Barnes Children’s Literature Festival is London’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival. Alongside the ticketed Family Festival, it runs a free Schools Programme for state-funded primary schools. The 2025 School Programme runs from Monday 19th May to Wednesday 18th June.

With over 20,000 free places available across nine London venues, the BCLF Schools Programme gives pupils aged 5-11 the opportunity to see and be inspired by some of the UK’s top children’s authors, illustrators and poets.

Authors and illustrators who will be taking part in the 2025 Schools Programme include: Katya Balen, Jeffrey Boakye, Joseph Coelho, Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, Maz Evans, Matt Goodfellow, Patrice Lawrence, Serena Patel, Liz Pichon and Sam Sedgeman.

Bookings for this year’s Schools Programme open on 10th February on a first-come, first-served basis.

2025 Dates and Venues

• Monday 19 and Tuesday 20th May: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham TW2
• Wednesday 21st May: Soho Theatre, Walthamstow E17
• Thursday 22nd May: Genesis Cinema, Tower Hamlets E1
• Wednesday 4th June: Battersea Arts Centre SW11
• Thursday 5th June: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre W6
• Monday 9th June: Rose Theatre, Kingston KT1
• Thursday 12th June: Wandsworth Civic Suite SW18
• Monday 16th June: The Questors Theatre, Ealing W5
• Tuesday 17th June and Wednesday 18th June: St Paul’s School, Barnes SW13

Cost: Free

About Barnes Children’s Literature Festival: Barnes Children’s Literature Festival was launched in 2015 by a group of parents with a love of books and a desire to inspire the next generation of readers. The BCLF Schools Programme was launched in 2018 and is now the largest free schools programme of its kind in England.