Book club Britain: The best literary festivals around the country
Bookworms unite at the nation’s favourite events
Like Chelsea Flower Show, another event I always mean to attend is the famous Hay Festival, which is underway now. And while I have, typically, missed it for yet another year, here’s my round up of the country’s best literary festivals to bookmark:
Hay Festival
May 25 – June 4
The biggest and the best is the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. This pretty little town full of bookshops turns into the centre of the literary world once a year, with events, author talks and workshops. This year it features everyone from Clive Anderson to Bear Grylls, Alexander McCall Smith to Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, Jonathan Coe, Richard Osman and many more.
The Queen’s Reading Room Festival
June 11
A new entry into the book festival scene is that of the Queen’s popular book club. Camilla’s Reading Room has gone from strength to strength and speakers at the inaugural Hampton Court event include Kate Mosse, Ben Macintyre, Ken Follett, Robert Harris, David Olusoga, Kamila Shamsie, Philippa Gregory, Ben Miles, Dame Harriet Walters and more.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
August 12-28
The Scottish capital is the home of festivals and in August, it also hosts its popular book festival, with live events and workshops for adults and children. It’s huge – last year it had more than 600 live events and included Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, Outlander writer Diana Gabaldon, Noam Chomsky, Alexander McCall Smith, William Dalrymple and Armando Iannucci.
Bath Children’s Literature Festival
September 29 – October 8
Europe’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival is always a cracker. Last year’s line-up included Waterstones Children’s Laureates Michael Rosen and Cressida Cowell, Dermot O’Leary, Rosie Jones and Richard Ayoade and festival favourites Liz Pichon, Rob Biddulph and Joseph Coelho.
Cliveden Literary Festival
September 30 – October 1
For a book festival in a fabulous setting, then look no further than spectacular Cliveden House in Berkshire. Dubbed “the most dignified and beautiful literary festival on the planet,” by Alain de Botton, last year’s speakers included William Boyd, Vogue editor Edward Enninful and actor Brian Cox.
Cheltenham Literature Festival
October 6-15
The world’s first literary festival - Cheltenham Literature Festival, celebrates all things literature and poetry, with a mix of new voices and established names. This festival gets huge headliners, so keep a look out for this year’s line-up. Last year it featured everyone from Bono to Elizabeth Strout.
London Literature Festival
October 19-29
Finally, in London, Southbank comes alive to all things literary with the increasingly-popular festival for all ages. With talks, workshops and events from huge names and rising stars, last year’s event included Graham Norton, Malorie Blackman and Greta Thunberg.