Explore Literary London: Footprints Festival 2026
The Literary Footprints festival, presented by the Footprints of London collective, is set to captivate literary enthusiasts throughout March 2026. This unique event offers a series of guided walking and virtual tours, delving into the thoroughfares, buildings, and hidden corners of London that have inspired countless writers across centuries. It serves as a comprehensive exploration of the city’s profound role as a muse, backdrop, and home to innumerable literary giants and lesser-known figures.
The benefits of participating include an immersive journey through London’s rich literary past, led by knowledgeable and adventurous tour guides. Participants can choose from diverse themes, such as “Shakespeare for All in All,” exploring the Bard’s life in the City and Southwark, or “Roaring Twenties Through Writers’ Eyes,” which highlights the era’s influence on authors like Waugh, Coward, Christie, Huxley, and Woolf. Other notable tours include a visit to Stella Gibbons’ former home in Highgate, the “Literary Women of the City” featuring figures from Agatha Christie to ‘Mad Madge’ Cavendish, and “Peter Ackroyd’s Monstrous East End,” inspired by his gothic novels. A virtual tour on Oscar Wilde’s rise and fall is also available, demonstrating the festival’s varied formats.
While the festival offers an enriching experience, potential participants should be aware of a key consideration: tours in previous years have frequently sold out in advance. Therefore, early booking is highly recommended to secure a spot. Most full-priced in-person tickets are £17.50, with online tours priced at £10. A significant benefit is a 20% discount code provided after purchasing the first tour, applicable to all subsequent bookings throughout the festival. This encourages deeper engagement with London’s literary landscape.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/literary-walking-tour-festival-footprints)
