Wantage Literary Festival 2025

About the Wantage Literary Festival 2025

This October – November, the charming market town of Wantage in Oxfordshire transforms into a vibrant hub of storytelling, ideas and discovery with the 2025 edition of the Wantage Literary Festival. From Saturday 25 October to Thursday 06 November, the festival offers over 40 events spanning history, politics, art, science and children’s literature — all held across venues in and around Wantage.

Highlights include events with renowned historians such as Sir Max Hastings and Alison Weir; fiction and graphic novel sessions with authors like Chris Shepherd; and family-friendly talks such as art historian Charlotte Mullins’ exploration of ‘15,000-Year Story of Art in Britain and Ireland’.

Whether you’re a history buff, aspiring writer, curious young reader or simply looking for a thought-provoking evening out, the Wantage Literary Festival 2025 offers a rich mix of voices, formats and experiences. Advance booking is advised as many events sell out. For full listings and tickets visit the festival website.

Celebrating all things literary, the Wantage Literary Festival 2025 returns this autumn with a packed programme of talks, workshops, themed evenings, and family-friendly shows, uniting readers, writers, and curious minds across Oxfordshire.

Events will be held at some of the town’s most beloved venues, including:

• The Beacon, Wantage (OX12 9BX)
• Wantage Library (OX12 7BB)
• Vale & Downland Museum (OX12 8BL)
• SS Peter & Paul Parish Church (OX12 8AJ)
• Cob & Pen (OX12 8AE)

From captivating author interviews and creative writing sessions to hands-on children’s storytelling, themed pub evenings, and thought-provoking panel discussions, the Wantage Literary Festival 2025 promises something for every age and interest.

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Programme

The Wantage Literary Festival 2025 invites audiences to embark on an inspiring journey through stories, science, and history, with a line-up of acclaimed speakers and celebrated authors bringing their latest works to life.

Take a grand English country house tour with the impossibly funny Plum Sykes, New York Times best-selling author of Bergdorf Blondes and Party Girls Die In Pearls. Her witty new novel Wives Like Us offers a sharply observed glimpse into glamour, gossip, and the intricacies of modern high society.

Known to generations for making mathematics magical, Johnny Ball now shares a lesser-known chapter of his life — one that unfolded on the comedy circuit. Expect a captivating and laugh-filled evening as he reflects on his decades in show business, his passion for numbers, and the art of finding joy in learning.

Journey into the cosmos with Dr Caroline Harper, who explores how breathtaking new images from the James Webb Space Telescope are transforming our understanding of the solar system — and our place within it. A spellbinding talk that blends science, wonder, and imagination.

Historian Katherine Carter presents a fresh and pivotal account of Winston Churchill’s life during the 1930s, revealing how his country home, Chartwell, became the centre of his anti-Nazi efforts. A fascinating exploration of the man, his convictions, and the place that helped shape modern history.

The 2025 programme continues the festival’s tradition of celebrating brilliant minds, powerful stories, and the joy of discovery — all in the heart of Wantage.

Visit the event website for a full lineup of what to expect.