2025 Barnes Children's Literature Festival

About

Barnes becomes the children's books capital of the UK when the Barnes Children's Literature Festival returns on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June with more than 100 fun events, workshops and performances for young book fans and their families.

The UK's biggest selling children's writer David Walliams, Cressida Cowell, the superstar creator of the How to Train Your Dragon books and Hollywood film series, and the book rapping sensation, MC Grammar, star of Sky Kids' hit shows Wonder Raps, are just a few of the big names on their way to Barnes.

They will be joined by legendary Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, million-selling former NHS doctor, Adam Kay, CBeebies star Andy 'Dinosaur' Day, the funniest author illustrator brother-sister duo Green Wing comedian Steven and Anita Mangan, and Lydia 'Ladybird' Monks among so many more.

This year's highlights include a minibeast adventure with TV wildlife presenter, Yussef Rafik, a live music production of Roald Dahl's hilarious Revolting Rhymes and family friendly theatre performances from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

Children can also get involved in creative writing, comics, art, LEGO, chess, clay-mazing workshops with Aardman Animations, and there are lots of free things to do too.