FESTIVAL OF WORDS
LONDON'S NEWEST LITERARY FESTIVAL IS COMING TO THE FLEET STREET QUARTER THIS MAY
14 May – 17 May 2025 • Across the Fleet Street Quarter
Fleet Street Quarter is thrilled to announce the ticketing and programme details for the Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words (14-17 May 2025), the first literary festival in our area and the latest addition to London’s vibrant cultural scene.
Our four-day programme spans current affairs, journalism, fiction, screenwriting, and family-friendly events. Weekday sessions feature breakfast news events, lunchtime panels, and evening talks, while Saturday offers a packed schedule for both adults and children.
Tickets go on general sale at 11am on Friday 28 March via Eventbrite (early access presale only 27 March) Our stunning venues include Stationers’ Hall, Dr Johnson's House, Middle Temple Hall, and the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars.
We are proud to have Landsec as our principal partner, hosting workshops and business breakfasts at their MYO space in New Street Square and providing the green room for authors and speakers. Other partners include Stationers’ Hall, Royal Television Society, and the News Media Association, with The Gilded Acorn as our bookshop partner.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
FICTION
We bring together literary greats and exciting debut novelists. Ben Okri discusses his latest novella Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted, while Kate Mosse celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prize and 20 years since Labyrinth was first published.
Broadcasters Jeremy Vine and Simon Mayo explore their latest crime thrillers, while BBC’s Reeta Chakrabarti shares insights into Finding Belle. Beloved actor Larry Lamb discusses his debut novel All Wrapped Up alongside Camilla Barnes who discusses her debut novel The Usual Desire to Kill.
Mike Gayle and Jojo Moyes dive into creating unforgettable characters, and Funmi Fetto, Style Editor at British Vogue talks about her debut novel Hail Mary.
THE SCOOP: CURRENT AFFAIRS & INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Chris Steele (Unredacted) and Stephanie Baker (Punishing Putin) give their take on Russia.
Iain Dale presents The Dictators, featuring insights from Richard Evans, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, and Cindy Yu.
Nick Wallis (The Great Post Office Scandal) and Caroline Wheeler (Death in the Blood) highlight the power of investigative journalism.
Britain’s leading environmentalist, Tony Juniper, talks about his new book Just Earth, joined by former leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett, who will speak on her new book Change Everything.
Simon Hart (Ungovernable) and Graham Brady (Kingmaker) provide a behind-the-scenes look at Westminster politics.
Mark Field reflects on his time on two decades in politics
Sam Fowles talks about his successful landmark case against Boris Johnson when he illegally prorougued Parliament, and his new book Overruled: Confronting Our Vanishing Democracy in 8 Cases.
VIVID HISTORIES
Kate Loveman explores Samuel Pepys’ Diary and its hidden secrets.
Tracy Borman unveils the true history behind Wolf Hall and Thomas Cromwell.
Peter Conrad brings Charles Dickens to life through his storytelling legacy.
Janet Todd celebrates Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.
David Breuer-Weil reflects on Samuel Johnson’s enduring influence.
Tim Bouverie discusses Allies at War on the 80th anniversary of VE Day with Damien Collins, author of Rivals in the Storm: How Lloyd George Seized Power, Won the War and Lost his Government.
OFF THE PAGE: LITERATURE & MEDIA
Mick Herron (Slow Horses) and Ed Docx discuss adapting books for screen.
Breakfast briefings with journalists from The Guardian, The Times and The Telegraph.
Paddy O’Connell leads a Saturday paper review with Ayesha Hazarika, Shahed Ezaydi and Ryan Tubridy.
Loose Women's Jane Moore talks about her career from being a journalist on Fleet Street to television presenter and panellist.
Diane Banks, Ruth Barnes, Claire Geddie and John Bond explore podcasts, YouTube, and newsletters as new storytelling platforms.
Damian Collins discusses the future of the creators in the age of AI with Baroness Beeban Kidron, campaigner for child safety online and film director Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason; Jenny Ridout, head of academic publishing at Bloomsbury; and author, TV producer and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin.
The Temple Shakespeare Cup pits Inner and Middle Temple in a thrilling Shakespeare performance challenge.
LIFESTYLE & SPORT
Food critics Jimi Famurewa, Melissa Thompson, and Leyla Kazim share behind-the-scenes insights.
Derek Pringle and Huw Turbevill discuss the future of test cricket.
Moses Swaibu (Fixed) recounts his journey from football to match-fixing.
Sue Campbell, talks about her new book The Game Changer: Mastering Leadership in Sport and Life
FAMILY EVENTS
Guinness World Records Editor Craig Glenday celebrates the 70th anniversary of record-breaking.
Olaf Falafel brings laughter and creativity with his interactive storytelling sessions.
Of the programme, Lucy French, CEO Fleet Street Quarter, says:
"The Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words is a celebration of our rich literary heritage and a testament to the power of words to inspire, challenge, and transform. We are thrilled to bring together such a diverse and talented group of authors, journalists, and creatives for this inaugural event. This festival is not just about looking back at our literary past, but about exploring the future of storytelling in all its forms."
Festival Director, Damian Collins adds:
"Our festival revives the spirit of Fleet Street as a place of news, ideas and stories that move people. It also reflects the power of words to shape our world, from print to sound, and stage to screen. We have curated a programme that reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of literature and journalism. It is a celebration of the word on the street.”
Fleet Street Quarter is an area steeped in the heritage of literature and publishing, a place where stories have always been born. The Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words will spotlight this storied history, while exploring the ability of words to shape our world.
From the ways that words can shift the balance of power, to the shift in communication and knowledge driven by technology and AI, the themes that the Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words will explore have never been more relevant or important.
Find out more about the Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words, and book tickets here