A book festival in Shakespeare’s town
Stratford Literary Festival brings author conversations, ideas, workshops and family events to Stratford-upon-Avon in spring and autumn. The official festival website gives 6–9 May 2027 for the next spring edition, following the autumn edition of 29 October–1 November 2026. It also states that spring tickets will be released in February 2027. Choose the spring or autumn edition to suit your visit.
For a first visit, decide whether you want a compact festival day or a longer literary break. The festival’s usual hub is a hotel venue, while the town offers separate Shakespeare-related visits and theatre. Those choices can work together, but each has its own booking and access arrangements. Start with the festival sessions that matter most, then leave room for the rest of Stratford.
Quick answers
Venues across Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire; check each event's venue.
- When: spring and autumn; next edition 6–9 May 2027.
- Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridge Foot, is the main spring and autumn venue.
- Tickets: use the official festival site and its linked external box office.
- Station: Stratford-upon-Avon, on Station Road; check the actual onward route to your event.
- Book ahead: choose essential events first, especially if travelling for a particular conversation.
- What's on: see this year's highlights and the next festival's dates in What's on below.
Spring festival tickets are released in February 2027.
What’s on
What it was like in autumn 2026
Stratford’s autumn festival ran from 29 October to 1 November 2026.
Myths and imaginative fiction
Arthur: A New Life
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Amy Jeffs explored King Arthur’s legend, from Merlin and the round table to medieval politics, through her illustrated retelling.
Sleepers in the Snow
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Joanne Harris discussed a ghost story in which a recently divorced newcomer discovers unsettling changes in a snowbound moorland house.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
The Discworld Bestiary
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Rob Wilkins introduced an illustrated guide to Discworld’s creatures, sharing wisdom from Terry Pratchett’s world and its unconventional inhabitants.
Lives and experiences
The Elegant Hustler: Adventures from a Life on the Move
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Celia Imrie shared travel memories from her memoir, including Australian theatre tours and journeys on American and Indian railways.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
I Shop Therefore I Am
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Mary Portas discussed transforming Harvey Nichols in the 1990s, the lessons she learned and her hopes for high streets.
Grief Talking
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Greg Wise explored different experiences of bereavement and consider how a more open approach to mourning could help.
Crime and suspense
Witch Trial
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Harriet Tyce introduced Witch Trial, following two teenagers accused of murder amid disturbing rumours of rituals and obsession.
2026 event detailsAt 5 festivals in 2026
The Taper Man
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Nick Harkaway discussed a George Smiley adventure involving a threatened Moscow intelligence source and a shooting in Helsinki.
Claws Out!
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Bella Mackie introduced a thriller about a prospective fourth husband and a daughter investigating the deaths of three predecessors.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
Novels and storytelling
The Wine-Dark Sea
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Victoria Hislop discussed a novel about a mother and her scattered family during the Greek civil war.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
The Winter Guest
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Sarah Moss introduced a novel about strangers exchanging consequential confessions at an Irish hotel during a Christmas Eve snowstorm.
Peck & Peck
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Bonnie Garmus introduced a novel following a poetry-loving graduate into the chaotic world of a prestigious New York literary journal.
The Weight of Angels
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
John Boyne discussed an imagined future in which Oscar Wilde survives to witness the upheavals of the early twentieth century.
Art and culture
Objects and Us
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Gus Casely-Hayford explored what objects reveal about human histories, needs and desires, considering the special value cultures give them.
An Unsuitable Boy: A Life in Scripts
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Andrew Davies discussed his memoir, turning from the period dramas he has adapted to the experiences shaping his own life.
2026 event detailsAt 2 festivals in 2026
The Pen: A Human History
· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Simon Garfield traced the pen’s history, travelling from ancient Egyptian reeds to modern manufacturers and the desks of celebrated writers.
What it was like in 2026
These events took place in spring 2026. Explore the conversations, books and ideas that shaped the festival.
Art, music and film
Vermeer in a New Light
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Andrew Graham-Dixon explored Vermeer’s paintings through fresh discoveries about his friendships, beliefs and the meaning of his work.
The Rolling Year: Listening to the Seasons with Vivaldi
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Hannah French revisited Vivaldi’s Four Seasons through its imagery and poetry, linking the music with human experiences of nature.
Surround Sound -The Stories of Movie Music
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Mark Kermode and Jenny Nelson explored film soundtracks and the relationship between a director’s vision and a composer’s music.
Family stories
Star Kitties
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Laura Ellen Anderson introduced Star Kitties through magical world-building, character creation and a drawing activity inspired by Tabitha’s feline friends.
Politics and public life
A More Perfect Union - Our Relationship with Europe after Brexit
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Marina Wheeler argued for closer relations between Britain and Europe in response to changing global politics and threats to democracy.
The Cost of Trust: The Ian Paterson Scandal
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Deborah Douglas and Tracy King discussed their campaign against surgeon Ian Paterson and the failures of medical oversight.
The Colour of Home
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Sajid Javid discussed a memoir shaped by racism, poverty and the experience of growing up between two cultures.
Science and nature
Ferment: The Life-Changing Power of Microbes
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Tim Spector explained how home fermentation could turn ordinary ingredients into foods supporting gut health, immunity and mood.
2026 event detailsAt 3 festivals in 2026
Game Theory
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Mike Wooldridge explored game theory’s practical value through examples ranging from overfishing to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Tony Juniper discussed inequality’s role in the climate crisis and the wider changes needed to make environmental action effective.
The Path More Travelled
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Nicholas Crane traced Britain’s paths from prehistoric routes to modern pavements, sharing walking stories and the history of public access.
Fiction and writing
The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Robert Thorogood discussed the fifth Marlow Murder Club novel, bringing new murders and an unwelcome visitor from Judith’s past.
Love Lane
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Patrick Gale introduced Love Lane, following Harry Cane’s return from Canada to a family and country changed by war.
2026 event detailsAt 5 festivals in 2026
On Memoir: An A-Z of Life Writing
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Blake Morrison explored memoir’s ethical questions, creative difficulties and emotional power, drawing on a lifetime of reading and writing lives.
What Happened that Night
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Nicci French introduced a psychological thriller about a released prisoner’s reunion and discussed the experience of writing together.
History and its legacies
War and Legacy
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Roger Moorhouse and Saul David discussed writing overlooked wartime histories, from U-boat crews to the campaign in Tunisia.
The Visionaries
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
James Holland examined Roosevelt and Truman’s plans for rebuilding after war, contrasting their approach with present-day international politics.
2026 event detailsAt 3 festivals in 2026
Rasputin and the Downfall of the Romanovs
· Crowne Plaza Hotel
Antony Beevor reconsidered Rasputin’s relationship with the Romanovs and the myths surrounding the collapse of their rule.
2026 event detailsAt 5 festivals in 2026
Explore the full official 2026 programme.
Authors who appeared
About the festival
Stratford’s festival presents a mix of literary conversations rather than a programme restricted to Shakespeare. The organiser describes debate, ideas, author events, workshops, performances and comedy, alongside charitable outreach. That range makes the event worth browsing by subject and format. A reader can come for contemporary writing without needing to make the entire trip a Shakespeare itinerary.
Think about how you prefer to spend time at an event. A workshop may ask you to participate, whereas an interview or discussion offers a different pace. Read the individual description before booking and choose a balance that suits you. If several friends are travelling together, it can be useful to pick one shared event and leave the rest to individual interests.
The festival also publishes family events, with age guidance and accompanying-adult requirements. A public family booking is separate from the organisation’s schools or outreach work. Look at the current public programme rather than assuming an activity mentioned in a charity report is open to book. Keep breaks, meals and attention spans in mind when planning for children.
When it runs and how to plan ahead
The next spring festival is 6–9 May 2027. The autumn 2026 edition ran on 29 October–1 November. It announces a February 2027 spring ticket release. Use that live page to check the announcement again before buying travel, and read the dates on every event rather than treating a seasonal festival as a single ticket package.
A spring visit and an autumn visit can call for different personal plans. Think about daylight, the amount of time you want to spend outdoors and whether you intend to combine the festival with another venue. Check the visitor information for the dates you choose.
If you reserve accommodation before you have event tickets, use cancellation terms that suit the uncertainty in your plans. Keep the room deadline and any payment date with your festival notes. When the programme is available, make a short list of essential sessions and an alternative list. That gives you a useful day even if your first choice sells out.
Venues and finding the right room
The festival’s visitor FAQ identifies Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6YR, as the main spring and autumn location. It also explains that events sometimes use Rother Street Arts House or other venues, with the address stated on the relevant event page. Follow your ticket rather than assuming every appearance takes place in the hotel.
Within a hotel programme, the room matters as well as the street address. The festival terms refer to the Festival Ballroom and explain that some ticket categories may distinguish the front or back of the auditorium. Check the wording on your purchase before deciding where you expect to sit. Let a steward help if the ticket category or room signage is unclear.
The organiser describes step-free access and accessible toilets at Crowne Plaza. That is useful groundwork, but a specific seating, hearing or mobility requirement still deserves an advance conversation. A main-entrance description does not answer every question about the route from a car park or the position of a seat. Ask about the parts of the visit that would affect your comfort.
Visitor map
Approximate building and site locations, not accessible routes or individual entrances.
Tickets and the official box office
Book through the official festival events page or the external box office linked from the organiser. Read the current terms before paying, including fees and the precise admission category. The festival also offers membership arrangements with priority booking; compare the current benefits with the events you actually want rather than treating membership as a seat guarantee.
The organiser says tickets are generally non-refundable and cannot be exchanged unless an event is cancelled, while its terms describe limited discretion around a sold-out event. Use the published terms for your actual purchase and ask the box office about your case. Optional refund protection is a separate product offered through the external provider, with its own conditions.
For a sold-out session, the FAQ describes joining the event’s waiting list through the booking route. That is a practical first step, but it is not admission. Choose a second event you would enjoy and avoid making a non-refundable trip depend on a return. Keep the confirmation and ticket documents accessible, and check your email before travelling in case the organiser has sent a change.
Getting there
By train
Use Stratford-upon-Avon station on Station Road as the town-centre rail reference. National Rail publishes its location and facilities. Check the full journey in the operator’s planner, including the return and any changes. Be careful to distinguish Stratford-upon-Avon from Stratford in London when searching for tickets or saving directions.
There is also a separate Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway station. Make sure the station on your booking matches the onward plan you have made. Do not select a destination solely because its name looks familiar. Check whether the connection, arrival point and last return suit the events you are considering before buying the festival ticket.
By bus or coach
Check the operator’s current timetable for your starting point and check the exact stop in Stratford. Check that the return service runs late enough for your final event. If you are combining a coach with local transport, include the transfer and any luggage in the comparison with a direct rail journey.
For a group visit, agree where you will meet after getting off and give the group enough time to reach the correct event room. Keep the address and booking details on more than one phone if that helps. A clear meeting point is more useful than assuming everyone will recognise the festival entrance on arrival.
By car
The festival FAQ describes parking arrangements at Crowne Plaza and asks drivers to register the vehicle at reception. Read the current conditions and ask the venue if your visit depends on a space; first-come arrangements should never be taken as a reservation. Leave room in the schedule to use an alternative without missing the start of a talk.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council lists Bridgeway Multi-Storey and Bridgeway Surface car parks. Check their current opening and payment rules directly. Blue Badge arrangements can involve a particular process, so read the individual page rather than assuming a general rule applies to every site.
By bike
If you plan to cycle, ask the venue about the current place to secure your bicycle and choose a route that suits the time you will return. Bring a suitable lock and lights and keep access routes clear. Do not assume that a nearby map location establishes a public cycle route or a permitted place to leave the bike.
Where to stay
See all places to stay for Stratford Literary Festival
Bridge Foot and the festival venue area
Compare this area if the main aim is a convenient return after events at Crowne Plaza. Check the actual property address, room facilities and route rather than relying on a broad location label. If you want to return to the room during a gap, consider check-in and luggage arrangements as well as the map distance.
Town centre and Waterside
A central base may suit a trip combining festival conversations with a separate theatre or heritage visit. Work out the routes to both bookings before choosing a property. Ask about room position and noise if a quiet stay matters to you, and confirm any accessible room features directly rather than inferring them from a general property description.
Station Road and Arden Street
Compare accommodation around the station side of town if the rail journey is a major part of your visit. A base near arrival can simplify luggage, but check the return from your final festival event as well. Include any onward fares and luggage storage in the total comparison with a room closer to the event venue.
Look for accommodation early for your chosen festival dates and read the cancellation conditions before paying. These areas are starting points for comparison, not claims about room availability or a recommendation of a particular property.
Eating and drinking
A festival day in a hotel venue does not require every meal to fit into the shortest gap between talks. Check the venue’s current food information and compare it with the time you have available. If you would prefer a meal elsewhere in town, leave a proper interval for getting there, ordering and returning to the event room.
Ask providers directly about dietary requirements and any preparation issue important to you. For a booked table, explain your planned departure time and choose a gap with some flexibility. Avoid taking food or drink into an event on the assumption that another part of the hotel permits it. Follow the room’s own guidance and keep bags clear of aisles.
Accessibility and seating
The festival FAQ describes step-free Crowne Plaza venues, an accessible toilet and a personal-assistant arrangement for eligible bookings. The terms explain the relevant wheelchair and disabled-ticket categories. Check the route and eligibility before buying so that the booking matches the space and support you need.
For sight, hearing or other seating requirements, contact the festival with your booking reference as instructed by the organiser. Ask about the specific feature you need rather than assuming a room has a hearing loop or captioning. Keep the response with your ticket and make yourself known to stewards. Include the journey from station or car park and the trip back when thinking about the full visit.
Plan your days
A one-day festival visit
Begin with one session you want to hear, allow a lunch break and add a second if the timing works. Leave a little time to get your bearings around the town rather than arriving at the room in a rush. If you are returning by train, choose the final event with the station journey and connection in mind.
A literary weekend
Give one part of the weekend to the festival and another to Stratford’s separate cultural attractions. Shakespeare’s Birthplace is the writer’s childhood home in the town, while the Royal Shakespeare Company publishes information for its theatres and visits. Check both organisations directly for current tickets, opening and access. Keep those purchases separate from the literary festival.
Eight first-timer tips
- Distinguish the spring and autumn programme dates when you book.
- Keep the event room and admission category beside the start time.
- Save tickets offline and check email for programme changes before travelling.
- Use the official waiting list for a sold-out session.
- Ask the box office about access and seating requirements early.
- Register your vehicle as instructed if using hotel parking.
- Check the organiser’s signing guidance before bringing books for signatures.
- Leave a proper meal break and enough time for the last journey home.
More literary and theatre time in Stratford
The town offers separate programmes through the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. These can extend a book-focused break, but they are not included in a festival ticket. Choose an extra visit only after checking the festival schedule and allow time to move between the bookings without rushing.
First-timer questions
Can I bring children?
The festival offers family events with age guidance. Check the listing and current terms for accompanying-adult tickets and supervision requirements before booking. These arrangements differ from the organisation’s schools and outreach activity, which should not be taken as public sessions. Leave room for meals, breaks and the journey when choosing a family itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stratford Literary Festival?
The next spring festival is 6–9 May 2027, following the autumn edition of 29 October–1 November 2026, with spring tickets released in February 2027. Check the official festival website before committing to travel and select events from the right edition. An appearance advertised separately may have its own date and venue.
Where does the festival take place?
The official visitor information identifies Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon, as the spring and autumn hub. Some events use Rother Street Arts House or other venues, as stated on their event pages. Read the address and room on your own ticket rather than assuming every event takes place at the hotel.
Which railway station should I choose?
Stratford-upon-Avon station is on Station Road and is the town-centre rail reference for this guide. Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway is a separate station, while Stratford in London is a different destination altogether. Check your operator’s route and onward journey before booking, and leave enough time to reach the actual festival room after arrival.
What happens if the event I want sells out?
The organiser’s FAQ describes a waiting list accessible through the event booking route. Join it through the official website and keep an alternative event in mind. A waiting-list request does not guarantee admission, so do not arrange a non-refundable journey solely on the expectation that another ticket will become available before the session.
How do I arrange accessible seating?
Read the organiser’s access information and choose the appropriate ticket category, then contact the festival about the practical arrangement you need. Crowne Plaza’s festival venues are described as step-free, but specific hearing, sight or seating needs still deserve direct confirmation. Keep the booking reference and the team’s response available when speaking to stewards on arrival.
Can you go to Stratford Literary 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 Stratford Literary Festival?
Ask the property about its entrance, room floor and any access feature on which your visit depends. Confirm parking if you intend to drive and late entry if you will return after the evening programme. For a longer visit, give heritage or theatre plans their own time rather than treating them as something to rush through between conversations. Keep autumn and spring dates distinct in the reservation, especially if you are comparing several rooms in one browsing session. Once the spring programme is published, check that the particular venue and timetable still fit your booking before its cancellation deadline and any final travel purchase. Compare the stay advice.
Official sources
Use Stratford Literary Festival for dates and programme announcements, its FAQ and terms for booking and access, National Rail for station information and Stratford-on-Avon District Council for parking. Use the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and RSC for separate cultural visits.
Official source links
- www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
- www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
- www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk
- www.nationalrail.co.uk
- www.nationalrail.co.uk
- www.stratford.gov.uk
- www.stratford.gov.uk
- www.shakespeare.org.uk
- www.rsc.org.uk
- www.nationalrail.co.uk
- www.ihg.com
Sources checked 21 October 2026. Check the organiser and operators again before booking.