We have an amazing programme of authors, specialist writers and talks for this year’s festival and we hope you can join us. With a growing reputation for lively discussion and new ideas, Barnes BookFest 2024 takes place in Barnes, London SW13 from Friday 20 September – Sunday 22 September 2024.
Full programme details will become available soon. Priority booking window is from 29 June – 14 July 2024. Open booking starts 15 July 2024.
Register below for updates and latest news.
Barnes BookFest 2024 Launch
- Saturday 29 June
- 7pm – 8.30pm
- St Mary’s Barnes

Alistair McGowan – ‘Not What We Were Expecting’
Alistair McGowan joins us to launch the Barnes BookFest festival programme for 2024. Well known for his witty impressions, on this occasion Alistair is talking about his first anthology of poetry – Not What We Were Expecting. With his unique mixture of humour and flair, Alistair shares the inspiration for his poetry with readings from the collection
“Alistair is famously a man of many voices, but this collection of poems introduces a new one: his own, a subtle, observant, wry, sometimes funny, sometimes melancholy voice. The poems are verbally adroit, often witty … but with an undertow of great feeling. Masterly.” Simon Callow

Tickets are £18 and available online or at The Barnes Bookshop
25% saving on the cover price of the book if bought together with an event ticket
2024 Festival Programme - Preview
A glimpse of our exciting line-up for 20-22 September 2024.

- Fri, 20 Sept 2024
- 4pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Robert Harris – ‘Precipice’
Bestselling author Robert Harris talks with historian Simon Heffer about the research and true story underlying his latest novel 'Precipice'.

- Fri, 20 Sept 2024
- 6pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Frank Gardner – ‘Invasion’
Author and BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner talks about 'Invasion', his fourth book featuring SIS operative Luke Carlton in a story of dark espionage and geopolitical tension.

- Fri, 20 Sept 2024
- 8pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Thurston Moore – ‘Sonic Life: A Memoir’
'One of the top guitarists of all time' (Rolling Stone), Thurston Moore discusses post-punk bohemia and life as the frontman of Sonic Youth – which defined alt rock in the 1980s/1990s.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 12n
- Barnes Methodist Church
Emily Howes – ‘The Painter’s Daughters’
Debut novelist Emily Howes discusses the family life of eighteenth-century artist Thomas Gainsborough with the acclaimed writer and critic Antonia Senior.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 12n
- Barnes Methodist Church
Laurie Bristow – ‘Kabul: Final Call’
Sir Laurie Bristow, the last Ambassador to Afghanistan in 2021, will meet award-winning Afghan journalist Zahra Joya to discuss events in Afghanistan, why it still matters and what should be done.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 2pm
- Barnes Methodist Church
Renaissance Women: Roxanna Panufnik, Rachel Morris and Daisy Dunn
A trio of remarkable women discuss their work in music, sport and literature.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 2pm
- Barnes Methodist Church
Tomiwa Owolade – ‘This is Not America’
Tomiwa Owolade argues that the debate about race and racial injustice is dominated by American viewpoints. Instead, we need a new conversation about race in British life today.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 4pm
- Barnes Methodist Church
Nigel Biggar – ‘Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning’
Professor Nigel Biggar’s bestselling analysis of the British Empire provoked extensive debate. In his defence of the empire, he faces challenging questions about colonialism.

- Sat 21 Sept 2024
- 4pm
- Barnes Methodist Church
Gill Johnson – ‘Love From Venice’
Gill Johnson discusses her memoir, which recaptures the lavish opulence of Venice during the 1950s and her time there as a young woman, in conversation with journalist Rory Ross.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 6pm
- St Mary's Barnes
Miriam Margolyes – ‘Oh Miriam!’
Miriam Margolyes discusses her memoir 'Oh Miriam!' with fellow actress Patricia Hodge and shares all sorts of stories – both published and unpublished.

- Sat, 21 Sept 2024
- 8pm
- St Mary's Barnes
Laura Cumming – ‘Thunderclap’
Art critic Laura Cumming discusses her book 'Thunderclap', a memoir about a life in art, a father and daughter and the great artists of the Dutch Golden Age.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 10am
- Olympic Studios
Hayley Mills – The Michael Billington Interview
Hayley Mills discusses Hollywood and childhood stardom in conversation with theatre critic Michael Billington.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 10am
- Barnes Green Centre
Bernard O’Keeffe – ‘Every Trick in the Book’
Life hopefully doesn’t mimic art as local author Bernard O’Keeffe talks about his latest DI Garibaldi novel, in which a crime writer is found dead in Barnes Pond hours after giving a talk at the Barnes Book Festival.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 12n
- St Mary's Barnes
Gyles Brandreth and Leigh Lawson – ‘The 7 Secrets of Happiness’
Podcaster, broadcaster, writer and performer Gyles Brandreth meets his friend, the actor and poet Leigh Lawson, to celebrate the power of poetry and the importance of positivity.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 12n
- Barnes Green Centre
Henry Hemming – Four Shots In The Night
Henry Hemming discusses the tangled networks of British intelligence and the IRA and the truth behind the ruthless murder of Frank Hegarty, a British agent during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 2pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Chris Blackhurst – The World’s Biggest Cash Machine
Award-winning City editor Chris Blackhurst discusses finance, football and Manchester United, and how the Premier League is turning into a playground for billionaire owners.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 2pm
- Barnes Green Centre
Annie Garthwaite – ‘The King’s Mother’
Annie Garthwaite discusses Cecily Neville - mother of Edward IV and Richard III - the Wars of the Roses and the four women who shaped the progress and outcome of these most savage wars.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 4pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Chris Patten – ‘The Hong Kong Diaries’
Lord Patten’s account of his time as the last Governor of Hong Kong gives unprecedented insights into negotiating with the Chinese, he discusses what has happened since the 1997 handover.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 4pm
- Barnes Green Centre
Vernon Bogdanor – ‘Making the Weather’
Political historian Sir Vernon Bogdanor considers six post-war politicians who each had an extraordinary impact on our country, despite never becoming prime minister.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 6pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
Sue Prideaux – ‘Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin’
The highly acclaimed biographer Sue Prideaux discusses her latest book – a vital re-examination of the trail blazing and controversial artist, Paul Gauguin.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 6pm
- Barnes Green Centre
Abi Daré – ‘And So I Roar’
Internationally bestselling novelist Abi Daré talks about her latest novel 'And So I Roar' which continues the story of Adunni, a young runaway in Nigeria who seeks a better future.

- Sun, 22 Sept 2024
- 8pm
- St Mary’s Barnes
David Gower – ‘An Endangered Species’
Possibly England’s greatest batsman, the former captain of the England cricket team talks with sports presenter Eleanor Olyroyd about all things cricket and beyond.