A Guide To Cheltenham Literature Festival 2024

The best in the literary business will return to Cheltenham very soon for the 10-day Cheltenham Literature Festival 2024, a mixture of ticketed talks, free family activities and enlightening events. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

What Is Cheltenham Literature Festival?

Cheltenham Literature Festival is an annual celebration of the written word, bringing novelists, poets, writers and thinkers together in the pretty Gloucestershire town on the edge of the Cotswolds. Founded in 1949 by Spa Manager George Wilkinson and author John Moore, the Festival is the oldest literary festival in the world (though it is slightly pre-dated by the Cheltenham Music Festival, which formed in 1945). Moore served as the festival’s first director, booking actor Ralph Richardson and poet Cecil Day-Lewis for the first edition, the former being born in Cheltenham and the latter teaching at Cheltenham College. It has grown to become one of Britain’s most prestigious literary events, with renowned authors, thinkers and artists flocking from across the globe to host talks, workshops, debates and readings.

It’s not just literature, but film, dance, visual arts and the spoken word are all well represented at this 10-day festival, which takes over the spa town’s pretty Montpellier Gardens, with events also taking place at Cheltenham Town Hall and Imperial Square.

When Is It?

This year, Cheltenham Literature Festival will take place from Friday 4 October until Sunday 13 October, and it will be the 75th anniversary.

If you can’t make it, there’s always next year. The dates for 2025 are still TBC, but we reckon it will be Friday 3 October until Sunday 12 October.

Cheltenham Literature Festival Programme 2024

It’s another stellar line-up at Cheltenham this year, with the return of the Lit Crawl bringing the festival into the town for free, as well as free entertainment in The Huddle, and the Wild Wood activities for families to get stuck into.

Meanwhile, adults can enjoy insightful talks from authors, writers and famous faces from across the industry, including Judi Dench, Fearne Cotton, Adrian Chiles, Bob Mortimer, Matt Haig, Liz Earle, Ann Cleeves, Elif Shafak, Miriam Margolyes, Harriet Walter, Richard Osman, Simon Armitage, Rebecca F. Kuang, Jodi Picoult, Floella Benjamin, Fred Sirieix, Ian Rankin, Geri Halliwell, Jordan Stephens, Kate Mosse, Mary Beard, Marina Hyde, Michael Palin, and plenty more.

See the full lineup and purchase tickets at cheltenhamfestivals.com

Cheltenham Literature Festival Tickets

Cheltenham Literature Festival is free to attend and there is a full programme of free events and talks. However, most of the big name talks do require a ticket, with prices starting from £14. Book your tickets at cheltenhamfestivals.com or call the box office on +44 1242 850270 (open 10am–4pm, Tuesday–Friday).

Where Does It Take Place?

The festival takes over Montpellier Gardens (GL50 1UL) in the heart of Cheltenham, with a Festival Village popping up for the duration. However, some events take place elsewhere across the city, so make sure you check your ticket.