Despite the festival’s remote, rural setting, it has gained a mighty global reputation for attracting major authors and speakers. President Clinton, who spoke at Hay in 2001, described Hay as ‘Woodstock for the mind’. Hay has an Early Bird programme, so has already announced some of this year’s speakers, who include Rory Stewart, Jeanette Winterson and Colm Toibin. Bettany Hughes and Tom Holland will be talking about history and on a lighter note Miriam Margolyes, Lenny Henry, Sara Pascoe and Julian Clary will also be appearing.
Learn more and book tickets via hayfestival.com
Judi Jackson at Hay
The Queen’s Reading Room Festival, 8 June
This one-day festival grew from Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s Book Club, which she launched during Covid, spurred on by the conviction that reading is an inspiration and good for our souls and wellbeing. Last year was the festival’s inaugural year and, in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces, it hosted 7,500 people within the stunning surroundings of Hampton Court Palace. It’s all set to continue this year after last year’s stellar line-up, which included Ken Follett, Ben Macintyre, Robert Harris, Philippa Gregory and Kate Mosse, with actors like Judi Dench, Richard E Grant and Derek Jacobi bringing poetry and Shakespeare alive.
Learn more and book tickets via thequeensreadingroom.co.uk
The Idler Festival, 5-7 July
Idler Logo
This quirky festival attracts dedicated followers of The Idler magazine to Fenton House, a handsome 17th century house with a big walled garden in Hampstead. The festival comprises an eclectic mix of literature, philosophy, comedy, husbandry and merriment – all at a nice slow pace for idlers. Rowan Williams will take to the main stage while on the main lawn there will be dancing and hip-hop. BBC Radio Three’s Georgia Mann will DJ in the orchard plus there will be beekeeping, foraging and handwriting lessons, and inside the house, more talks, stalls, bibliotherapy and agony aunts.
Learn more and buy tickets via idler.co.uk/festival/
Idler Festival
Cliveden Literary Festival, 21-22 September
Cliveden
Dubbed by philosopher Alain de Botton as ‘the most dignified and beautiful literary festival on the planet’, the festival takes place at this famous hotel and Grade I listed house and is curated by a small but dedicated and very brainy committee, chaired by the historian Lord Andrew Roberts and Natalie Livingstone with Tina Brown as Honorary US Chairman. If last year’s dazzling line-up is anything to go by, this year promises to be a treat in exquisite surroundings.
Learn more and buy tickets via clivedenliteraryfestival.org/festival/
Cheltenham Literature Festival, 4-13 October
David Mitchell, Cheltenham
Founded in 1949, Cheltenham prides itself on being the world’s oldest literary festival. In collaboration with The Times and Sunday Times, the festival draws crowds of dedicated followers and hosts 600 speakers across over 500 events. Its aim is also to engage children, last year welcoming 12,000 school pupils to the Festival Village for a host of entertaining events and activities. This year the festival celebrates its 75th year and is guaranteed to cement its place firmly at the heart of the UK’s cultural scene.
Learn more and book tickets via cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature
Ilkley Literature Festival, 4-20 October
Launched by W.H. Auden in 1973, Ilkley celebrated its 50th birthday last year and is the north’s longest running literature festival. This year this Yorkshire spa town will again welcome a plethora of poets, novelists, journalists and biographers, encouraging young people to attend via its Young Writers Group and Story Explorer Group for younger children.
Learn more and book tickets via ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
Petworth Festival Literary Week, 18 October-3 November
In this delightful West Sussex town that clusters gracefully around the walls of historic Petworth House, the literary week is now in its 14th year, in collaboration with Petworth’s independent bookshop. Festival-goers look forward hugely to the annual launch at a drinks party hosted by Lord and Lady Egremont in Petworth House surrounded by Turner’s paintings. Later in the festival there is also a jazz evening at the house’s stables. Famous authors return loyally year after year for the cosy, informal atmosphere which encourages audience participation and the festival also celebrates local authors like Tim Peake and Kate Mosse – and Lord Egremont himself.
Learn more and book tickets via petworthfestival.org.uk
London Literature Festival, 23 October-3 November
London’s Southbank hosts the festival over the October half term to encourage children and teenagers to attend – there is even a ‘Rug Rhymes’ session for children under five by the National Poetry Library staff. The capital’s most prominent literary festival showcases emerging talent alongside some of the world’s best-known authors and speakers. The National Poetry Library in the Royal Festival Hall has an Open Day so people can explore the world’s largest public modern poetry collection. There’s also ‘Out-Spoken’, a resident poetry and live music night which champions diversity in poetry. Previous festival speakers have included Hillary Clinton, Tom Hanks, Philip Pullman, Jada Pinkett Smith, Patrick Stewart, Jacqueline Wilson and Greta Thunberg.
Learn more and book tickets via this link
Bridport Literary Festival, 3-9 November
Bridport's stunning scenery
This year Bridport is excited to be celebrating its 20th year so is keeping its headliners under wraps till nearer the time. The festival was spawned from the international Bridport Prize, founded in 1973, to encourage and reward writers of short stories and poetry. Today this charming market town in Dorset, best known for its proximity to the Jurassic Coastline at West Bay, hosts 40 events in various venues. The town is already a hub for local artists, writers, foodies and media folk. Mary-Lou Sturridge, the much-loved co-founder and former MD at the Groucho Club, welcomes guests to the Festival at her Seaside Boarding House along with The Bull Hotel.
Learn more and buy tickets via bridlit.com
