Queen’s Park Book Festival

Too many book festivals don’t have enough festival. It isn’t that there’s too much emphasis on books (how could there be?) but that there’s just not enough partying, drinking and grooving with your fellow bookworms. But not Queen’s Park Book Fest. Held, as always, in the public park, it’ll combine literary celebs with stand-up comedy, local history and lectures on pressing issues of the day. And crucially, each day is capped off by a party into the night. Not like a rave but, you know, just a jolly good time. This year, highlights include legendary playwright and author Alan Bennett, ‘Monty Python’’s Michael Palin, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, restaurant critic Jay Rayner, and much more. Laughs aplenty will come from Cally Beaton, Steve Best, Esther Manito and Mark Maier at the festival’s comedy night.