What’s On
2025 will be an exciting year for the festival. Our 2025 Festival dates are Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April.
Tickets for events will be available from 4pm Friday 7 February. Please follow us on social media and our newsletter for up to date information.
We will also be hosting two one-off events in February and May 2025.
Tue 11 Feb 2025
David Nicholls | You Are Here
David Nicholls in conversation with Rebecca Fletcher
Fri 25 Apr 2025
Writing to Thrill
Three popular crime writers discuss their novels and the art of writing thrillers
Andy Hussey | Any Trout About?
Story time with Andy Hussey and The Anywhere Book Club
Margaret Sturton | Alberta: A Cautionary Tale
Story time and fun wtih popular local author
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 unconventional 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
Marcel Dirsus | How Tyrants Fall …and How Nations Survive
The author of The Economist's Book of the Year offers insights into tyrants
Patrick Grant | Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish
The Sewing Bee's judge, Patrick Grant, discusses his new book
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
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
Kate Nicholson | Behind Everest: Ruth Mallory’s Story
Kate Nicholson talks about the life of Ruth Mallory
Judy Murray | The Wild Card
Judy Murray discusses her new novel and her life in tennis
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
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
Franco Fubini | In Search of the Perfect Peach with Dr Federica Amati
Food for Thought - why flavour holds the answer to fixing our food system
Pollyanna Wilkinson | How to Design a Garden
Create and Maintain Your Dream Garden
Eleanor Mills | Much More to Come
Lessons on the mayhem and magnificence of midlife
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