Books in the Park is back Saturday 25 April!
Books in the Park is thrilled to be back for a third successive year at Beckenham Place Park on Saturday 25 April.
We've got a captivating programme of adult and children’s authors, stimulating writing workshops, free guided walks, interactive festival events, a pop-up book shop and the park’s much-loved Food and Farmers Market.
We’ll be welcoming two passionate David Bowie fans and authors to a special event celebrating his life and legacy. As many will know, David Bowie was a former Beckenham resident, and this year marks the 10th anniversary of his death.
Since last year’s event, profits from Books in the Park have helped fund our community outreach efforts. We sponsored author and illustrator workshops at a literacy festival, hosted by ABC Book Club, designed to encourage and inspire a love of stories and reading for more than 100 children from schools in under-resourced communities.
Also helping us to offer fun, author-led reading adventures in Beckenham Place Park, The Co-operative Group chose Books in the Park as one of its local community causes. The more people who vote for us, the more funds we receive from the Co-op. This helps us create a welcoming, inclusive space at Beckenham Place Park for local families from all backgrounds to enjoy, bringing people together, boosting wellbeing, and making books accessible to families and communities who need it most.
Don't forget, Books in the Park festival entrance is free. Each event is individually ticketed, and some discounted tickets are available. Ticket holders will enjoy 10% off food and drink at the Mansion Cafe and The Homestead Cafe by showing their tickets.
We look forward to seeing you on the 25th!
ADULT'S EVENTS
Harriet Constable and Lucy Steeds
From 1920s Provence to 18th-century Venice, debut novelists Harriet Constable and Lucy Steeds join bestselling author Clare Chambers for a talk about art, music and writing historical fiction. more
Ruth Ware
#1 New York Times bestselling crime writer Ruth Ware will discuss The Woman in Suite 11, the follow-up to her multi-million copy mega-hit The Woman in Cabin 10, now a major Netflix film. more
Simon Goddard and Alexander Larman
Marking 10 years since music icon David Bowie’s death, Simon Goddard and Alexander Larman join us to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the world’s most important artists. more
Jesse Bernard
Filmmaker and DJ Jesse Bernard joins us to discuss his book Escaping Babylon, the first major history of black British music from 1989 to the present day. more
Fiction writing workshop with Annie Lyons
Do you want to have a go at writing fiction? Best-selling author Annie Lyons will be using a combination of individual and group exercises to get the brains buzzing and the words flowing! more
Eco-poetry writing workshop with Helen Bowell
Can writing about nature help to move us towards a better world? Poet Helen Bowell thinks so, and her eco poetry writing workshop, she will show you how. more
CHILDREN'S EVENTS
Annemarie Anang
Join author and performer Annemarie Anang and get ready to move, groove, and feel the joy in this fun-filled interactive session based on her heartwarming picture book Dance Just Like So! more
Chanté Timothy
Join author and illustrator Chanté Timothy in this fun-filled event fizzing with invention, as we meet Nova, a science superstar on a mission to tackle the world's plastic problem. more more
Cerrie Burnell
Explore how fairy tales are made and develop your own fairy tale writing with author and former CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell, as she introduces her novel Wilder Than Midnight. more
Give us your vote!
The Co-operative Group has chosen Books in the Park as one of its local community causes. The more people that vote for Arts in the Park, the festival parent company, the more funds we receive from the Co-Op to help us create a welcoming, inclusive space at Beckenham Place Park
Pop-up bookshop
Back at the Mansion with its exciting, well-stocked pop-up bookshop will be local independent and festival bookseller Beckenham Bookshop. more
FESTIVAL EVENTS
Guided walks
Join Wild South London for a free Wild Walk around Beckenham Place Park and learn about the flora and fauna in the park. more
Children’s books swap
5 to 11 years
Donate a book or bring a book to swap with another at ABC Book Club’s packed book stall under the marquee in The Homestead courtyard. more
On-the-spot poetry with Helen Bowell
After her nature poetry workshop, Helen will set up her typewriter and write bespoke poems for anyone who'd like one. more
Make a cyanotype bookmark
Photographer Anthony Jones will show a selection of cyanotype bookmarks and help visitors to make their own. more
Food and farmers market
Family-run weekly Beckenham Place Park Market will be bringing a string of local traders and produce to the festival this year. more
Treasure hunt
Lewisham Libraries is back with a treasure hunt for all ages. Collect a free worksheet from the ticket desk at The Homestead Courtyard. more
Eco-crafting
Have fun crafting and make a nature collage using unwanted magazines with Greener and Cleaner. more
Food and Farmers market
Family-run weekly Beckenham Place Park Market will be bringing a string of local traders and produce to the festival this year. more