The Festival
Welcome to the UCL Festival of London and Literature
Copyright Yeoryia Manolopoulou
What
“One Day in the City” is a celebration of London and Literature organised by the Department of English, at University College London. The day and evening is free to the general public and is a rare opportunity to listen to and share thoughts with authors, poets, and academics in all things London.
Talks; Readings; Panels; Q&A: The most highly-acclaimed novelists, poets, and academics will be reading, performing, and discussing some of the greatest work inspired by London.
Art; Design; Film: In partnership with the Bartlett School of Architecture, there will be two exhibitions offering a unique and dynamic conglomeration of London texts and images – digital, photographic, hand-drawn, and hand-crafted.
Who
To name but a few, our contributors include Man Booker Prize-winners A.S. Byatt and Alan Hollinghurst; the renowned poets Daljit Nagra and Sarah Maguire; and the iconic London voices of Iain Sinclair and Will Self.
Why
The objective of “One Day in the City” is extremely simple: to celebrate London and the creativity it inspires, and to be inclusive. In order to achieve this, it felt important that all the events were free, that we opened up the doors of some of London’s most iconic buildings, and that the focus remained entirely on London. And this is what we have done.
For one day we aim to create intimate and dynamic forums through which the city, research on the city, and creative talents within the city can be celebrated and showcased to as wide an audience as possible.
At a time when student fees are rising and funding is being slashed in Arts and Humanities faculties across the UK, this day will demonstrate, on a practical and visceral level, the importance of creativity and its non-quantifiable value within the city.
Where
The majority of the day’s events will take place within UCL’s Bloomsbury Campus, within the square created by the Euston Road, Gower Street, Torrington Place, and Gordon Street. The British Museum, Senate House Library, and the Royal Institute of British Architects will also be holding some linked events.
Interested?
Go to bookings and sign up for the events that interest you most.
