Children’s Book Festival at Knole

Welcome to the first ever Knole Children’s Book Festival on 25-26 March 2017. Stories will come to life across the weekend, as some of your best-loved children’s authors and illustrators host workshops, readings and book signings.

Come and meet a smashing smorgasbord of children’s authors, characters and illustrators, including the bestselling Lauren Child with Ruby Redfort, Charlie and Lola; Cressida Cowell and her ‘How to Train your Dragon’ series, Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell and Alex T Smith’s Claude .

The festival author events are suitable for families with children aged 3 -11 ¾. Every child at the festival will have the chance to meet the authors and illustrators personally and get their books signed. Knole’s bookshop and a pop-up festival bookshop will be open throughout the festival with books from all festival authors available to buy. Don’t forget your World Book Day vouchers as our festival bookshop will stock all the World Book Day £1 books.

Tickets for all Children’s Book Festival author events are £5 each (children under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult with a ticket).

As well as the bookable author events, there’s a fantastic range of activities on-site at Knole. Bring history to life as you dress in Tudor costume in the Orangery, on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm-3pm. We have costumes for all the family, so make sure you bring a camera!

Pick up a self-guided walks map from the Visitor Centre and stroll through the 1,000 acre medieval parkland with its wild deer herd. Or join a free, 45-minute guided walk with one of our park rangers on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.

For little explorers, our geocache trail is a great way to explore the park and hunt out Knole’s secret stash of treasure. Eight fascinating facts about Knole are hidden in weather-proof log boxes around the park just waiting to be discovered. Pick up the geocache trail map at the Visitor Centre to find their locations. After all that excitement, why not treat yourself to lunch or afternoon tea in the newly refurbished Brewhouse Café?

Climb the Gatehouse Tower or explore Knole’s grand showrooms with its world-famous collection of furniture and paintings (normal admission applies). Families will find a fascinating gilding handling collection in the showrooms and lots of fun hands-on activities in the Visitor Centre. There is something for everyone, all ages welcome from toddlers to grannies and granddads!

Thank you!

The National Trust would like to say a BIG thank you to all the authors, illustrators and publishers who have supported the festival and made it possible. Can you spot your favourite characters in our festival design?

For more information (including parking, accessibility and opening times) please go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole or phone 01732 462100.