This July will mark the twentieth anniversary of arguably the most famous crime writers festival in the UK. The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will run from 17 to 20 July in the grand old Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.
2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
This 2025 festival, sponsored by the Theakston’s brewery, is curated by Mick Herron. Novelists and authors appearing at the 2024 book festival included: Richard Osman, Chris Carter, Vaseem Khan, Jane Casey, Abir Mukherjee, Elly Griffiths, Erin Kelly, Peter James, Dorothy Koomson, Shari Lapena and Liz Nugent.
You can download the festival brochure here.
To get a greater taste into what to expect at the festival read our article by author Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise on Theakston’s crime festival.
Where Is the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival?
The Old Swan Hotel in Low Harrogate is the venue for the 2023 festival. This grand hotel was where Agatha Christie stayed during her famous disappearance in 1926, making it the perfect setting for a sleuth convention.
When Is It?
The leading crime writing festival, Harrogate is from 17 to 20 July, 2025.
Tickets for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Details of how to get your tickets for the Harrogate crime writing festival, can be found here.
Things To Do in Harrogate and Beyond
Harrogate is a beautiful town, which was a spa town throughout the Georgian and Victorian period. A beautiful place to come and relax in, it also makes a great base for exploring either of the two nearby national parks, the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors. Other nearby attractions include Fountains Abbey and Ripon Cathedral. You can follow Mark Bibby Jackson as he goes solo on a Yorkshire walk from Harrogate.
All photos taken by Mark Bibby Jackson.
