Top 5 Literary Festivals in the UK

November 23, 2018 in Destinations, Tips for Travellers, Events & festivals & United Kingdom

Can you name something better than cosying up on the sofa with a good book in your hands, and a warm cuppa sitting next to you? We can’t, except… perhaps heading to a literature festival to engage with everyone else who loves doing this! At a literature festival you have the opportunity to meet both fellow fans and renowned authors, participate or listen to lively debates- and discover new things to add to your reading list. The United Kingdom is absolutely filled with literary festivals, but we’ve narrowed it down to out top 5 festivals, suited for a variety of audiences. So now it is time to get reading, get going, and then get reading again!

Goboony Literature Festival H2 Book Reading Girl

1. Borders Book Festival

13th-16th June 2019

The brainchild of Alistair Moffat, Borders Book Festival began in 2004 with only a few speakers and an audience of 400. Since then, this small literary gathering has evolved into a 4 day extravaganza, boasting an audience of 30,000 in 2018. Alongside this growth in audience is an increase in events, venues and more. Head to Melrose and file into the Harmony Garden for the chance to hear from incredible speakers, and be sure to keep an eye on the website for the release of the line-up. Once you’ve filled your appetite for knowledge, you can turn to the Food Village to fill your other appetite. Here you’ll find delicacies ranging from crepes to gourmet fish and chips to organic coffee. Take the chance to enjoy the Vintage Mobile Cinema, as well as Davidson Chalmers Storytelling Tent. And don’t forget to bring along your well thumbed copy to get signed by your favourite visiting authors, and enjoy discussions with fellow fans in the Orchard Bar.

GPS: 55.600009, -2.720380

Harmony House, St Mary's Rd, Melrose TD6 9LJ, UK

Goboony Literature Festival H2 Book Reading

2. UK Indie Lit Fest

27th July - 10am to 5pm

The newcomer to the world of literary festivals, the UK Indie Lit Fest only had its debut in 2016 in West Yorkshire. This non-profit community interest company is focused solely on promoting indie authors, smaller publishing houses and allowing writers to reach new readers. At this free event, you’ll be able to attend workshops on existing books as well as how to publish a book, readings from new authors and numerous competitions. By stepping out of your comfort zone and attending the UK Indie Lit Fest in 2019, you’re getting the  chance to discover amazing works of fiction that you would have never even heard of. At the 2019 event, you’ll have the chance to meet big names such as Maria Gibbs, author of “A boy from the streets”, and T.G. Campbell, sharing exciting details behind her “Bowstreet Society” series.

GPS: 53.795275, -1.748729

4TY, 1 Forster Ct, Bradford BD1 4JB, UK

3. Edinburgh International Book Festival

10th-26th August 2019

The largest public celebration of the written word in the world, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, can pride itself on being the  bringing 1000 writers and thinkers from across the globe together. Beginning in 1983 and growing immensely since, they have a programme of over 900 events planned for their 2019 festival. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is renowned for high profile debates and discussions series, inviting both audience and author to exchange thoughts and opinions regarding the world’s most pressing issues. The festival takes place in Edinburgh’s world heritage listed Georgian New Town, transforming it into a tented village housing approximately 220,000 visitors. During the festival you can expect a variety of events, such as spoken word performances, creative masterclasses, rousing debates and informative workshops. A highlight of the festival is the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme which aims to encourage children and their interest in literature, and helps to ensure that this is a rousing event for the whole family!

GPS: 55.951779, -3.207429

5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR, UK

Goboony Literature Festival H2 Library Girl Reading Book

4. Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival

24th-26th May 2019

Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival stands out in the manner in which it uses both the newest voices to poetry as well as some of the UK’s most established and respected figures - such as Liz Berry and Peter Finch. Another method in which the Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival is leading in its field is through the exploration of poetry’s relationship with dance, providing visual entertainment to visitors and bringing new light to existing works. The 2019 festival will be loosely themed around walls, barriers and especially breaking them down, as it marks the 30 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. We advise you to make a long weekend of it, with a trip down South for a weekend of rejuvenating the mind, body and soul at this delightful festival.

GPS: 50.554795, -4.609080

Bodmin PL30 4NN, UK

5. Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival

TBD

The best place to celebrate the written word must surely be in the birthplace of one of history’s finest writers. At the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival, you’ll be exposed to a delightful mixture of ideas, debate, celebrity author events, workshops and humour. This festival attracts some of the best of the industry, and the 2018 festival featured best-selling author Jodi Picoult. The proceeds of this festival are utilised for social projects encouraging reading in prisons, schools and as far as Nigeria! Even if you can’t attend their 2019 festival, be sure to check out their website to see the wide variety of competitions and workshops they host annually.

Goboony Literature Festival H2 Reading Book Tent

Are you somehow still craving more knowledge and written word after all these festivals? Then you can check out this comprehensive list of literary festivals in the UK! But now that you know where you’re heading, you must consider how will you get there? Make this experience even more special through renting a private motorhome through Goboony, the leading motorhome rental platform with motorhome listings across the entire UK. Then after a day of filling your mind with creativity and learning, you can go to sleep surrounded by nature and the peaceful evening sky… could it actually get any better?