Ilkley Literature Festival
@ilkleylitfest.bsky.social
The north of England's longest-running literature festival.
Coming in 2025: 3-19 October 2025.
#ILF25 | Produced by @thewordupnorth.bsky.social
Coming in 2025: 3-19 October 2025.
#ILF25 | Produced by @thewordupnorth.bsky.social
Join us on Sat 31 January as political columnist and man-who saw-it-all Steve Richards casts new light on Blair’s time in office, showing that many of the challenges facing him were the ones that still face Labour today and discussing the lessons today’s government can learn from the Blair years.
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Join us on Sat 31 January as political columnist and man-who saw-it-all Steve Richards casts new light on Blair’s time in office, showing that many of the challenges facing him were the ones that still face Labour today and discussing the lessons today’s government can learn from the Blair years.
Puppy love with Mark Radcliffe and Arlo at the King's Hall on Sunday 😍 🐶
October 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Puppy love with Mark Radcliffe and Arlo at the King's Hall on Sunday 😍 🐶
It's the final weekend (du-du-duuu-du)! But we're certainly not winding down early. Check out what we have on this weekend!
There's still time to get your tickets at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or by calling 01943 816714. You can also purchase tickets at our venues.
There's still time to get your tickets at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or by calling 01943 816714. You can also purchase tickets at our venues.
October 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It's the final weekend (du-du-duuu-du)! But we're certainly not winding down early. Check out what we have on this weekend!
There's still time to get your tickets at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or by calling 01943 816714. You can also purchase tickets at our venues.
There's still time to get your tickets at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or by calling 01943 816714. You can also purchase tickets at our venues.
Diaries out - here's what we have in store for you at ILF this week and weekend! 🗓️ 📚
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
October 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Diaries out - here's what we have in store for you at ILF this week and weekend! 🗓️ 📚
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
What an opening weekend! ILF25 is well and truly underway. And there's plenty more to come from now until Sunday 19 October.
What were your highlights from our opening weekend? (don't mention the weather ☔ - that part was out of our hands...)
📸 Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer
What were your highlights from our opening weekend? (don't mention the weather ☔ - that part was out of our hands...)
📸 Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer
October 6, 2025 at 9:21 AM
What an opening weekend! ILF25 is well and truly underway. And there's plenty more to come from now until Sunday 19 October.
What were your highlights from our opening weekend? (don't mention the weather ☔ - that part was out of our hands...)
📸 Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer
What were your highlights from our opening weekend? (don't mention the weather ☔ - that part was out of our hands...)
📸 Rich Bunce, Walking Photographer
Aaaand we're off! What a fantastic turn out to our opening night event with Nick Clegg at the King's Hall. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather last night and good luck to everyone braving it today to see us! Lots more brilliant events coming up this weekend and until Sunday 19 October. 🧡 📚
October 4, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Aaaand we're off! What a fantastic turn out to our opening night event with Nick Clegg at the King's Hall. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather last night and good luck to everyone braving it today to see us! Lots more brilliant events coming up this weekend and until Sunday 19 October. 🧡 📚
We're delighted to have BSL interpreters at several of this year's events. You can browse all our BSL interpreted events here: buff.ly/BcLgRm0
#ILF25 #britishsignlanguage #bsl #bookfestival
#ILF25 #britishsignlanguage #bsl #bookfestival
October 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
We're delighted to have BSL interpreters at several of this year's events. You can browse all our BSL interpreted events here: buff.ly/BcLgRm0
#ILF25 #britishsignlanguage #bsl #bookfestival
#ILF25 #britishsignlanguage #bsl #bookfestival
MPs called for it to be banned. The Daily Mail labelled it a ‘torrent of filth’. What was it about the late, great Tony Harrison’s poem ‘V.’ that stirred up so much controversy? Join us on Sunday 12 October as we explore Harrison's seminal work and its legacy.
#nationalpoetryday #TonyHarrison
#nationalpoetryday #TonyHarrison
October 2, 2025 at 11:57 AM
MPs called for it to be banned. The Daily Mail labelled it a ‘torrent of filth’. What was it about the late, great Tony Harrison’s poem ‘V.’ that stirred up so much controversy? Join us on Sunday 12 October as we explore Harrison's seminal work and its legacy.
#nationalpoetryday #TonyHarrison
#nationalpoetryday #TonyHarrison
It wouldn't be ILF without poetry! We've dedicated a whole day to celebrating the power of poetry at this year's festival. Join us on Sat 18 October for showcases, guided reading groups, workshops and an evening of networking!
#nationalpoetryday #poetry #ILF25
#nationalpoetryday #poetry #ILF25
October 2, 2025 at 9:01 AM
It wouldn't be ILF without poetry! We've dedicated a whole day to celebrating the power of poetry at this year's festival. Join us on Sat 18 October for showcases, guided reading groups, workshops and an evening of networking!
#nationalpoetryday #poetry #ILF25
#nationalpoetryday #poetry #ILF25
ILF 2025 starts THIS FRIDAY! Take a look at what we have in store for you this weekend 👀 📚
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
September 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
ILF 2025 starts THIS FRIDAY! Take a look at what we have in store for you this weekend 👀 📚
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
Tickets available at ilkleylitfest.org.uk or call the box office on 01943 816714 🎟️
One week to go until ILF25 begins! We can't wait to welcome you all back for another October of word power, big names and even bigger ideas. Who's got their tickets? 🎟️ 😍
#ILF25 #bookfestival #litfest
#ILF25 #bookfestival #litfest
September 26, 2025 at 9:01 AM
One week to go until ILF25 begins! We can't wait to welcome you all back for another October of word power, big names and even bigger ideas. Who's got their tickets? 🎟️ 😍
#ILF25 #bookfestival #litfest
#ILF25 #bookfestival #litfest
It's publication day for Simon Armitage! Simon's latest collection New Cemetery is a luminous and wry collection reflecting a changing world of unstable weather patterns and unpredictable news events, all observed across a few acres of Pennine upland.
September 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
It's publication day for Simon Armitage! Simon's latest collection New Cemetery is a luminous and wry collection reflecting a changing world of unstable weather patterns and unpredictable news events, all observed across a few acres of Pennine upland.
🍽️ The ever-tasteful, often hilarious writer and restaurant critic Jay Rayner takes questions on his 25-year career on Thu 16 Oct: buff.ly/ENH6qdM
September 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🍽️ The ever-tasteful, often hilarious writer and restaurant critic Jay Rayner takes questions on his 25-year career on Thu 16 Oct: buff.ly/ENH6qdM
🍽️ Sabrina Ghayour brings us all of the flavour and none of the fuss with her Middle Eastern recipes made easy on Sat 4 Oct: buff.ly/GsmMcg9
September 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🍽️ Sabrina Ghayour brings us all of the flavour and none of the fuss with her Middle Eastern recipes made easy on Sat 4 Oct: buff.ly/GsmMcg9
Hungry? We’ve got quite the menu of events exploring food and our relationship with it at ILF this October:
🍽️ Ruby Tandoh traces how being ‘into food’ went from a subculture to a national obsession with her a laser-sharp, wry analysis of today’s food culture on Sun 19 Oct: buff.ly/4skuFOX
🍽️ Ruby Tandoh traces how being ‘into food’ went from a subculture to a national obsession with her a laser-sharp, wry analysis of today’s food culture on Sun 19 Oct: buff.ly/4skuFOX
September 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Hungry? We’ve got quite the menu of events exploring food and our relationship with it at ILF this October:
🍽️ Ruby Tandoh traces how being ‘into food’ went from a subculture to a national obsession with her a laser-sharp, wry analysis of today’s food culture on Sun 19 Oct: buff.ly/4skuFOX
🍽️ Ruby Tandoh traces how being ‘into food’ went from a subculture to a national obsession with her a laser-sharp, wry analysis of today’s food culture on Sun 19 Oct: buff.ly/4skuFOX
We are thrilled to have Claire Adam appearing in conversation with Emma Nanami Strenner at this year's Ilkley Lit Fest. Claire's latest novel, Love Forms, was recently longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed when the shortlist is announced next Tuesday!
September 18, 2025 at 9:01 AM
We are thrilled to have Claire Adam appearing in conversation with Emma Nanami Strenner at this year's Ilkley Lit Fest. Claire's latest novel, Love Forms, was recently longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed when the shortlist is announced next Tuesday!
HUGE congratulations to @nussaibah.bsky.social, whose novel Fundamentally has been shortlisted for the Comedy Women In Print Prize.
You can catch Nussaibah in Ilkley this October discussing her seriously funny book with fellow author Sanam Mahloudji. Tickets available here: tinyurl.com/4uptc6ce 🎟️
You can catch Nussaibah in Ilkley this October discussing her seriously funny book with fellow author Sanam Mahloudji. Tickets available here: tinyurl.com/4uptc6ce 🎟️
September 17, 2025 at 10:26 AM
HUGE congratulations to @nussaibah.bsky.social, whose novel Fundamentally has been shortlisted for the Comedy Women In Print Prize.
You can catch Nussaibah in Ilkley this October discussing her seriously funny book with fellow author Sanam Mahloudji. Tickets available here: tinyurl.com/4uptc6ce 🎟️
You can catch Nussaibah in Ilkley this October discussing her seriously funny book with fellow author Sanam Mahloudji. Tickets available here: tinyurl.com/4uptc6ce 🎟️
What was the first book you remember loving as a child? Have your reading habits changed since childhood? Are there any books you return to, time and time again? 📚
September 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
What was the first book you remember loving as a child? Have your reading habits changed since childhood? Are there any books you return to, time and time again? 📚
Are you a member of a book club? Do you want to attend a selection of ILF fiction events together? Then sign up to our new book club membership scheme! 📚
#ILF25 #BookClub #BookGroup #AmReading
#ILF25 #BookClub #BookGroup #AmReading
September 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Are you a member of a book club? Do you want to attend a selection of ILF fiction events together? Then sign up to our new book club membership scheme! 📚
#ILF25 #BookClub #BookGroup #AmReading
#ILF25 #BookClub #BookGroup #AmReading
It wouldn't be ILF without politics. Discover the inside story of Labour under Starmer, explore the legacy of Tony Blair and get the inside scoop on the life of a Chief Whip. And we're going global with events on geopolitics, from Xi Jinping's rise to power to what happens if globalisation fails.
September 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
It wouldn't be ILF without politics. Discover the inside story of Labour under Starmer, explore the legacy of Tony Blair and get the inside scoop on the life of a Chief Whip. And we're going global with events on geopolitics, from Xi Jinping's rise to power to what happens if globalisation fails.
Dr Jill Liddington reveals the stories of fascinating northern women writers, from icons such as Anne Lister to Selina Cooper, one of the 29,000 Lancashire cotton workers who took their suffrage petition to Westminster: buff.ly/de4X0M5
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Dr Jill Liddington reveals the stories of fascinating northern women writers, from icons such as Anne Lister to Selina Cooper, one of the 29,000 Lancashire cotton workers who took their suffrage petition to Westminster: buff.ly/de4X0M5
Valerie Waterhouse joins us for a discussion of the exceptional, overlooked Yorkshirewoman and writer Malachi Whitaker: buff.ly/pXzB6qY
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Valerie Waterhouse joins us for a discussion of the exceptional, overlooked Yorkshirewoman and writer Malachi Whitaker: buff.ly/pXzB6qY
Yvonne Singh introduces the journalists who were putting ink to paper to declare that Black lives mattered long before a hashtag was invented: buff.ly/jzGF9WK
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Yvonne Singh introduces the journalists who were putting ink to paper to declare that Black lives mattered long before a hashtag was invented: buff.ly/jzGF9WK
Emily Herring revives the story of Henri Bergson who was, for a time in the early 20th century, the most famous philosopher on earth: buff.ly/EkaFnoU
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Emily Herring revives the story of Henri Bergson who was, for a time in the early 20th century, the most famous philosopher on earth: buff.ly/EkaFnoU
Thant Myint-U explores the life and legacy of the UN's longest-serving Secretary-General U Thant, who was ranked the sixth 'most admired' man in America in 1971 and played an integral yet forgotten role in many of the 20th century's most critical political crises: buff.ly/oGcCtbo
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Thant Myint-U explores the life and legacy of the UN's longest-serving Secretary-General U Thant, who was ranked the sixth 'most admired' man in America in 1971 and played an integral yet forgotten role in many of the 20th century's most critical political crises: buff.ly/oGcCtbo