About Us

The Bookfest is now in its fifth year. It was started in 2006 by Tony Kane and Fiona Razvi, who wanted to raise cultural activity and awareness in Wimbledon. 

Working in the local media they were meeting many writers and authors, and had strong connections with the arts environment in the area.

A team was formed with representatives from the arts and publishing sectors, including Polka Theatre, New Wimbledon Theatre, Merton Council,  Wimbledon Guild, local bookshops and Time & Leisure magazine.

A charity, Wimbledon Arts, was formed and a trust set up.  Books were chosen as a vehicle for the arts with long terms plans of a more broad arts festival in the future. The team is almost entirely volunteer-based. We have only a small amount of admin support.

The festival has grown, and we now have a specialised team of considerable size, and we have developed many community partnerships.

a 9 day festival
…. a year long programme

Wimbledon Bookfest is a nine day festival held in October. It features author events using venues in and around the local area. We also partner with community groups to hold events appealing to a wide range of interests and age groups.

Activities for young people and schools now take place throughout the year with storytelling, motivational author events, scriptwriting workshops, journalist and writer panels, play readings and a variety of other activities.

Aims of Wimbledon Bookfest

•To spread a love of reading and writing

•Fire the ambition of local writers –  including the young

•To encourage community activities

•Working with young people

Bookfest development

•The festival quickly established itself and in its first year (2007) we held 19 events, over 40 in 2008 and well over 50 in 2009 . The festival is continuing to grow, and 2011 is shaping up to be the best yet!

Past Authors

Past authors include: Salman Rushdie, William Boyd, AS Byatt, James Naughtie, Tracey Chevalier, Maggie O'Farrell, Anthony Gormley, Tony Parsons, Will Hutton, David Nicholls, Michael Morpurgo, Penny Vincenzi, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ahdaf Soueif, Simon Beaufoy, Salley Vickers, Michael Rosen, Jay Rayner, Virginia Ironside, Judith Kerr, Max Hastings, Peter Blake, Peter Snow, Adam O'Riordan, Kamila Shamsie, Humphrey Burton, Daisy Goodwin, Oona King, Emmanuel Jal, Victoria Hislop Sophie Kinsella & The Wombles