Book and literary festivals in the UK
I’m a big reader (in volume rather than quality, life’s too short to just spend time reading books you ‘should’ be reading, rather than those you want to). But I’ve never been to a book festival. I do have one locally I’m planning to visit one year, but there’s plenty of literary festivals around the UK which cover many genres and are open to anyone – often for free. Some ticketed.
Which country reads the most?
India seems to come out on top for number of books an average person reads a week, and also the amount of time spent reading. Although there do seem to be a lot of gaps in the various websites due to lack of consistent sources (I do wonder whether the numbers include for study as well as leisure)
Biggest book festival in the world?
Jaipur Literature Festival – world’s largest free literary festival, held annually with international guests, writers and performances (held in Janury)
Largest book festival in Europe?
Frankfurt Book Fair – which is a trade fair for books.
If you’re in (or visiting) the UK, here’s the annual rotation of larger literary festivals in the UK. For both general festivals, and where they have book festivals for children. If you want to know more, always sign up to their newsletters for the latest news and dates.
Unfortunately a few, like my local one have said this year will be their last, I guess because it’s just getting too expensive to hold, and they struggle to get people to run it.
Literary festivals in the UK
Oxford Literary Festival – 29 March to 6 April 2025. Held in colleges and historic venues across the city centre.
The Bath Festival – 16 to 25th May 2025. Get to see the city through the gorgeous historic venues.
Hay festival – 22 May to 1 June 2025, not only the literature and arts festival, but also lots of bookshops to visit! Also Hay Festivals in Peru, Mexico, Spain and Colombia
Stoke Newington literary festival – Usually early June.
Bradford Literature Festival – 27 June to 6 July 2025 for the 10th anniversary year. Known for its inclusivity
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate 17-20 July 2025.
Edinburgh International Book Festival – 9 to 24 August 2025.
Bloody Scotland, Stirling – 12 to 14 September 2025. Crime writing festival with a fun side (including a football match!)
Wigtown Book Festival, Scotland – 26 September to 5 October 2025. More than 30 family events, alongside the main programme, and YA sessions.
North Cornwall Book festival – usually late September.
Edinburgh Womens Fiction Festival – 26 to 27 September 2025, new literary festival celebrating writing for, by, and about women.
Burford Literary festival – 3 day festival usually in September (27-29 Sep 2025).
Noirwich Crime Writing Festival, Norwich – usually in September (10 September 2025). A fast growing crime writing and reading festival, main venue University of East Anglia, with 1 day lectures.
Henley literary festival – Usually late September to early October. Over 100 talks, performances and conversations, many held online as well as in person. Pop up events also happening (some as soon as February).
Birmingham Literature Festival – 28 September to 19 October 2025. Venues are Birmingham REP theatre, The Exchange on Centenary Square and the Roundhouse. There’s a number of walking events around the city.
Guildford book festival – 15 to 19th October 2025.
Cheltenham Literature Festival – Usually early to mid October (10-19th October in 2025). Cheltenham Festivals turn 30 in 2025.
Black British book festival – events around the UK dates vary. Manchester 29th March 2025.
Durham Book Festival – Usually in October. Takes place at Gala Durham, Clayport Library and Collected Books.
Ilkley Literature festival – 3 to 19 October 2025
Berwick literary festival – 6-12 October 2025
London Literature festival – no dates up yet. Usually Autumn at the Southbank centre,
Wimbledon Book Fest – 16 to 26 October 2025, held at Wimbledon High School, Wimbledon Library, and New Wimbledon Theatre.
Stroud Book Festival – 5 to 9 November 2025.
Tring Book Festival – held in November. Venues across Tring and nearby area.
Words by the Water festival, Cumbria – brings together readers and writers in the 10 days programme but was cancelled last year due to cost of living crisis. Look out for this potentially returning in future.
Children’s books festivals in the UK
Imagine Children’s Festival, Southbank London (February), includes theatre and other events by authors.
Oxford Literary Festival (March)
Essex book Festival (March) – uses a mix of venues, and options to participate in the Passport to Learning scheme, where stamps can be collected for attending events.
Shropshire bookfest (May) – only exclusively children’s literary festival in the UK
Hay Festival (May) – kids programme ‘Haydays’.
Barnes Children’s literature Festival (May). They also do outreach to state primary schools in London.
Chiddingstone Literary Festival (May) – more intimate setting, talks, theatre performances, workshops etc.
Pop up Festival (June) – a national schools literature programme, with authors and illustrators going into schools, libraries, museums and galleries in England and Wales.
Edinburgh International Book Festival (August) – tented village in the middle of Edinburgh. The Children’s festival offers over 200 events.
Henley literature festival (September)
Bath Children’s literature festival (Sep-Oct) – largest dedicated kids literature festival in Europe.
Cheltenham Literature Festival (Oct) – programme for families and young readers
Appledore book festival (September/October) – 10 day event, including a schools week.
Ilkley literature children’s festival (October) – aimed at 3-12 year olds.
London Literature festival (October) – ties in with half term. As well as for younger children, there’s also a Young Adult programme.
Northern Children’s book festival (November) – 2 weeks of book based activities across the north east region.
Are there any other literary festivals around the world I should add to my list, or others in the UK?