The National Trust launches its first children's book festival

January 26th 2016

This year, the National Trust is launching its first ever Children's Book festival in honour of what would've been Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday. The event will be taking place in Cumbria's Wray Castle, between 4th-6th March. Close to the home of Beatrix Potter, where the likes of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck came to life, Wray Castle is the perfect location for a dose of literary magic.

Throughout the weekend, a medley of children's authors will be attending the event and reading their bestselling stories to audiences of excitable kids. On the Saturday, you'll be joined by a variety of bestselling authors and illustrators, including the fantastic Cressida Cowell (author of How to Train Your Dragon), who'll also be attending our Love Literacy 2016 event.

You and your children will also get to meet Peter Rabbit himself, at the special Beatrix Potter 150th Anniversary Celebration. And if that wasn't enough, on Sunday 6th, you'll be greeted by the likes of Benji Davies (author of The Storm Whale) and Malcolm Judge (author of Johnny Jakes Investigates), and will also get to enjoy a thrilling and interactive show by Phoenix Comics.

On top of all the author events, there's also a range of fun activities for you and your family to enjoy, including: craft making, storytelling, quizzes, face-painting, and Squirrel Nutkin raft-building with the National Trust rangers. Plus, you’ll have the magnificently gothic surroundings of Wray Castle to explore, as well as the stunning landscape of the Lake District, which may even leave you inspired enough to write your own novels. Alternatively, if you’d all rather curl up with a good book, be sure to check out Phoenix Comic's chill-out room.

This is such an exciting event, and we can't wait to see you all down there on the 4th March!