Best literary festivals for 2024

From Hay to Hampton Court, join the ultimate British book club

Have book, will travel. Pic: Micheile Henderson/UnSplash

Hay Festival, Wales
May 23 – June 2, hayfestival.com

The most famous of all literary festivals, is, of course, Hay, in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. On the edge of the beautiful Brecon Beacons, this has something for all literary tastes. Big-name speakers include Anthony Horowitz, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, David Mitchell, Michael Rosen, Amor Towles, Jeanette Winterson, Michael Morpurgo, James Blunt, Lionel Shriver, Stephen Fry, Naomi Alderman, Charles Spencer and Richard Coles.

The Queen’s Reading Room Festival, Hampton Court
June 8, royalreadingroom.seetickets.com

I love Camilla’s Reading Room book club initiative and its inaugural festival last year was a great success. Held in Hampton Court Palace, it’s back this year, on Saturday June 8. Speakers include Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, Lee Child, Mary Beard, Helena Bonham Carter, Kate Mosse and Miriam Margolyes.

Cheltenham Literature Festival, Cheltenham
October 4 – 13, cheltenhamfestivals.com

The world’s first literary festival celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024 and will present a line-up of big names alongside new voices, workshops and performances across all genres. This year’s schedule has not been released yet, but last year featured Brian Cox, Jojo Moyes, Elizabeth Day, David Mitchell and many more.

Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scotland
August 10 – 25, edbookfest.co.uk

This huge literary festival launches its programme on June 4, but will combine live events and talks with workshops. It’s enormous – last year it featured more than 500 authors, from Ian McEwan to Greta Thunberg. This year is moves to a new home in Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Bath
September 27 – October 6, bathfestivals.org.uk

One for the kids - Europe’s largest children’s literary festival takes place in Bath, in September. With more than 100 authors and illustrators, past guests include Michael Rosen and Cressida Cowell, Dermot O’Leary and Richard Ayoade.

Cliveden Literary Festival, Berkshire
September 21 – 22, clivedenliteraryfestival.org

If you like your book festival in bucolic surrounds, then Cliveden is for you. The stunning National Trust property/hotel hosts a lively literature festival over two days. Last year’s speakers included Zadie Smith, Tom Holland, Mary Beard, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

London Literature Festival, Southbank
October, southbankcentre.co.uk

Southbank hosts the London Literature Festival for 10 days in October, when it presents a range of talks from established and up-and-coming authors.