Latest News

Children's film show on Saturday, Gnomeo and Juliet, tickets now £2 per adult and accompanied children go free!

Due to popular demand we have arranged an extra screening of English romcom Tortoise in Love at 7 pm on Friday 16th September at Shush. Book your tickets now!

Another event just added to our programme: ‘The Other Betjeman’ - Jim Mitchell talks to Dick Squires about his trip to the Himalayas with Penelope Betjeman in a VW van. This talk will be supplemented with extracts from Imogen Lycett Green’s ‘Grandmother’s Footsteps’. Tickets £5 available from Wantage Library

Our Writing Military History panel of experts comprises Professor Gary Sheffield, Dr Tim Benbow and Dr Saul Kelly – a must for all history fans! See full details on theAppearing at the Festival page.


Welcome to the first ever Wantage Betjeman Literary Festival

This is the culmination of a vision which has been coming to fruition over many years. John Betjeman had a long association with the town and the festival aims to celebrate both his work and that of other writers and poets.

I hope that you will enjoy the varied and exciting series of literary events, which includes something for all ages and all levels of interest in reading and poetry.  We have put together an ambitious week-long programme offering residents and visitors to the town the opportunity to take part in talks, readings, workshops and discussions with a stellar line up of nationally and locally recognised poets, authors and writers. As well as authors’ talks, there are a number of musical performances, a poetry slam and film screenings.

I would particularly like to thank my fellow committee members Fiona Roper, Charlotte Dickson and Yvette Cecil for all their inspired efforts, Blackwells for their help with promoting the Festival and our generous sponsors for their valuable support.

We look forward to next year’s Wantage Betjeman Festival!

Jim Mitchell,
Festival Artistic Director

The festival brochure with full details of all the week’s events is now available - click here to download or contact enquiries@wantagebetjeman.com for a hard copy.

Tickets are on sale now at various venues and prices are £5 for most of the talks.

The events programme for September can be viewed on our Events page.