London literature festivals – quick links
As Autumn closes in, readers can look forward to several literature festivals in and around London this October, bringing the chance to hear from writers like Sebastian Faulks and Louis de Bernieres and discover local and debut talents.
Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival (5–19 October)
The Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival is a celebration of books and literature in the heart of East Anglia. Organisers say this year’s event will be the biggest and boldest festival yet.
At the heart of the Festival is a wide array of author events. There’s fiction in every genre from well-known names to debut and local writers. For those who prefer non-fiction, there are riveting and rigorous author discussions on diverse topics from the enduring spirit of Ukraine to an exploration of the impact reading can have on our happiness.
There are also writing workshops, storytelling for toddlers, children’s activities, and even a half-day gardening workshop. Two of my top events are an evening with author Louis de Bernieres, which includes a screening of the film adaptation Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and an evening with actor and writer Harriet Walter.
Cheltenham Literature Festival (10–19 October)
It’s also the Cheltenham Literature Festival this month with over 400 events and some 500 speakers. The festival is packed with inspiring talks, big debates, live music, and surprise performances.
There are lots of free drop-in sessions alongside a program of ticketed events. It’s also a chance to soak up the atmosphere at the free-to-enter festival village and browse the local bookshops.
Cheltenham Literature Festival is the world’s longest-running literature festival, recently celebrating their 75th anniversary with their president Dame Judi Dench and over 100,000 visitors. Join them this year and join a wonderful literary tradition.
family mornings and even drop-in embroidery workshops.
Bloomsbury Festival (17–19 October)
The popular Bloomsbury Festival returns for its 20th year with a busy weekend of theatre, music, literature, art, science, walks, talks and family events.
The festival fills the streets of Bloomsbury and Camden in a joyful and thoughtful celebration of community and culture. This year’s theme is The Paths We Tread. Inspired by the heritage and stories of the local streets, the theme also sees artists exploring their personal, cultural and creative paths.
This year’s Bloomsbury Festival opens with the free Songs and Ballads Showcase. Led by singers from Bloomsbury and beyond, it celebrates songs that highlight the history of Bloomsbury and St Giles as well as the cultures and communities of today. There’s also a free outdoor sculpture exhibition with work by Michael Craig-Martin.
London Literature Festival at Southbank (21 October–2 November)
The London Literature Festival brings together readers of every age to celebrate the written and spoken word. This is the longest-running celebration of the written and spoken word of its kind in London and presents prestigious names alongside rising literary stars.
The London arts festival opens with Try! Try! Try! Again! a daring debut solo exhibition by poet and artist Iris Colomb. This improvised one-off performance (15 October) merges poetry with other art forms in unexpected ways.
Other highlights include a conversation with former Vice President Kamala Harris, an evening with Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben, as well as the London-exclusive launch of Sebastian Faulks’ new book Fires Which Burned Brightly.
Famous faces on stage
There’s always an opportunity to see a famous face from film and television live on stage in London too. This month see Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon in her London stage debut alongside Academy Award nominee Andrea Riseborough in Mary Page Marlowe at the Old Vic; Brendan Gleeson is magnificent in The Weir at the Harold Pinter Theatre; Nicola Walker stars in The Unbelievers at Jerwood Theatre; Oscar winner Alicia Vikander has her stage debut in The Lady from the Sea opposite Andrew Lincoln at Bridge Theatre; and Minnie Driver takes to the Soho Place stage for Every Brilliant Thing.
