Ilkley Literature Festival 2025

Cause & Effect public relations celebrates another record year for the North’s longest-running literary festival The Ilkley Literature Festival — now in its 52nd year — enjoyed another hugely successful…

Ilkley

Cause & Effect public relations celebrates another record year for the North’s longest-running literary festival

The Ilkley Literature Festival — now in its 52nd year — enjoyed another hugely successful season, confirming its place as one of the UK’s most respected and best-loved book festivals.

Running for 17 days, the 2025 festival delivered a vibrant celebration of literature, conversation, and creativity. The line-up was nothing short of remarkable, featuring household names including Nick Clegg, Jung Chang, Michael Palin, Simon Armitage, Lady Hale, Alan Davies, Mary Portas, and Hugh Bonneville — to name just a few.

Beyond its headline speakers, Ilkley continued its proud tradition of championing new and emerging poets, alongside acclaimed names, maintaining its reputation as one of the UK’s most influential poetry festivals. (Fittingly, the very first festival in 1973 was launched by W.H. Auden.)

Cause & Effects Role

Cause & Effect public relations first began providing PR support for Ilkley Literature Festival in 2019. Since then, we have worked closely with the festival’s communications team to build its national and regional profile, celebrating its Yorkshire roots while positioning it as a leading cultural event on the UK literary calendar.

Over the years, we have secured dozens of author interviews and feature stories across targeted regional and lifestyle press, including:

  • Yorkshire Post
  • Telegraph & Argus
  • Ilkley Gazette
  • Yorkshire Life
  • Yorkshire Living
  • Beyond Magazine
  • Living North

We also maintain a strong broadcast presence, with the festival regularly featured on BBC Look North, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio York, and BBC Online.

2025 Highlights

This year we achieved 90+ media articles | 1.33m estimated views | BBC, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Country Life, Yorkshire Post

This year’s campaign generated widespread media attention, positioning Ilkley as one of the must-attend cultural events of the season.

  • Marie Claire named the festival as one of its “Not-to-be-missed Autumn Festivals.”
  • Good Housekeeping included Ilkley in its “Best Book Festivals in the UK.”
  • Country Life spotlighted Ilkley as “this season’s hot ticket.”

Our long-standing festival champion Gyles Brandreth once again supported the media campaign, appearing on the BBC to discuss the North’s overlooked literary scene — a brilliant feature that encapsulated Ilkley’s significance as a cultural beacon for the region.

Multiple headline authors also featured prominently in print and broadcast outlets:

  • Hugh Bonneville, Jay Rayner, Mary Portas, and Michael Palin were interviewed across BBC Radio.
  • Nick Clegg, Michael Palin, and Mary Portas featured in the Yorkshire Post Weekend Magazine, alongside rising voices such as Rachel Bower, Jess Kitching, and Dr James Fox.

In total, the campaign achieved over 90 pieces of media coverage, with an estimated audience reach of 1.33 million views.

Results

The sustained media coverage not only reinforced Ilkley Literature Festival’s reputation as the North’s premier literary event, but also broadened its audience appeal across generations and demographics.

Through strategic storytelling and national lifestyle positioning, Cause& Effect public relations helped showcase Ilkley as a festival that celebrates both the literary greats and the next generation of Northern voices.

“Ilkley Literature Festival continues to prove that world-class cultural experiences thrive in the North. We’re proud to support a festival that combines literary excellence with Northern heart.”

— Ann Chadwick Director, Cause UK