Bath Lit Fest began in 1995 and spreads itself across venues throughout the city, though they’re never too far from one another – from big names in Guildhall & Forum, to late-night poetry slams in Burdalls Yard, with a scattering of special street performers in between.

Big Bath Read

Each year a title is selected to be a part of the Big Bath Read, where a the city hosts numerous book groups in the build up to the main event - individuals and independent book groups can all get involved in the discussion and are provided with key questions in a Readers Group Guide beforehand – culminating in a conversation with the author about their life and work.

Top Speakers

Booker Price winner Margret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake, The Blind Assassin); Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing (The Golden Notebook, The Grass is Singing); Man Booker Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains of the Day, The Buried Giant); former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes (Birthday Letters, Crow) and political thinker Tony Benn (Letters to my Grandchildren, Arguments for Socialism) have all been featured guests.

The City is the Venue

Fans coming for the literature find that the literature, culture and history never stops at the venue exit, but surround Bath in its architecture (Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent & The Circus); historic & naturally warm thermal spa (used by the Celts and Romans over 2000 years ago); and literary history (once the stomping ground of Jane Austen). Special, themed walking tours are created just for the occasion, with lots of variations on history and culture to be consumed.

Bath Literature Festival is books, bath and beyond... in an ancient Roman city with spas!