The UK's largest kids' literature festival, returning Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 June 2025
The Barnes Children's Literature (TBCLF) festival was inspired by a few Mums and Dads who believe in books: a literature festival for families and their friends, curated entirely by the families.
The first festival was 10 years ago. As a result of the brilliant work of those Mums and Dads, thousands of families of all shapes and sizes who love books have visited Barnes, making the festival: the UK's largest dedicated children's literature event.
Because we believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience live literature we’re very proud of the fact that we use the income from every ticket you buy to provide the largest free literature festival schools programme in the UK and this year we’ll provide over 21,000 places at our awesome author and illustrator events free for state primary schools all over London.
As well as bringing you all your favourite authors and illustrators, BCLF are always pushing the boundaries of traditional literature festivals to create loads more space for the family-friendliest fun.
BCLF programme books as theatre, music, maths, science, art, craft, cookery, film, football, whatever it takes to bring the magic of reading and writing to the kids.
You’ll also find a few special treats beside beautiful Barnes Pond that you’re unlikely to see at festivals anywhere else.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
