Jane's Midlife Journey

There are a host of festivals which take place in and around Bournemouth each year. Kicking off the season is Bournemouth Writing Festival. This award-winning event takes place in April in venues around the town centre. The three day festival offers over 100 free and ticketed events and activities including talks, workshops, performances and activities for children.

Although the festival is primarily aimed at writers, if you’re not a writer, don’t let this put you off. This year was the fourth edition of the festival, but my first visit, because I had assumed that it was the domain of ‘real’ writers. However, there are plenty of activities and performances on offer to inspire and entertain the less literary among us.

How to get to Bournemouth Writing Festival

The main hub of the Festival is Pavilion Dance South West, which is located to the rear of the Pavilion Theatre, overlooking the Lower Gardens and the sea.

By Bus

Buses to Bournemouth stop at Bournemouth Square, a pleasant 7 minute walk away through the Gardens. There are closer bus stops: Buses m1, m2, 12, 13, 33 and 50 stop at Westover Road, in front of the Pavilion. While most other buses stop across the road from PDSW at Royal Bath Hotel.

Parking

There are several car parks around Bournemouth town centre. The Pavilion has its own car park. This is a bit pricey, costing £3.80 for an hour (or £28 per day). Further details can be found here. A cheaper option is Central Car Park. Here, parking costs a more palatable £2.10 for an hour (£6.40 per day). This is an 8 minute walk from PDSW.

Dates

In 2026, the festival took place on 24 to 26 April. Dates for 2027 are TBA.

Price

There are plenty of free events throughout the weekend. Other, ticketed events vary in price from £10 for talks to £150 for a masterclass.

Details

Events take place throughout the day, starting with a selection of Genre Breakfasts around town. There are talks, workshops and other activities throughout the day. Then in the evening, there is a performance.

Networking Meals

As mentioned above, Saturday and Sunday kick off with a series of Genre Breakfasts. Here, writers can mingle according to their interests, whether it be sci-fi, romance or travel. These breakfasts take place at various eateries around town.

Lunch and Dinner Meet-ups aren’t genre specific. Here, the main consideration is which restaurant is closest or maybe whether you prefer pizza to noodles…

There’s also a Friday Night Social, where you can mingle with fellow writers over a drink or two.

Talks and Workshops

Dozens of talks and workshops take place throughout the weekend, with subjects ranging from writing a memoir to comedy monologues – sometimes I think that in my life, this equates to the same thing!

Masterclasses and 1-2-1 Sessions

For the more serious writer, there are Masterclasses and 1-2-1 Sessions given by top authors and literary agents at the nearby Marsham Court Hotel.

Activities

The myriad of activities on offer includes literary walks, sea themed writing on the beach and a Chill Out Zone incorporating poetry sessions.

Poetry Marquee

Located on Horseshoe Common, the Poetry Marquee features free live performances and drop-in workshops. Want to learn how to write a haiku or win a prize in a poetry tombola? This is your chance…

The Writers’ Hive

Based at Patch, on the first floor of Bobby’s, The Writers’ Hive is a chance to meet writers and ask them questions, as well as buy their book and get it signed. Events alternate between book launches and writers’ panels.

Evening Performances

Saturday and Sunday culminate in a performance. This year’s offerings included poetry and comedy (with the man with possibly my favourite name ever, Jonny Fluffypunk) and poetry set to dance.

Specialist Events

The festival runs some specialist events including workshops for people with dementia, the homeless and young carers.

Bournemouth Writing Festival for Children

Saturday sees a day full of Children’s Activities for children age five and above. These include free drop-in activities and paid workshops on subjects such as crafting characters and telling scary stories. Meanwhile, in the poetry Marquee, children can make a spell and create a magical charm bracelet.

• Updated: April 2026

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.