International writers, prize-winning-authors and prize-giving. Comic books, comedy, music and architecture are just some of
the arts weaving their way into this diverse and edgy literature festival.
This year celebrate the wonders of the written word as the London Literature Festival takes over the Southbank Centre. Literary stars from the worlds of poetry, novels and plays gather to read from and talk about their work and output.
Budding writers can take part in Q&A sessions with big name authors as they offer tips and advice on succeeding in the literary world. Focussing on some of the great writers of the past as well as the up-and-coming talents, the festival covers written works of all categories, styles and persuasions. There’s something here to appeal to all ages and tastes, with live poetry readings and short plays mixed in with talks on graphic novels and comics and lectures by historians.
With the likes of Stephen Fry, John Cooper Clarke and Jeremy Paxman appearing alongside some of the most engaging writers and speakers from around the world, this is a unique opportunity to interact with some of the leading figures from the arts and literature.
When? 30 September 2014 to 13 October 2014
Where? Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Who? as above + Hilary Mantel; Maya Angelou; Shami Cakrabarti; Michael Donaghy; Jonathan Powell; Sheila Hancock+
How much? TBA - Box Office
Festival Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/
Past Festivals? Home-grown literary heavyweights such as Philip Pullman and Alan Hollinghurst rub shoulders with top writers from further afield including Elif Shafak (right) and Hisham Matar. Staged adaptations of contemporary classics such as Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry sit alongside new writing on political and social themes from Iain Sinclair, Alexandra Harris and Owen Jones.
London looks huge as you gracefully climb the sky in your London Eye pod but many of the best attractions cluster in the centre.
Head for South Kensington's cultural mile, home to dinosaur fossils at the Natural History Museum, technical wizardry at the Science Museum and samurai swords and centuries of style at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Along the silver Thames, you can find the Tate Modern and the turreted Tower of London. You can spend a whole day with the Elgin marbles, mummies and ancient treasures of the British Museum (near café-lined Covent Garden) or pick your favourite Old Master at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
Permanent collections at the major museums are free – from the stylish Victoria & Albert Museum to the British Museum and National Gallery. Many museums open late on some nights, including the British Museum, Tate Modern and the National Gallery. Check their opening hours if you're a night owl.
If you are involved in this festival you can update or change details via the organisers page . Authors can list here.