What could be more of a summer fantasy than a literary festival?
The perfect combination of stimulating talks, bright sunshine and a tasty glass of wine, some might say they’re more fun than a music festival. After all, there’s no mud and (hopefully) no one peeing in your tent.
Britain, luckily, is blessed with a wealth of literary festivals, and here we’ve rounded up some of our favourites coming up in the next few months. There’s something for every type of reader, from the bestselling Hay Festival to Harrogate’s Festival of Crime Writing, and a mix of literature and music at Latitude Festival.
Simply scroll down to find your perfect match.
Hay Festival, Wales
Where? Hay-on-Wye, Wales
When? Now – June 4
Who’s appearing? The huge line-up includes Eddie Izzard, Tracy Emin, Germaine Greer and many, many more authors
The grandaddy of all British literary festivals, Hay is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year after being founded in the ‘town of books’ Hay-on-Wye back in 1987. Although the festival has expanded worldwide, a trip to the Welsh borders for the original festival should be on the bucket list of every book lover. Taking place over two weekends, the line-up reads like a who’s who of British literature.
Ticket prices start from: Free
Stokey Lit Fest
Where? Stoke Newington, London
When? 2-4 June
Who’s appearing? Nimco Ali, AL Kennedy, Gemma Cairney, Andi Oliver
Stokey Lit Fest has become a fixed date on any London literary fan’s calendar. Truly taking in the spirit of the area, it is hosted across Stoke Newington and Newington Green in the town hall, churches and beloved local pubs. With events from a celebration of 20 years of Harry Potter to a satirical election debate, it doesn’t shy away from discussion, politics, or just a bit of fun.
Ticket prices start from: Free
The Emerald Street Literary Festival
Where? Royal Geographical Society, London
When? June 10
Who’s appearing? the Baileys Women’s Prize Finalists; Sarah Perry in conversation with Stylist columnist Lucy Mangan; The Moth; Reni Eddo-Lodge
Organised by our sister publication Emerald Street, the Emerald Street Literary Festival is the perfect Saturday for interesting women – filled with a fascinating line-up of some of our favourite female authors and thinkers. This year’s programme includes finalists from the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction speaking just two days after the award itself, Stylist cover star Reni Eddo-Lodge discussing race in today’s Britain, author Sarah Perry in conversation with Stylist columnist Lucy Mangan, and our attendees themselves telling their stories in a special Moth StorySLAM.
Ticket prices start from: £5
Balham Lit Fest
Where? The Bedford, Balham
When? 8-11 June
Who’s appearing? Laura Barnett, Alexandra Heminsley, Wahaca founder Thomasina Meyers
Housed in Balham’s pub-come-arts centre The Bedford, and hosted by the reputable Dulwich Books, Balham Literary Festival is ideal for South London intellectuals who want to find out the real stories behind their favourite new pieces of writing. With sessions on topics from cookery to war, it’s a great place to meet the authors of some of this year’s most interesting books.
Ticket prices start from: £75 for the whole weekend
Africa Writes festival
Where? The British Library, London
When? 1-3 July
Who’s appearing? Nawal El Saadawi, Ben Okri, 2017 Baileys Prize Longlistee Yewande Omotoso
Organised by the Royal African Society, Africa Writes is a chance for both new talent from Africa, and writers of African origin to share their writing. The festival combines book launches and author interviews with panel discussions and writing workshops for young writers and children. Previous years have seen speakers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Wole Soyinka.
Ticket prices start from: Free
Latitude Festival
Where? Southwald, Suffolk
When? 13-16 July
Who’s appearing? Lolly Adefope, Susan Calman, Nina Conti (more to be announced)
Latitude is known as a music festival, but features literary, theatre and comedy stages as well, attracting some of the biggest names in those fields. This makes it the perfect way to enjoy a more traditional festival – complete with camping - while still getting your hit of literature, theatre and the arts.
Ticket prices start from: £77.50 for day ticket
Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate
Where? The Swan Hotel, Harrogate
When? 20-23 July
Who’s appearing? Antonia Hodgson, Kathy Reichs, Val McDermid
Hosted at Agatha Christie’s ‘old haunt’ in Harrogate, this festival attracts crime writing fanatics from around the country. As well as hosting discussions with some of the biggest names in crime writing, there are workshops on how to turn your fascination with murder into a fledgling career and events with stars of TV adaptations of crime novels.
Ticket prices start from: £11
Curious Arts Festival
Where? Pylewell Park, Hampshire
When? 21-23 July
Who’s appearing? Eimear McBride, Lynn Barber, Joanna Trollope
The Curious Arts Festival is wrapping the biannual Nidd Literary Festival into its programme this year. Celebrating “nature and the arts”, the festival, set in a huge country garden, attracts authors of fiction and non fiction alike, who get a line-up billing alongside the music acts also playing at Curious Arts Festival and will ‘play’ talks and readings in the way musicians do a set.
Ticket prices start from: £55 for a day ticket
Port Eliot Festival
Where? St Germans Cornwall
When? 27-30 July
Who’s appearing? Gloria Steinem, Nina Stibbe, Sara Pascoe
The closest rival literary festivals can present to music festivals, Port Eliot has exhibitions, outdoor adventures and workshops alongside wordy headliners fulfilling that classic ‘something for everyone’ bracket. Expect talks from children’s writers, scientists, comedians, and yes, a whole lot of authors. Set in the beautiful Cornish countryside, it’s a real literary retreat.
Ticket prices start from: £60 for a day pass
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Where? Edinburgh
When? 12-28 August
Who’s appearing? Speakers announced 13 June. Last year’s speakers included Laura Bates and Sue Perkins
A bit of a two-for-one deal here as Edinburgh’s book festival takes place at more or less the same time as its renowned Fringe festival. That doesn’t mean the Book Festival is any less important, however. With a central hub in the city’s New Town and a huge line-up of authors from around the world, you can mix a day of comedy, theatre and literature all into one.
Ticket prices start from: TBC
Wigtown Book Festival
Where? Wigtown, Scotland
When? 22 September-1 October
Who’s appearing? TBC - last year’s line up included Lisa Owens, Janet Ellis, Amy Liptrot
The small town of Wigtown, on the far west of Scotland is most famous for its bookshops, and yearly book festival. Sponsored by a whiskey brand, you can already tell it’s going to be a very Scottish affair. But with 10 days of talks, it’s not to be sniffed at, attracting authors from all over the country to come and speak. They also run winter and spring events, so there’s no shortage of bookish fun throughout the year.
Ticket prices start from: TBC, but there will be accommodation packages for those travelling from far away
Marlborough Lit Fest
Where? Marlborough
When? 28 September-11 October
Who’s appearing? TBC. Last year’s line up included Jessie Burton, Lionel Shriver and food writer Elizabeth Luard
Marlborough, despite having a long literary history with writers like Siegfried Sassoon, John Betjeman and William Golding all hailing from the town, didn’t have a literary festival until eight years ago. Since its inception, Marlborough has proved a popular date in the literary calendar, with high-minded events as well as writing workshops and children’s events.
Ticket prices start from: TBC
Cheltenham Literary Festival
Where? Cheltenham
When? 6-15 October
Who’s appearing? TBC - last year’s line up included Jilly Cooper Clare Balding Vivienne Westwood
Perhaps the original literary festival, Cheltenham is the biggest showcase for authors in the UK. Filling huge venues with book fans, it’s a chance to see some of the biggest authors in the country speak, as well as figures who have recently written their biographies, such as Dame Vivienne Westwood who appeared last year.
Ticket prices start from: TBC
Manchester Literature Festival
Where? Manchester
When? 6-22 October
Who’s appearing? TBC - last year’s line up included Ann Enright, Zadie Smith, Jenni Murray
Manchester Literature Festival sprung from the city’s popular poetry festival, and its patrons include poet laurete Carol Ann Duffy, Jenni Murray and several authors. As well as promoting the literary history of Manchester itself, the festival is dedicated to showcasing writing by women, and promoting writers from other countries who we might not know in Britain.
Ticket prices start from: TBC
Dulwich Lit Fest
Where? Dulwich, London
When? 10-12 November
Who’s appearing? TBC – last year’s line up included Harriet Harman, Joanna Trollope and Nick Clegg
West Dulwich’s famous bookshop Dulwich Books hosts this yearly festival, bringing together authors, politicians and thinkers for an intellectually stimulating weekend. Spreading across several venues in the Dulwich area it’s always a sell out, and session formats range from poetry readings to debates.
Ticket prices start from: TBC, tickets go on sale in September
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