Literary festivals you can’t miss

Thursday 5th March 2026

To celebrate World Book Day, the Club has hand-picked the best literary events taking place across the UK this year.

With UK fiction sales up 12.2% in the last twelve months*, there are events and meet ups across the country, each with campsites nearby.

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s list of festivals covers all genres and will appeal to all types of reader.

For lovers of the outdoors

Kendal Mountain Literary Festival

Takes place during The Kendal Mountain Festival (19th-22nd November 2026), Last year’s speakers included Tristan Gooley and Sir Chris Bonington, the British Mountaineer who has completed nineteen Himalayan expeditions. Speakers are still to be announced for 2026 so keep an eye on their website.

Stay at Kendal Club Site

For all book lovers, any genre

Hay Festival

21st May – 31st May 2026. This year’s event features a talk with Emerald Fennell, the director of one of this year’s biggest films, Wuthering Heights.

Stay at: Rhandirmwyn Club Site

Fringe by the Sea

Several stars including Ben Fogle, TV presenter and author of Tales from the Wilderness and Louis Theroux are speaking at this summer’s event, taking place in North Berwick near Edinburgh from 31st July – 9th August.

Stay at: Dunbar Club Site

Stratford Literary Festival

7th-10th May. Authors attending include Tim Spector, founder of the Zoe app and author of Ferment: The Life-Changing Power of Microbes

Stay at: Kingsbury Water Park Club Site

For politics buffs

Oxford Literary Festival

Oxford is home to more than 30 colleges and former students include Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher. Listen to speakers including Vince Cable, Jeremy Hunt and David Starkey at this year’s event, taking place between 21st and 29th March.

Stay at: Chipping Norton Club Site

For fantastic fiction

Cheltenham Literature Festival

The UK’s oldest festival of its type. This year’s event is taking place from 9th-18th October – last year’s festival welcomed big names such as Ian McEwan, Richard Osman and Graham Norton, so expect a similar star-studded line up.

Stay at: Winchcombe Club Site

The Club has also shared its favourite camping authors and BookTok influencers.

@tomsparrowoutdoors – Tom’s content blends nature and exploring across the UK, with regular book reviews and recommendations for great reads inspired by the outdoors. Based in Cornwall.

@carolinemills99 – Caroline’s latest book, This is Not My Land: 30 Years on a Small Cotswold Farm, is a memoir about Caroline and her husband Paul’s 1995 purchase of land on the edge of the north Cotswolds which would become the couple’s home.

@lottiegross – Lottie is the go-to expert on all things camping with dogs and has written several guidebooks, including Dog Days Out and Dog-Friendly Weekends.

BookTok continues to grow in popularity, with an increasing number of online users sharing book reviews and recommendations. The #bookstagram hashtag has been used on 124million posts on Instagram while #BookTok has received more than 370 billion views**.

Madeleine Birch, the Club’s PR and Events Manager, said:

“The campsite is a great place to unwind with a good book. With more literary events happening across the country, it’s easier than ever to plan a camping trip around them and perhaps even meet your favourite author or spend time with fellow readers while you’re away.”

To view advice and inspiration for your next camping holiday visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/advice.

* https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/08/waterstones-gen-z/

** https://www.forbes.com/sites/tiktok/2025/04/21/the-power-of-booktok-why-tiktoks-book-community-is-driving-a-new-era-in-publishing/

Photo credit: VisitBritain

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Notes for Editors

1. The Camping and Caravanning Club is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2026. The Club remains committed to inspiring the camper in everyone and currently represents the interests of more than 600,000 members.
2. To view the list of Camping and Caravanning Club Sites with year-round opening visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/year-round-sites.
3. The Club has delivered a high NPS score this year of 81% across its Club Site network and 90% for its Service Centre.
4. Club members receive up to 30% off every Club Site stay and get exclusive access to privately run, smaller sites.
5. Get involved: for the latest news, information and inspiration from The Camping and Caravanning Club, and to engage with those who’ve enjoyed holidays with the Club, visit www.facebook.com/campandcaravanning, www.instagram.com/campandcaravan and www.youtube.com/@campandcaravanning.