UK’s largest children’s literature festival returns with a star-studded lineup

Barnes will become the children’s books capital of the UK once more when the Barnes Children’s Literature Festival returns on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June.

With more than 100 inspiring events, workshops and performances for young book fans and their families, the event is not to be missed.

The star-studded lineup includes bestselling children’s author David Walliams, who will appear at the festival for the first time; Cressida Cowell, the superstar creator of the How to Train Your Dragon books, and MC Grammar, the book rapping sensation and star of Sky Kids’ hit show Wonder Raps.

Festival favourite and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler, will be returning for his 11^th appearance; writer and former NHS doctor Adam Kay will be attending alongside Henry Paker; and CBeebies superstar Andy ‘Dinosaur Adventures’ Day will also be present, in addition to many more special guests.

There is set to be something for everyone, such as manga illustration masterclasses with Chie Kutsuwada, a skateboard drawing club with cult artist Ed Syer where every child designs their own skateboard to take home, thought-provoking workshops for young journalists with The Week Junior, and even a Great Debate event for young people to polish their debating skills.

Free events on offer also include LEGO, chess, yoga, pop-up performances and exciting circus acts.

Last year, Barnes Children’s Literature Festival saw book sales of £30,000 over the public weekend and sold 10,000 tickets to just over 100 events.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s festival, which will be launched by award-winning and bestselling Australian author Andy Griffiths at Richmond Theatre as part of his UK tour.

Amanda Brettargh, festival director, said: “In eleven years we’ve grown from a conversation at the school gate to become the UK’s largest dedicated children’s book festival. As well as celebrating all our favourite authors and illustrators, we’re always pushing the boundaries of traditional literature festivals to create more space for the family-friendliest fun.

“It’s what keeps us going – and growing! Because every year we discover all these brilliant new books, or we’ll see an event that has gone down a storm somewhere else, and we’ll think ‘oh they’re just going to love that!’ It’s the best job in the world!”

The festival is also committed to programming special treats that audiences are unlikely to see elsewhere, and this year that will include the first children’s festival appearance by internationally bestselling crime writer Janice Hallett with her debut children’s title, A Box Full of Murders. It will also feature an appearance from global TED talker Gavin Pretor-Pinney with his book Cloudspotting for Beginners.

Full details on the 2025 Barnes Children’s Literature Festival can be found here.