When is the London Festival of Writing 2025?
The festival will run on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025.
Where exactly is the Festival of Writing?
It will be held in London at the Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel. The address is: Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London E1 8GP.
Is there parking on-site?
There is on-street parking available outside Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge (parking meter charges apply). The nearest car park is the Minories car park located on 1 Shorter Street E1 8LP, which has 401 car park spaces. Please telephone 020 7481 3153 for details of current parking charges, or visit
http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/ for more parking locations.
What public transport can I get there?
The closest stations are Tower Hill Underground Station, Tower Gateway DLR Station and Fenchurch Street Rail. It’s about a five-ten minute walk from each of these stations to the venue.
Can you recommend accommodation nearby?
Please remember, it’s your responsibility to arrange accommodation if needed. Any accommodation issues should be addressed directly with the hotel, as we are not responsible for any problems. You can generally find cheaper rates on third-party booking sites, though be aware this may give you less control over your reservation if anything doesn't go to plan.
If you would like to stay on site, we have reserved 25 rooms at the venue on Saturday June 28 at a discounted rate. After purchasing your ticket, please get in touch for more details and the discount code.
If you prefer a different hotel, there are numerous options nearby. We recommend that attendees do their own research before booking accommodation for the event.
When should I plan to arrive at the Festival of Writing 2025?
We always recommend giving yourself plenty of time to arrive in case of any delays. For Saturday arrivals, registration is from 8.30am to 9.45am, with the opening keynote beginning at 9.45am. Registration on Sunday is from 9.00am to 9.30am.
From the hotel main entrance, please follow the signs downstairs to the registration desks (there is a lift for those with accessibility needs). You’ll be greeted by Jericho Writers staff who will issue you a name badge and give you a programme.
Can I arrive late? (for example, my train only arrives in London at 10:00)
Yes, of course, but please arrive at sessions quietly and respectfully. Please let us know you've arrived by visiting the Festival reception (downstairs from the main hotel entrance) at your earliest convenience so we check you in and provide you with a name badge.
What can I do with my luggage?
If you are staying at the hotel, you are encouraged to check in early so that you can drop your luggage in your room. If this is not possible, there will be an un-manned cloakroom that can store your bags until your room is available. If you are staying at a hotel nearby overnight it is ideal to drop off your luggage where you are staying prior to the festival, but again you are welcome to use the un-manned cloakroom if that is not possible. All luggage is left at your own risk and we cannot be held liable for any missing or damaged possessions.
What do I need to bring with me?
Something to take notes on, a bottle for water, and perhaps some snacks if you know you need extra sustenance during the day! While the cost of lunch, tea, coffee, snacks and (for Saturday or Weekend ticket holders) the gala dinner are all covered by your ticket, you will need to bring money if you would like to buy anything from the hotel bar through the day.
Access:
I have access needs. Can these be accommodated?
There is a wheelchair-friendly lift that is designated specifically for festival attendees (general hotel guests are not permitted to use it) and we will be advising all attendees to allow those with accessibility needs to use the lift first.
Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge Hotel is highly experienced at running large, complex events. If you have particular concerns, you will be able to express these when booking your workshops and sessions. The hotel will be made aware of any specific access needs in advance and will do their best to accommodate you. Please note that access needs must be entered into the Attendee Information form on your booking page by 23:59 BST on 2 June.
Catering:
What kind of food is offered over the weekend?
Every day you attend the festival, you will be provided with a two-course buffet lunch, plus teas, coffees and snacks at regular intervals throughout the day. If you are a Saturday or Weekend ticket holder, you will also have a sit-down gala dinner on Saturday evening. You’ll be able to let us know about any dietary requirements when you come to book your sessions. Please note that dietary requirements must be entered into the Attendee Information form on your booking page by 23:59 BST on 2 June.
Are the gala dinner and evening drinks on site?
Yes, you don't need to leave the festival venue to attend the Saturday evening gala dinner or drinks. There will, however, be a 90-minute break in which you are welcome to leave the venue to get changed or freshen up.
Friday Night Live:
Will Friday Night Live happen?
Yes – the only difference is that it’s happening on a Saturday. Entries will be open from 5 February, and close to submissions 23:59 BST on 9 June. We will email all ticket holders with more information when we open to entries.
I'm only coming on Sunday, can I still enter Friday Night Live?
Unfortunately, only Saturday and Weekend ticket holders can enter Friday Night Live. If you'd like to upgrade from a Sunday ticket to a Weekend ticket, please reach out to us.
Agent One-to-Ones:
How do I book an agent one-to-one at the Festival?
One-to-ones are included in your ticket. Weekend ticket holders will receive two sessions, while day ticket holders will receive one. Bookings will open on 5 February and close at 23:59 BST on 9 June. Please note, once you have chosen your one-to-ones, your choice is final, and one-to-one sessions are first-come, first-served. If a session is greyed out, it is unavailable for booking and you will need to select a different agent and/or time slot.
What happens during a one-to-one session?
In the time between booking your session and our upload deadline (23:59 BST on 9 June), you will be prompted to upload a submission pack (see FAQs and instructions on your itinerary for more information). The agent or book doctor you have selected will then read your submitted documents and prepare feedback. For this reason, it's important not to reupload or edit your documents once you have uploaded them, as your agent/book doctor may already be hard at work reading and preparing feedback!
At the Festival, you'll need to arrive 10 minutes before your session so we can check you in. At the time of your session, you'll be led into the one-to-one room and can use the provided seating chart to locate your agent/book doctor. You will then have ten minutes to speak to the agent/book doctor about your writing and receive their feedback. The time can fly by, so we recommend writing down any questions you'd like to ask and bringing them to your session. Don't be afraid to take down notes or ask the agent/book doctor to jot down any authors, books, agencies, publishers, or (if you're lucky enough to receive a manuscript request) email addresses they mention during the session. We also recommend joining our One-to-One preparation event on 26 June for more information about how to make the most of your time and prepare yourself for feedback.
Can I only book one Festival agent one-to-one session?
It depends on your ticket type. Full weekend ticket holders are entitled to two one-to-one sessions, whereas day tickets entitle you to one session. If you have a day ticket, you cannot purchase an additional one-to-one without upgrading to a Weekend ticket, but we recommend looking into our year-round online
Agent One-to-One service if you'd like more feedback.
My one-to-one slot is during a workshop I'd like to attend. Is that okay?
Yes, we fully expect people to be in and out of workshops throughout the weekend. As long as you're being respectful and courteous to fellow workshop attendees, it's absolutely fine to leave the room to attend a one-to-one (or for any other reason!) If you expect you'll need to step out of a workshop, we would appreciate you sitting close to the workshop door if possible in order to minimise disruption.
What should I upload for my agent/book doctor session?
When uploading your files, you may select whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction. You may also submit a brief question for the agent or book doctor to address in their feedback and may specify any one document in particular you are especially seeking feedback on. If you do not have any specific questions or areas of interest for feedback, you can leave these blank.
Authors of fiction are expected to upload a query/cover letter, synopsis, and first 5000 words of the manuscript. Authors of picture books are expected to upload a second picture book text in place of the synopsis.
Authors of non-fiction are expected to upload a query/cover letter, book proposal, and opening pages (3000-5000 words) of the manuscript - though be aware that as a book proposal is longer than a synopsis, your agent or book doctor may compensate by reading a shorter sample of your manuscript extract. You can use the session focus dropdown to indicate whether you would prefer the agent or book doctor to prioritise the extract or the proposal. If you are writing memoir or other narrative non-fiction, you may upload a synopsis instead of a proposal.
All documents must be Word documents (.doc or .docx). We will not send any additional files (including PDF illustrations) to the agent or book doctor in advance of your session. All documents must be submitted by 23:59 BST on 9 June and submissions are final – there is no guarantee that reuploaded or edited files will be read.
You will be notified by email if your agent or book doctor would like you to be aware of any additional requirements for the session.
Can I alter my documents after I've uploaded them?
All submissions are final – there is no guarantee that reuploaded or edited files will be read by your agent. The deadline for uploading your documents is 23:59 BST on 9 June, so please take the time to make sure that you are happy with your submission before uploading them.
Workshops:
How do I make sure I can attend the workshops and mini-courses I’d like to?
After purchasing your ticket, you will be able to select your workshop itinerary. You will need to complete and confirm your itinerary by 23:59 BST on 9 June. Please be aware that workshops are first-come, first-served.
Will the talks be recorded?
They will not be – make sure you go to the workshop or mini-course you most want to learn from.
Networking:
How can I connect with other festival attendees ahead of time?
You can join in the conversation on Townhouse
here to plan accommodation and travel, and to chat all things festival! We’re also going to be organising an online pre-festival mixer in June where you’ll be able to ask any questions and meet other attendees - we will email you with more information about this closer to the event.
Will there be opportunities for networking?
Yes! As well as our tea/coffee breaks, attendees with a Saturday or Weekend ticket can attend the Gala Dinner on Saturday night which our Friday Night Live judging panel will be attending. For attendees with a Sunday or Weekend ticket, we will be running a dedicated networking session (the Writer's Hall) on Sunday morning where you can mingle with Jericho Writers staff and publishing professionals.
Where can I find the terms and conditions of booking?
You can find our full terms and conditions for the Festival
here.
What email address is my booking under?
All information associated with your booking, including your My Festival page (where you can book your itinerary and one-to-one sessions), and any additional information we send, will be linked to the email address you purchased your ticket under.
How can I change the name I'm booked under?
You will be able to sign your name however you wish on your lanyard name badge and in the documents you submit for any one-to-one sessions you book. All Jericho Writers records (including the main registration list, the one-to-one registration list, the Gala Dinner seating plan, and dietary cards) will use the public display name attached to your Jericho Writers account.
You can change this name by editing the 'Display Name' option in your account settings.
I can't see My Festival page.
If you are unable to view your My Festival page, please make sure you are logged into your ticketholder account.