Hello ,
With just seven days until Whitby Lit Fest begins, we wanted to share some information with you which we hope you will find helpful. Whether you're traveling to Whitby just for the Lit Fest or you live nearby, please take a moment to read the information so you know what to expect when attending this year's Whitby Lit Fest.
Printed Programmes
We have produced a printed programme for this year's festival. It will be available free of charge from Festival HQ and the individual venues. Please be aware that stocks are limited, so once you have a programme please hold onto it for the duration of the festival. If you are visiting as a couple, family or small group please be considerate with how many copies you pick up. A digital version will also be available.
Session Timings
Other than the workshops, all sessions are expected to last between 45 minutes and 1 hour, plus time for book signings afterwards. We have allocated 90 minutes in total on the programme, ensuring there's time to get between venues if you're attending consecutive events. All venues are within 15 minutes walk of one another.
Venues, refreshments & accessibility
Venues will be open at least 30 minutes before the start of each session.
Please arrive promptly. If you are delayed and arrive after the start of a session, a Festival Maker will let you in at an appropriate moment.
Refreshments are available at all venues other than Whitby Library and Whitby Museum. These will be available before each session, but will not be served during an event to avoid disruption. Seats are unassigned, so arriving in plenty of time will also help ensure you get the best view!
A few notes on access:
- Whitby Pavilion Theatre & Northern Lights Suite: Accessible entrance via the lower car park (down the hill from Captain Cook's Monument).
- Eighteen91: The accessible entrance is on the side of the building. There is no car parking at this venue.
- The Coliseum: Accessible entrance at the front of the building. There is no car parking at this venue.
- Whitby Museum: There is limited parking for Blue Badge holders only at this venue. The accessible entrance is at the rear of the building.
- Flowergate Hall: Accessed down the alleyway next to 'Bits 'n Pizzas', there is a flight of stairs down into the venue itself, which has a stair lift.
- Jet Black Jewel: This venue has a small number of steps to the entrance on Skinner Street.
- Whitby Library: This venue has an accessible entrance at the front of the building as well as a lift inside.
Whitby Pavilion: We are using two venues within The Pavilion. We will confirm which are being held in the Theatre and which in the Northern Lights Suite next week.
Travel & Roadworks
We are aware that there will be some temporary traffic lights on the A169 at Blue Bank, on the way into Sleights. If you're traveling from York please allow additional time for this. We are not aware of any other disruptions, and the weather forecast us (currently) looking favourable!
Car Parking
The pay and display machines have been replaced with 'park and pay' - enter your car registration in the machine, rather than displaying a ticket in your window. Please note that much of the on-street car parking near the venues is 'disc zone', discs are free and available from lots of shops in town. Many of the council car parks are free of charge at this time of year but please always check the signage for specific instructions.
Festival Makers (volunteer stewards)
As with last year we will have teams of volunteer 'Festival Makers' at each event. These will be wearing bright yellow vests and are available to assist with any questions you might have. They may also be responsible for issuing instructions regarding queuing, book signings and so on. Please treat them with the respect they deserve – they are giving up their time to help with the smooth running of the festival and we are so grateful for their support.
Festival HQ at The Royal Hotel
This year our Festival HQ is located in the reception area at The Royal Hotel on West Cliff. This is an accessible and convenient location, with some on street car parking available nearby. Festival HQ will be open from 9am - 5pm on each day of the Festival. If you require any assistance throughout the Festival and can't speak to someone in person please email info@whitbylitfest.org.uk.
Festival Merchandise
Limited quantities of Whitby Lit Fest merchandise will be available for sale at Festival HQ. This includes tote bags, pencils, pens, notebooks, badges, fridge magnets, hats, mugs and... umbrellas! This is all available on a first-come first-served basis with payments taken by card only.
Tickets
You will have been emailed your tickets via Eventbrite. Please bring them as either a digital copy on your phone or a printed copy as they will be checked by our Festival Makers at each event. If you have any issues with tickets please email tickets@whitbylitfest.org.uk for support.
Last-Minute Ticket Sales
Tickets stay on sale right up to the start of each event, as long as it hasn’t sold out. Book on your phone at the door, or anywhere with signal — just not at the desk, as we can’t take cash or card in person.
Book Signings
Most events will include an opportunity to purchase the speakers' books. Payment will be taken by card only. Please listen out for instructions regarding queuing and so on at each event, and be patient! Book signing are being organised and managed by the team from Whitby Bookshop.
Other Details:
- Photography: Our official festival photographers will be documenting each event. If you'd rather not be in any photos please speak to a Festival Maker at the event.
- Children: Children need their own tickets for events.
- Weather: It's November - dress appropriately, but try not to bring too many bulky bags into the venues, thank you!
- Enjoy Whitby: Last year we had so many nice comments about the venues, the people, the local cafes and businesses - we hope you'll make time to enjoy being in Whitby for the festival. Take time to enjoy a coffee, a pint in a cosy pub, a delicious meal in one of our local restaurants and a visit to Whitby Abbey or any of our other local attractions, museums and landmarks.
I think that's it, for now! We can't wait to welcome you to Whitby Lit Fest next week, and hope you'll continue to browse the programme, familiarise yourself with the venue locations and spread the word about the Lit Fest on Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks,
Jack & the Lit Fest team
John Boyne, Si King & Ann Cleeves head to Whitby this November |
|  | Festival Dates: 19th - 22nd November 2026 |
|
|
|---|
|
Whitby Lit Fest returns
The town that inspired Dracula is once again gathering some of the biggest names in books. After last year's debut, the festival returns with over 50 events across four days. Packed with bestselling novelists, broadcasters, historians, poets and performers, Whitby Lit Fest is set against the abbey ruins and cobbled streets of Britain's most famous gothic seaside town. |
|
|
|---|
|
Headliners include:
John Boyne — the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (11 million copies sold) discusses his new novel The Weight of Angels with Steph McGovern.
Si King — the Hairy Biker serves up his first solo cookbook, Proper Home Cooking.
Ann Cleeves — the creator of Vera and Shetland leads a crime wave that includes Mark Billingham and Elly Griffiths.
Also on the bill: gothic fiction and folk horror from Joanne Harris and Laura Purcell • Louise Minchin, Dr Sian Williams and Alex Thomson • Greta Scacchi on the books behind her screen career • Matt Baker on page-to-screen with David Quantick • theatre curated by Sir Alan Ayckbourn • a family event with Grammy-winner Corinne Bailey Rae • poetry, live music, workshops and publishing masterclasses.
"Four days crammed with gripping stories, sparky conversations and revealing interviews. Entertainment, inspiration, wit, wisdom — and fish and chips. What more could any book lover want?"
— Kate Fenton, Festival Patron | |
|
|
|---|
|
|
| | For children, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, appears in a special family event showcasing winners of the Whitby Lit Fest children’s writing competition, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
There’ll also be an exploration of Yorkshire’s Amazing Dinosaur Coast with geologist Roger Osborne and dinosaur-artist James McKay, spine-tingling horror from Jack Mackay, and Young Adult authors, Naomi Kelsey and Heather Askwith. | | |
|
|
|
|---|
|
|
