A selection of bookshop readings, performances, literary lunches, salons, festivals and other writerly goings-on are listed here and regularly updated.

When the Covid pandemic decimated traditional book tours and public events, a wide range of bookshops, cultural organisations and publishers stepped up to the plate with a series of virtual panels and discussions, attracting large audiences. While online events and live streaming have become a popular alternative or addition, in-person events are now back in full swing. For your wider literary and cultural fix, check out the video, podcast and event listings at the British Library, the London Review Bookshop, Waterstones, English PEN, the Southbank Centre, publisher and author websites and social media streams, as well as those of your local organisations and venues.

Ongoing
Arvon courses and retreats
Online or in-person, from one hour at home to five weeks at historic writers’ houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire, you can find inspiration, support and transform your writing with Arvon. Discover a range of creative writing courses and events for writers of any genre and any level of experience. Tutors for Spring 2024 include Jessie Greengrass, Jon McGregor, Liz, Hyder, Rachel Clarke, Sadie Jones, Wendy Erskine, Sarah Howe, Ruth Padel, Rupert Thomson, Irenosen Okojie, Kirsty Logan, Deborah Moggach and many more.
Pictured: Totleigh Barton in Devon, the first ever Arvon centre
Read more and book

Wednesday 13 March to Saturday 25 May
Lynne Jones Sorry for the Inconvenience But This Is an Emergency book tour

Doctor and aid worker Lynne Jones delivers a compelling, grassroots perspective on the last five years of protests in the UK, examining the motivations behind ordinary citizens’ adoption of extraordinary tactics to combat the global climate and nature crises.

Wednesday 13 March, 7 pm
Trouble Club, London

Thursday 14 March, 7:30 pm
Newham Bookshop, London

Friday 15 March, 7 pm
Crab Museum, Margate

Monday 18 March, 7 pm
Lighthouse Bookshop, Edinburgh (online event)

Thursday 21 March, 7 pm
Conway Hall, London
with Chris Packham and Lucy Siegle

Thursday 4 April, 7:30 pm
Edge of the World Bookshop, Penzance

Saturday 25 May, 2:30 pm
Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, with Farhana Yamin

More info and book

Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 March
North London Book Festival
Alexandra Palace

The first ever North London Book Festival is a literary celebration featuring debut and iconic authors with readings, panel discussions, Q&As, workshops and book signings across multiple stages at the iconic Alexandra Palace. Headliners include Natalie HaynesPeter HainLemony Snicket, Erin KellyMichael Rosen and Stuart Turton, while Friday’s dedicated Crime and Thrillers Night brings together Leigh Russell (Revenge Killing), Charlotte Langley (The Blame), William Hussey (Jericho’s Dead), Peter Hain (The Lion Conspiracy) and Sunny Singh (Hotel Arcadia).
More info and book

Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 April 2024
Cambridge Literary Festival
Various venues
Events individually priced

Tickets for the Spring 2024 programme are now on general sale, with featured authors including Naomi Alderman, Clare Balding, Joseph Coelho, Margaret Drabble, Jackie Kay, George the Poet, David Kynaston, Caroline Lucas, Paul Lynch, Val McDermid, Hisham Matar, Armistead Maupin (pictured), Cathy Newman, Andrew O’Hagan, Jacqueline Rose, Sathnam Sanghera, Elif Shafak, Alex T. Smith, Joelle Taylor and many more.
More info and book