What’s On
2025 will be an exciting year for the festival. Our 2025 Festival dates are Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April.
Please follow us on social media and our newsletter for up to date information.
We will be hosting another one-off event in May 2025.
Fri 25 Apr 2025
Fiction Friday Day Pass | Get all 4 events and save 25%
One ticket to see Writing to Thrill, Fresh Voices, Tracy Chevalier and Simon Heffer all at the Arc
Andy Hussey | Any Trout About?
Story time with Andy Hussey and The Anywhere Book Club
Writing to Thrill
Three popular crime writers discuss their novels and the art of writing thrillers
Margaret Sturton | Alberta: A Cautionary Tale
Story time and fun with popular local author and illustrator
Fresh Voices: A Conversation with Debut Authors
Discover the journeys and inspirations behind two captivating debut novels
Tracy Chevalier | The Glassmaker
Tracy Chevalier in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher
Simon Heffer | Scarcely English: A-Z of Assaults on our Language
Simon Heffer in conversation with Gaby Huddart
Nicky Smith-Dale | Betty Steady
Story time fun and games with Betty Steady in the land of Wobbly Rock
Susie Dent | Guilty By Definition
Countdown's Susie Dent discusses her new novel and her love of words
Jeremy Bowen | The Making of the Modern Middle East: A Personal History
BBC International Editor, Jeremy Bowen, discusses the shaping of the modern Middle East
Sat 26 Apr 2025
Sohail Husain | Beyond Beliefs
Sohail Husain discusses his family's extraordinary history
The Countess of Carnarvon | The Earl and the Pharaoh
From the Real Downton Abbey....to the Discovery of Tutankhamun
Rob Eastaway | Much Ado About Numbers: Shakespeare’s Mathematical Life and Times
Rob Eastaway reveals fascinating new insights into the world of Shakespeare
Patrick Grant | Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish
The Sewing Bee's judge, Patrick Grant, discusses his new book
Marcel Dirsus | How Tyrants Fall…and How Nations Survive
The author of The Economist's Book of the Year offers insights into tyrants
Chris Jackson | 20 Years of Royal Photography: Behind the Crown
Chris Jackson discusses his career as Getty Royal Photographer
Kathryn Sutherland | Jane Austen in 41 Objects
New insights into Jane Austen's life and times.
Ben Pentreath | An English Vision
Britain's most acclaimed architectural designer talks about his work and inspirations
Carrie Sellon | Pizza Pete
Award winning local author Carrie Sellon introduces Pizza Pete and the Missing Magic
William Hanson | Just Good Manners
The UK's leading etiquette expert, and Instagram sensation, talks about modern manners
Maz Evans | Oh What a Knight!
Meet superstar children's author, Maz Evans, and find out about her latest book
Dame Kelly Holmes | Unique
Kelly Holmes talks about her life and new memoir with Gaby Huddart
Sun 27 Apr 2025
Judy Murray | The Wild Card
Judy Murray discusses her new novel and her life in tennis
Kate Nicholson | Behind Everest: Ruth Mallory’s Story
Kate Nicholson talks about the life of Ruth Mallory
How to Get Published | Submitting Your Book to Agents and Editors with Tom Bromley and Judith Heneghan
Advice on how to get your book published from industry insiders
Franco Fubini | In Search of the Perfect Peach with Dr Federica Amati, Head Nutritionist at ZOE
Food for Thought - why flavour holds the answer to fixing our food system
Tom Holland | The Lives of the Caesars
Britain's most listened to historian, Tom Holland, discusses his new book about the lives of the Caesars
Pollyanna Wilkinson | How to Design a Garden
Create and Maintain Your Dream Garden
Eleanor Mills | Much More to Come
An empowering guide blazing a trail for midlife women from an ex Sunday Times journalist, who set up Noon.co.uk
Hannah Bourne-Taylor | Nature Needs You
The fight to save our swifts
The Big Book Club | Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
Ferdia Lennon in conversation with Claire Fuller
Wed 7 May 2025
Ben Macintyre | The Siege
Ben Macintyre