How to get the best from Cheltenham Literature Festival

 Ahead and Book Early

To celebrate its 75th year, the festival is hosting an exciting range of big names. Stars such as Miriam Margoyles and Dame Judi Dench will be in attendance, and the slots for their talks will likely be on the minds of many, so we suggest getting in and booking early to avoid disappointment.  

Although there are some big names, there are still a plethora of inspired authors across many genres who you should see during your visit. Make sure to check the Cheltenham Literature Festival website for guest speakers, you never know who or what might pique your interest. 
 

Choose a Variety of Events

You may have your sights set on a certain author, book category, or event, but the world of literature spans over numerous categories and authors. Whilst you should go and see what takes your fancy, it’s never a bad idea to keep an open mind.  

The festival is the perfect opportunity to try your hand at some literature. Attending a variety of workshops throughout the event such as a world-building or creative storytelling workshop will broaden your literature understanding and lead to a deeper love of the craft.  For those seeking to gratify their literature blues after the festival, the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship will be hosting the ‘Literature Festival at Sea 2024 in November for a truly unique 7-day festival experience. 

Take Advantage of Free Events

You don’t need to raid your wallet to have a great time. With more than 100 free events taking place over the course of the Cheltenham Literature Festival, it’s a great way to discover new books, current affair discussions, and pick up some tips and tricks for any up-and-coming writers. If it’s your first time going to the festival, these events are a great way to ease you into the flow of the day.  

Certain events such as the ‘inspiring families’ event are a great, family-friendly way to experience the magic of the festival, children will get to meet beloved book characters such as the Gruffalo, as well as famed children’s authors Sally Pomme Clayton and Leo Timmers. 

Explore Cheltenham Between Events 

You’ll have the perfect opportunity to get to know the magnificent city of Cheltenham during the literature festival. From the main hub at Montpellier Gardens to afternoon tea at Cotswold Grange and everything in between, there’ll be plenty for you to do. 

We recommend taking a leisurely stroll and heading into the city to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping. Near to the main hub in Montpellier Gardens is a collection of art galleries we recommend taking a peek at. After all, the heart of literature is all about creativity and drawing inspiration from the world around us. 

For those who are interested in learning more about the past 75 years of Cheltenham history, the ‘connecting communities’ event will feature stories from local community members, making for a more personal learning experience. 

Make Use of the Festival App 

The team behind Cheltenham Literature Festival have partnered with Birmingham City University to bring the festival app to your smartphone. The app is the best way to manage your day, including handy features such as the venue breakdown and a scheduler function. 

You can book tickets via the ‘Ticketed Events’ section in the literature festival navigation bar and organise it into your own personal festival schedule. You can also see if any of the events you wish to attend overlap by using the ‘Clashfinder’ feature. 

The app is available for both iOS and Android. You can download the app by either visiting the Cheltenham festivals website, or by searching for ‘Cheltenham festivals’ in the Google Play Store for Android, or the App Store for iOS.