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 every child should have the opportunity to experience live literature, TBCLF has invested every ticket into providing the UK's largest free literature festival school programme, with 11,000 free places for primary pupils. As well as bringing you all your favourite authors and illustrators, they are constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional literature festivals to create loads more space for the family-friendliest fun. 

TBCLF programme books such 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 might also find a few special treats beside beautiful Barnes Pond that you're unlikely to see at festivals anywhere else.

Get ready for more books, more fun, more adventures and more of everything at this year's literature festival!