Tickets go on sale 10:00 Tuesday 28th August

Ilkley Literature Festival tickets go ON SALE at 10am PROMPT on Tuesday 28th.  Don't delay! Some headline events get sold out WITHIN MINUTES! 

The festival runs from Friday 28th September (with the odd earlier event) until Sunday 14th October 2018.

If you want to book accommodation with us but are not sure you'll get tickets quickly enough, we will bend our rules!  Book your apartment or cottage at Westwood Lodge and, if you find on Tuesday 28th ONLY that you need to change dates - or even cancel - we'll arrange things without any administration or cancellation charge.  Note - this ONLY applies if you've booked directly with us between 23rd and 28th August for a stay arriving between 28th September and 14th October. Its not valid if you choose to book through a third-party booking agency (as they have different rules) and is only valid if you subsequently email us on Tuesday 28th August 2018, requesting a change or cancellation.

Ilkley Literature Festival - What's On?

http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/whats-on/festival
Dan Snow, Susan Calman, Alan Bennett, John Simpson, Nadita Hussain and many more all coming to the Ilkley Literature Festival.  Tickets go on sale later this month.

Ilkley Literature Festival Back in town!

The Ilkley Literature Festival this year runs from Friday 29th September until Sunday 15th October. There are over 250 events including Alan Bennett, Sarah Millican, Richard Osman, Shami Chakrabarti, Judy Murray, Richard Dawkins, June Sarpong, Daljit Nagra, Alan Hollinghurst and many more.

The Children’s Festival is headlined by BBC Radio 1’s Greg James and Chris Smith and includes fantastic events for anyone ages 3-12 including Ben Faulks, Nadia Shireen, Robin Stevens and Festival favourites tutti frutti. Young People have the chance to meet some of their favourite authors including Alex Wheatle and Samantha Shannon. Plus there are workshops and masterclasses with leading writers and the Festival Fringe.  

Go to http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk for full details.

Ilkley Literature Festival 2016 Starts Today!

Ilkley Literature Festival 2016 kicks off tonight with legendary screenwriter Andrew Davies talking about his work adapting classics such as Pride and Prejudice and War and Peace.

There are tickets still available for over 120 Festival events and this weekend you could see Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, former BBC Breakfast presenter Sian Williams and a celebration of the life of JB Priestley with guests including Barry Cryer and Margaret Drabble. Plus we have the opening of the Festival Exhibition, Tom Phillips's A Humument and lots of exciting FREE Fringe events.

Book Online: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
(up to 48 hours before events)
Book by Phone: 01943 816 714
(10am - 4pm Mon - Fri, 10am - 1pm Sat)
Or buy tickets on the door!

Event Updates

Event 83. Damon Hill: Watching the Wheels

Due to unforeseen circumstances this event has been moved to Monday 17 October at 7.30pm at the Kings Hall.

The Box Office will contact all ticket holders with more details. We apologise for any inconvience or disappointment caused.

Tickets for this event are still available and can be booked online here.

Cancelled events: Events 15 and 36: James Kelman, Event 46: John Gribbin and Event 59: Juno Dawson have been cancelled.

Ilkley Literature Festival Box Office OPENS 9am TUESDAY!

Tickets Go on Sale from 9am, Tuesday 1 September! Book Online: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk By Phone: 01943 816 714 From Wednesday 2 September the Box Office is open 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 1pm on Saturdays for phone bookings. You can book online at anytime. Online booking: If you booked online last year or already have an online account you will be able to login using your username and password. If you choose to book online for the first time this year you will need to create an account. To do this click here. We recommend doing this now in order to save time once ticket sales open. Jenny Eclair Joins the Festival Line Up! Event 235: Jenny Eclair: Moving Jenny Eclair is an extremely popular broadcaster, comedian, actor and writer. She is one of only two female comedians to have won the prestigious Perrier Award, and often features on BBC radio and television, best known for her roles in Grumpy Old Women and Loose Women. Moving – Jenny Eclair’s fourth novel – reveals a writer at the height of her powers. Gripping, heart-breaking and laced with black humour, it is a novel of family secrets, shocking betrayals and most of all, of home. Edwina Spinner has lived in the same house for over fifty years. It used to be a busy, crowded family home but now Edwina lives alone and it has grown too big for her. She has decided to sell it. Sunday 11 October, 12,30pm, Kings Hall, £12/10 Two more new events also recently added to the programme as well: Event 233: One Night of Love One Night of Love, starring Geraldine Woodhouse, Nick Pennington, Jan Thomas, James Kingsley and Lucy Campbell, explores every aspect of love through the medium of poetry. Some of the poems are very well known, others less so; some are old, others bang up to date. An entertaining evening guaranteed! Devised by local author, Alan Hall, and directed by Moira Ferguson. Friday 2 October, 7.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £6/4 Event 234: The Science of Everyday Life with Marty Jopson Have you ever wondered why ice floats and water is such a freaky liquid? Or why chillies and mustard are both hot but in different ways? Or why microwaves don’t cook from the inside out? In this fascinating scientific tour of household objects, The One Show presenter and all-round Science Bloke Marty Jopson has the answer to all of these, and many more, baffling questions about the chemistry and physics of the everyday stuff we use every day. Monday 12 October, 7.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £6/4 Tickets for these event will go on sale on Tuesday 1 September when general booking opens. Programme Updates Time Changes: The History of the Reader: Frank Furedi (Event 17) will now take place at 7.30pm on Monday 12 October, at Ilkley Rugby Club Vince Cable - After the Storm (Event 115) will now take place at 2.30pm on Sunday 11 October at the Kings Hall. Event Cancellation Unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances, The Book of Tokyo (Event 140) has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience. For full details of changes to the programme please click here. Copyright © 2015 Ilkley Literature Festival, All rights reserved.

Don't miss The Witching Hour!

 

This is an absolute "must go" event.  Brilliant local writers such as Rachel Hagan, Mary Colson and John F King will be coming together for an hour of flash fiction, poems and stories inspired by the ever-changing landscape of Ilkley Moor.  And it's FREE!  See you there! 9pm Thursday 9th October 2014, Ilkley Playhouse.  Click here for more information

Comedian Deborah Frances-White Joins Festival Programme Half a Can of Worms Deborah Frances-White was adopted at ten days old - up until late October 2012 she had no idea who or where her birth-family were. An extraordinary run of events means that she is suddenly living as a round the clock internet Nancy Drew, finding out more information every hour about her birth mother, aunts, uncles, grandparents and even possibly half brothers and sisters. What she is learning, is that you can't open half a can of worms. Come and discover her mysterious past, inevitable future and heart-pounding present as her story unfolds. Saturday 11 October, 7.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £6/4 This event has two 30 minute sets, with a 15 minute interval Tickets on sale NOW.

Festival Highlights: Festival Steward Adrian Thompson picks his Top 5 events from the programme. My Father and Other Superheroes: Performance by Nick Makoha Last year, around this time, I saw Nick Makoha walk into a classroom full of disenchanted inner city fifteen year olds, and produce the most inspirational hour I'd ever been a part of, changing some of those students lives for ever. This is a moving and powerful performance exploring the journey from childhood to fatherhood. It's quite unlike anything else in the programme, and definitely worth going to. Friday 17 October, 7.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £6/4 Francis Pryor: A Time Traveller's Tale from Prehistory Francis Pryor's probably best known for his appearances on TV - particularly Time Team, but he's also a well respected academic archaeologist who's very easy to like. When he came to the festival a few years ago, he was great, and his event this year looks every bit as good. Looking forward to this one! Sunday 5 October, 2pm, Craiglands Hotel, £8/6 Andy Kershaw This is my 'must see' for the Festival. Andy Kershaw - from giving up on his politics degree to become Leeds University Ent. Sec. via. presenting Live Aid, accidentally inventing World Music, becoming a Radio 1 DJ then a Radio 3 DJ, to being the man who reported for the Today programme from inside Rwanda just after the genocide in 1994 Andy has a lot of stories to tell, and he'll bring them all to life in his own inimitable style. Unmissable! Friday 10 October, 7.30pm, The Kings Hall, £12/10 Bryan and Mary Talbot Another unmissable couple of events. Bryan Talbot is one of my favourite comic book artists. The wonderful, lyrical Tale of One Bad Rat lingers long in the memory, and Alice in Sunderland is brilliant too. He's in Ilkley doing two events, and if you're any kind of comic fan, you should try and get to both. The Masterclass, where he'll be talking about how he creates a graphic novel, is a 'don't miss' and his event with his wife Mary, on their new graphic novel Sally Heathcote: Suffragette looks brilliant too. Bryan Talbot Masterclasses: Sunday 12 October, 1.45pm, Manor House Education Room, £15/10 Bryan and Mary Talbot: Sunday 12 October, 4.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £6/4 Barbed Wire for Kisses This is a real surprise, and typical of the sort of jewel that pops up in the programme, almost under the radar. It features two of my favourite storytellers - Hugh Lupton and Nick Hennessey working with two musicians to tell the story of World War 1 by focussing on families in a small Lincolnshire villlage. I could listen to Hugh and Nick for hours, and the event sounds great. Thursday 16 October, 7.30pm, Ilkley Playhouse, £10/8 Adrian will be hosting his own Fringe event to share his experiences as a volunteer on Book Bus, which works with children in rural schools in Zambia. All Aboard the Book Bus, Mon, 13 October, 9.15pm, Ilkley Playhouse, FREE Book online at www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk Box Office: 01943 816 714 (10am - 4pm Mon - Fri, 10am - 1pm Sat)

Any Questions? Comes to Ilkley!

Any Questions? Kicks off The 2014 Ilkley Literature Festival - Jonathan Dimbleby will be chairing a panel for some lively discussion - Patrick McLoughlin, Rachel Reeves, Lisa Holdsworth and John Kampfner. See you there!

..and a good time was had by all. Catch up on Radio 4 at 1.10pm on 5th October or via BBC iPlayer.

 

Ilkley Literature Festival Tickets still available (as at 23rd September)! Tickets still available for over 150 exciting events including Peter Snow, Kirsty Wark, Duncan Bannatyne, Kate Humble, Douglas Hurd, Simon Armitage, Melvyn Bragg, Barry Norman, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and many more... Buy your tickets online: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk Or by phone via our Box Office: 01943 816714

Ilkley Literature Festival - Tickets NOW ON SALE!

Friday 4th - Sunday 20th October 2013

More than 250 events across 20 venues, over 17 days!

For further information go to www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

More tickets have just been released for the following events: Event 43. Paul MorleyEvent 51. William DalrympleEvent 56. Richard Moore Event 46. Nadeem Aslam Event 79. Louise Doughty

There are still tickets available for over 220 exciting events including Duncan Bannatyne, Jonathan Aitken, Kirsty Wark, Douglas Hurd and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall! Head to the website to download a copy of the 2013 programme. You can buy your tickets online: www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk Or by phone via the Box Office: 01943 816714.

Big names coming to Ilkley Literature Festival

Paddy Ashdown, Michael Portillo, Sandy Gall (ex ITN), Michael palin, Sandi Toksvig, Jeremy Vine, Clare Balding, John Suchet...

They're all going to be at the Ilkley Literature Festival which will be held from 28th September until 14th October 2012.  Click here to find out the latest on who will be attending.  Tickets go on sale in mid-August with popular names getting snapped up in hours (or even minutes!). 

Book your stay at Westwood Lodge now!  If for any reason you don't get the tickets you were hoping for, we'll change the dates of your stay - even to the 2013 Festival if necessary!

Ilkley Stones on Radio 4

Don't miss Radio 4 this Sunday (15th July) Put it in your diary! BBC Radio 4 will be broadcasting a special 30 minute documentary called Poems from the Pennines, a documentary featuring the Stanza Stones project on Sunday 15th July at 4.30pm. Repeated on Saturday 21st July at 11.30pm. BBC Radio 4 Website  Tune in to hear interviews with Simon Armitage, Ilkley Literature Festival and young people involved in the project

Ilkley Literature Festival 2011

Over 160 Events Still Available! Simon Callow, Janet Street Porter, Evan Davis, John Cooper Clarke, Alan Hollinghurst, Francine Stock… we’re looking forward to exciting events for the whole family. You can download the full Programme or get in touch to request your free copy. Some of the more popular events have sold out but there are still tickets for over 160 events. You can book online or by phone on 01943 816714. Plus keep an eye on latest ticket and event updates…

Ilkley Literature Festival 2010

Well another Festival over and some great speakers. For such a small town to be able to attract the likes of John Simpson, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Michael Parkinson and Jenny Eclair speaks volumes for the efforts that the Festival organisers go to.

Westwood Lodge is delighted to be a Friend of the Ilkley Literature Festival. Book now to stay with us in early October 2011 and we'll make sure you receive full details of the Festival programme and advance ticketing arrangements.

Ilkley Literature Festival

the 2010 programme is out!

What's on over the Summer?

If you're not sure what to do, here are a few events to whet your appetite... Broughton Game Show, Sunday 27th June Broughton Hall (on A59 west of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD 9450) RAF Dakota flypast, dog display, motorcycle stunt display, heavy horses, miniature Shetland ponies, Birdman Challenge, falconry, sheep shearing and many other displays, stands and sideshows. Adults £8, Concessions £6, Children £4 http://www.broughtongameshow.co.uk/ or see local tourist information for details . Great Yorkshire Show, Tuesday 13th – Thursday 15th July, Harrogate The North’s leading agricultural event. Livestock shows, equestrian events, Black Dyke Band, The Great Show Wheel, Hot Air Balloons. Demonstrations, stalls and sideshows too numerous to mention. A fabulous, fully-packed day out. Please note: to avoid the jams, aim to arrive either very early or towards lunchtime. Adults £20, Concessions £16, Children £9 http://www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/ Tel: 01423 541000 . Ilkley Summer Festival, 1st- 30th August Many events including Ken Dodd's Happiness Show on Wedneday 4th, the Flower and Vegetable Show on Saturday 7th, the big weekend on 14th/15th of music, picnics and partying under the big top at the Riverside Gardens. Exhibitions, walks and continental market. http://www.ilkleysummerfestival.com/ or local tourist information . Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival, 14th-22nd August Kettlewell (on B6265 then B6160 north of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD9772) Walk the ‘Scarecrow Trail’ and discover scarecrows hiding in unexpected nooks and crannies in this idyllic Dales village of calendar girl’s fame. Various pubs and tearooms will sustain you. . Burnsall Feast Sports, Saturday 21st August Burnsall (on B6160 from Bolton Abbey; Grid Ref: SE031610) Fell race (the oldest in Britain), children’s races, pet show, guess the weight of the sheep, side shows. A great local country event. Always held the first Saturday after the Sunday after August the 12th! http://www.burnsallsports.co.uk/ or local tourist information . Malham Show, Saturday 28th August Malham (Grid Ref: SD 900627) Under the shadow of Malham Cove, this traditional agricultural and family country show has been taking place for over 100 years. Farmers’ Market, falconry displays, fell race, equestrian and livestock shows, tug o’ war, dry-stone walling and plenty of sideshows. Adults £6, children under 16 free http://www.malhamdale.com/ or local tourist information . Kilnsey Show, Tuesday 31st August Kilnsey (on B6265 then B6160 north of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD 970677) The Dales’ foremost agricultural show set against the magnificent backdrop of Kilnsey Crag. Dry-stone walling, producer and handicraft stalls, livestock, equestrian events, fell races and harness racing. Adults £8, accompanied children under 16 £1, under 5s free http://www.kilnseyshow.co.uk/ or local tourist information . Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, 17th – 19th September Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate Around 90 of the country's leading horticultural nurseries exhibiting and selling plants, special interest groups’ exhibits, gardening accessories, arts and crafts and local food. Entry £14 (£7 after 2 pm on Sunday) http://www.flowershow.org.uk/ . Ilkley Literature Festival, 1st – 17th October A prestigious national event with 20000 tickets sold last year covering 190 events. This year’s contributors will be announced on the Festival website. Previous years have included Alan Bennett, Alan Titchmarsh, Melvyn Bragg, Paddy Ashdown, Sarah Dunant, Margaret Drabble, Michael Mansfield QC and James Cracknell (double Olympic gold medallist). Children’s weekend always popular. Tickets on sale from Tuesday 31st August. http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/ 01943 601210 (general) 816714 (booking enquiries) . Information offered in good faith and may change ESPECIALLY PRICES that may be taken from last year. We have no arrangement - commercial or otherwise - with any of these events.

Cherie Blair to Open Ilkley Literature Festival 2008

Former First Lady Cherie Blair is to be the opening speaker at The 2008 Ilkley Literature Festval. Other key note speakers will include the last Governor of Hong Kong - Chris Patten, poet Ian Macmillan and broadcaster Kate Adie. The festival runs from Friday 3rd October until 19th of the month. Westwood Lodge has availability for most dates and we advise early booking. Tickets for the Festival go on sale on 26th August. Popular names sell out very quickly! By joining the Friends of the Festivval you get priority bookings.

Summer Festivals 2008

These are just a few local events not to be missed this summer! Broughton Game Show - Sunday 29th June at Broughton Hall www.broughtongameshow.co.uk The Great Yorkshire Show - Tuesday 8th - Thursday 10th July at Harrogate. www.greatyorkshire.co.uk Ilkley Summer Festival - 1st to 30th August www.ilkleysummerfestival.com Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival - 9th to 17th August Burnsall Feast Sports - 23rd August www.burnsallsports.co.uk Malham Show - 23rd August - www.malhamdale.com Kinsey Show - 26th August - www.kilnseyshow.co.uk Harrogate Autumn Flower Show - 12th to 14th September - www.flowershow.org.uk Ilkley Literature Festival - 3rd to 19th October - www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk

Ilkley Literature Festival in Wharfedale Accommodation

If you're coming to the Ilkley Literature Festival, we've still got some availability for key dates. If the big hotels are too impersonal and if a bed and breakfast (B&B) won't hit the spot, how about a FIVE STAR apartment or cottage? We've got availability for the weekend of 28th September as well as 4 nights for the price of 3 midweek, arriving 1st or 8th October. There are still some great tickets to be had for events at the Festival so book soon!

Ilkley Literature Festival - Tickets Selling Like HOT CAKES!

Tickets have gone on general sale for the Ilkley Literature Festival being held at the beginning of October. Some big names have sold out already! If you're thinking of going along - get your tickets soon!