Crime fiction, with a Harrogate weekend attached
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is a gathering for readers who enjoy talking about crime fiction as much as reading it. The next festival runs from 22 to 25 July 2027 at Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel. Start with that official programme, then decide how much of the weekend belongs to events and how much you want to leave for the town.
This guide is independent of Harrogate International Festivals and the hotel. Use the official festival website for tickets, package conditions and programme announcements. The crime festival is a separate event from the organiser’s other literature programme, so check the full festival name before booking.
Quick answers
Main site: Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate, HG1 2SR. Official location
In 2026, the full programme was revealed before Rover tickets went on sale on 16 April; individual-event booking opened on 13 May. Check the official site for this year’s date. Official source
- When: a long weekend in July; next festival: 22–25 July 2027.
- Where: Old Swan Hotel, Swan Road, Harrogate, HG1 2SR.
- Tickets: compare individual events, Rover tickets, site passes and accommodation packages through the organiser.
- Station: Harrogate, on Station Parade.
- Book ahead: settle your essential events and ticket type, then check accommodation and the evening return.
- What's on: see this year's highlights and the next festival's dates in What's on below.
What’s on
What it was like in 2026
These events took place in 2026. Explore the conversations, books and ideas that shaped the festival.
Secrets and suspense
Can’t Get You Out of My Head
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Four writers explored coercion, friendship and the dangerous edges of love through psychological thrillers and a courtroom debut.
Nothing But the Truth?
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
The panel explored how crime fiction tackled trauma, class, grief and identity, from medical murder to small-town secrets.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Man About the House
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Four novelists discussed domestic suspense, with family survival, dangerous friendships and hidden secrets driving their latest thrillers.
Unspoken: Why Are Secrets So Powerful in Crime Fiction?
· Swift Half Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Claire McGowan and Kia Abdullah explored how hidden truths shaped characters, built tension and kept readers turning pages.
Crime writing on stage
Chris Brookmyre
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Christopher Brookmyre marked thirty years since his debut, discussing Jack Parlabane’s return and a murder aboard a cruise liner.
2026 event detailsAt 6 festivals in 2026
David Baldacci
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
David Baldacci discussed his thrillers with Julia Wheeler, including Walter Nash’s return in Hope Rises and his work as an FBI informant.
Gillian McAllister & Holly Jackson
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Gillian McAllister and Holly Jackson shared the stage for a conversation spanning inventive standalone thrillers, young-adult crime and screen adaptations.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Anthony Horowitz
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Anthony Horowitz discussed his writing with Matthew Stadlen, including a Hawthorne mystery involving the actor playing the detective on screen.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Lisa Jewell
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Lisa Jewell joined Lee Child to discuss psychological suspense, complex characters and her latest novel, It Could Have Been Her.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Detectives, place and tradition
From Poirot to Podcasts
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Four crime writers explored Agatha Christie’s continuing influence, from Miss Marple and sealed mansions to contemporary mystery and suspense.
2026 event detailsAt 4 festivals in 2026
LJ Ross & Jane Harper
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
L. J. Ross and Jane Harper discussed crime rooted in Northumberland and rural Australia, with Gaby Huddart leading the conversation.
2026 event detailsAt 5 festivals in 2026
Ann Cleeves & Brenda Blethyn
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn joined Steph McGovern to discuss the creation of Vera Stanhope on the page and screen.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
The changing criminal world
What Happened to All the Serial Killers?
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
The panel considered how technology changed crime and detection, from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to forensic expertise.
2026 event detailsAt 4 festivals in 2026
Are Spies Heroes Any More?
· Swift Half Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Mick Herron and David McCloskey explored how fictional spies changed from glamorous Cold War heroes into flawed, uncertain modern insiders.
Characters and the writer’s craft
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Four novelists explored the appeal of imperfect protagonists, discussing unreliable narrators, disturbing appetites and characters with twisted plans.
2026 event detailsAt 4 festivals in 2026
A Way With Words
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Denise Mina, Tracy Sierra, Sabine Durrant and Callum McSorley discussed the language of dark fiction, from poetic description to Glasgow vernacular.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
From Page to Screen
· Swift Half Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Chris Chibnall and M. J. Arlidge compared writing novels with television drama, exploring how crime stories worked on page and screen.
Whiteboards Versus Empty Screens
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Four crime writers compared their approaches to building a novel, discussing technique across domestic suspense, historical intrigue and comic crime.
More 2026 conversations
Alice Feeney & Chris Whitaker
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
Feeney and Whitaker shared a crime-writing conversation.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Nadine Matheson & Steve Cavanagh
· Theakston Stage, Old Swan Hotel
The former lawyers discussed their crime writing.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Explore the full official 2026 programme.
Authors who appeared
About the festival
The festival brings together crime readers and writers, including established authors and newer voices. Its appeal is the chance to spend more than one session in the company of people interested in the same genre. A first visit need not cover everything: one author conversation and a second event that introduces a different kind of crime writing can be a good start.
Read formats carefully. A panel, an individual interview and a writing-focused activity offer different experiences. If you are mainly coming as a reader, you do not need to book a writing workshop simply because it sits within the same weekend. If writing is your priority, begin with the relevant programme and its admission terms rather than assuming it is included in a general pass.
Choose with your companions in mind. Friends can share the main events and make different choices elsewhere, but it helps to agree where to meet afterwards. Leave time to discuss what you have heard rather than moving straight from one queue to the next. A useful trip plan is one you can enjoy at your own pace, not one with the largest possible number of bookings.
When it runs
The official festival page publishes 22–25 July 2027. Keep that page as the reference for the overall dates and use the programme for the sessions attached to each day. Watch for the next programme and booking announcement. If your trip depends on an individual event, confirm its date before making non-refundable travel arrangements.
A full weekend and a day visit call for different planning. The weekend can make a pass worth comparing, while a shorter visit may be easier to shape around individual tickets. Work through what you would actually attend before comparing ticket options. Include your arrival time, return journey and meal breaks, not just the event titles.
If you reserve accommodation early, choose cancellation terms that match the certainty of your plans. Put the deadline in your diary and revisit the reservation when the programme is available. A room near the site may be convenient, but it still needs to suit your access, check-in and budget requirements.
Venues and the festival site
The main programme is based at the Old Swan Hotel, with the Theakston Stage, Swift Half Stage and other on-site spaces. Check the venue information on your actual event and use the current signs when you arrive. A hotel address alone does not identify the entrance or route to every temporary space.
The organiser’s access information distinguishes the route to the main Theakston Stage from the route for the Swift Half Stage and Bowling Green Tent. Ask staff if you are unsure which approach you need. The routes should not be taken as interchangeable shortcuts, particularly where crowd management or access seating is involved. Official access and venue information.
Use the first part of your visit to find the box office, toilets, bookshop and a suitable meeting place. Keep enough time before an event to read the venue signs and follow the queue instructions. Do not rely on last year’s arrangement, a photograph of the site or the apparent straight-line distance on a map.
If you need step-free arrival, an appropriate seat or a particular drop-off arrangement, confirm the practical route before travelling. The organiser publishes an Old Swan venue guide and access booking process. A map pin can help locate the hotel, but it does not promise the correct event entrance or show every surface and gradient within a temporary festival layout.
Visitor map
Approximate building and site locations, not accessible routes or individual entrances.
Tickets and the official box office
Use the official festival box office and compare the options with care. Rover tickets relate to specified days and main-stage events; individual tickets focus on chosen sessions; site passes cover grounds access rather than main-stage admission. Packages and separately booked activities can have different inclusions. Read the current descriptions before choosing rather than relying on the word “weekend”.
Make a list of the events you intend to attend and compare it with the exact ticket coverage. Check whether meals, smaller-stage activities or writing events require a separate booking. Keep the confirmation that describes your purchase so you can resolve any uncertainty before arrival. Do not assume that two pass names with similar wording provide the same benefits.
The organiser publishes information about returns, waiting lists, signing queues and unreserved seating in its festival FAQ. Read those conditions directly. Contact the box office if a return or access arrangement is important to your decision.
For book signings, check the current queue rules and any limit on items. A signing can take longer than you expect, so leave time afterwards rather than making a tight train connection depend on it. Follow staff instructions about vacating an event space between sessions, even if your ticket also covers the next event.
Getting there
By train
Harrogate station, on Station Parade, is the station to use when comparing rail journeys to town. National Rail provides the station address, facilities and travel links. Check your rail operator’s current timetable for the travel dates you need and look at the return before buying the final event ticket. National Rail station information.
The organiser’s access page identifies Northern and LNER services and connections via Leeds and York. Use the operator’s journey planner to choose your journey rather than assuming a direct service from your starting point. Add the transfer from the station to the hotel, including luggage and your own pace.
If you need passenger assistance, arrange it through the railway’s current process and check the facilities relevant to your route. Keep festival access bookings and railway assistance together in your notes, but remember that arranging one does not arrange the other. A comfortable arrival gives you time to settle before your first talk.
By bus and coach
The Harrogate Bus Company publishes local service information and timetables. Use its planner for the starting point and day you need, especially if staying outside the centre. Check the last useful return as carefully as the outward trip, and include any walk from the bus stop to the festival entrance. Operator service information.
For a longer coach journey, check the stop shown on the actual booking and how you will complete the approach to Swan Road. Do not assume a coach labelled for the town will arrive at the festival. If you need an accessible vehicle or help with luggage, ask the operator directly before choosing a connection that depends on it.
By car
The organiser’s current FAQ names Jubilee, Victoria and West Park car parks and says festival parking is not available at the Old Swan. Use the linked council pages for current opening, payment and maximum-stay conditions rather than treating a hotel reservation as a parking entitlement. Check the route from your chosen car park and leave time to reach the right entrance.
For drop-off requirements, use the organiser’s access instructions. Confirm the permitted point before arrival and avoid stopping at an entrance where it would block other visitors. Read street restrictions locally rather than assuming an empty bay is available for the whole day. If leaving after an evening event, check car park access as well as the tariff.
By bike
Ask the festival or hotel about permitted cycle parking for the edition you are attending. Bring a lock and keep event queues, exits and access routes clear. Think about the ride home, lights and the books you may carry. Do not improvise by fastening a bike to temporary barriers or signs that staff may need to move.
Where to stay
See all places to stay for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Swan Road, the Duchy side and Montpellier
Compare properties on the festival side of central Harrogate if your aim is to keep the final approach simple. Check the actual address rather than assuming every room described as central is equally convenient. Ask about stairs, lifts, quiet room options and check-in times where they matter. Looking early is sensible, but read the cancellation conditions before paying.
Town centre and the station area
A room near your railway arrival can simplify luggage and departure, but compare the complete route to the Old Swan as well. If returning to your room during the day is part of the plan, consider how that fits between events. Check breakfast, luggage storage and the journey after your last session rather than choosing entirely on the room rate.
Knaresborough and a wider base
A base outside central Harrogate may work for a longer break, but it adds a journey to each festival day. Check the exact rail or bus service for your property and the evening return before booking late events. Include fares or parking in the comparison. A separate outing may be better kept for a day with fewer festival commitments.
Use the provider’s own information to confirm the room, facilities, total price, payment schedule and cancellation terms.
Eating and drinking
The festival FAQ explains that food arrangements depend on ticket type. Check what your own pass includes before buying a separate meal or expecting lunch to be covered. For dietary requirements, contact the relevant provider directly about ingredients and preparation. A general description of festival catering cannot confirm whether a particular option will suit you.
Keep time for a proper meal, particularly if you intend to attend several events. If eating elsewhere in town, work out the journey and the time you need to return to the correct queue. Do not assume a signing will finish quickly enough to protect a tight restaurant reservation. Carry water and keep food, bags and drinks clear of aisles and other visitors’ seats.
Accessibility
Harrogate International Festivals operates an Access Scheme and asks visitors to arrange access bookings in advance. Its information covers wheelchair spaces, mobility aids, personal assistant or companion arrangements and venue-specific support. Contact the box office about the particular combination you need rather than assuming a general event ticket also reserves suitable seating. Access information.
The access page describes a step-free side approach for access seating at the Theakston Stage and a separate route for the Swift Half Stage. It also states that hearing-loop availability depends on the event or venue. Confirm your actual event arrangements directly.
Think through the visit beyond the event itself: railway arrival, accommodation entrance, drop-off, toilets, seating and return transport. If your needs are not covered by an online form, explain them to the box office and ask what practical help is possible. Keep the reply with your tickets and avoid leaving an essential arrangement until you are already on site.
Plan your days
One day
Choose the author or subject you most want to hear, then add a second event only after checking the gap and ticket coverage. Arrive in time to orientate yourself at the Old Swan and leave a meal interval. If you want a break away from the programme, Valley Gardens and The Stray are nearby places to consider.
Do not turn a break into a tight sightseeing target. Check the route you would use and choose the length that suits your mobility, weather and energy. A pause with a book can be as useful as another formal outing. Make the last event fit the journey home rather than discovering afterwards that the best return connection has gone.
A weekend
Keep one part of the weekend less tightly scheduled. You might compare a main-stage day with a shorter day that leaves time for Harrogate, rather than buying the fullest possible pass before checking what you actually want to attend. Use the organiser’s current visitor information and council park listings for separate outings.
If extending the trip beyond town, allow a distinct travel period instead of inserting it between festival bookings. Check each attraction’s own visitor and access information. Adapt the day to your events, travel needs and the time you want to spend exploring.
First-timer tips
- Check the full crime festival name when choosing tickets.
- Compare pass inclusions against the events you actually want.
- Read the venue and stage name on every booking.
- Arrange access needs before arrival through the organiser’s process.
- Check parking separately from any hotel reservation.
- Follow instructions to leave the event space between sessions.
- Allow time for signing queues and meal breaks.
- Look up the last useful train or bus before booking the final event.
Other Harrogate International Festivals events
The organiser runs other arts and literature events as well as the crime weekend. Use its official festival listings to explore those separately. They have their own venues, tickets and dates, so the Old Swan crime festival arrangements should not be applied automatically to another event with the same organiser.
First-timer questions
Is food included with my festival ticket?
Food arrangements depend on the ticket or pass you buy. Use the festival FAQ and your package details to check what is included before paying for a separate meal. Visitor information.
FAQs
When is the crime writing festival?
It usually takes place over a long weekend in July. The next festival runs from 22 to 25 July 2027. Check the official festival page for the programme and booking announcements, then choose individual sessions from the relevant dates rather than assuming every event or pass covers the whole period.
Where is it held?
The main programme is based at the Old Swan Hotel on Swan Road in Harrogate, HG1 2SR, using the Theakston Stage, Swift Half Stage and other on-site locations. Check the exact stage and current route information for your event. A hotel address does not identify the entrance to every temporary space.
Is a site pass the same as an event ticket?
No. The organiser distinguishes grounds access from main-stage event admission, with individual tickets, Rover options and packages carrying different inclusions. Read the current description for the product you intend to buy and compare it with your event list. Do not assume a pass covers every session simply because it includes site access.
Which station should I use?
Harrogate station is on Station Parade. Check your operator’s current journey planner and the route from the station to the Old Swan before travelling, allowing for bags and your pace. The organiser points to connections through Leeds and York, but the precise service you need depends on your departure point and travel date.
Can I park at the Old Swan?
The organiser’s current crime festival FAQ says festival parking is not available at the Old Swan and points to Jubilee, Victoria and West Park car parks. Check their current council conditions and closing arrangements directly. If you need a drop-off for access, use the festival’s stated process rather than assuming an ordinary parking arrangement.
What should I check before booking for access?
Read the Access Scheme information and contact the box office about seating, wheelchair space, hearing support or a companion arrangement. Confirm the route to the specific stage as well as the event ticket. Keep the response with your travel plan and arrange railway assistance separately if your arrival also requires it.
Can you go to Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival without a ticket?
Tickets are needed for events; check the official box office for the session you want.
How far ahead should I book a room for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival?
Compare properties on the festival side of central Harrogate if your aim is to keep the final approach simple. Check the actual address rather than assuming every room described as central is equally convenient. Ask about stairs, lifts, quiet room options and check-in times where they matter. Looking early is sensible, but read the cancellation conditions before paying. Compare the stay advice.
Official sources
The festival page, crime festival FAQ and Harrogate International Festivals access information provide the festival facts. National Rail and the Harrogate Bus Company supply transport information. Follow the live official links before booking, especially where ticket coverage, access arrangements or temporary site routes affect your visit.
Official source links
- harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
- harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
- harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
- www.nationalrail.co.uk
- www.transdevbus.co.uk
- harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
Sources checked 21 October 2026. Check the organiser and operators again before booking.