Here are a few images from Idler Festival 2025. It took place on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July. All pics by Monika S. Jakubowska

Murray Lachlan Young plays freaky folk in the Orchard

Michael Palin and Tom Hodgkinson on the Lawn Stage

Michael Palin in full silly flow

In the Green Room: Tamsin Greig, Michael Palin, Rowan Williams and Rowan Pelling

Michael and Tom plan their talk

Clowning with Nancy Trotter Landry in the Orchard

Tamsin Greig and Rowan Williams on the Lawn Stage

Are we finally attracting a younger audience?

Press hound Scarlet Jenne quizzes Amy Matthews

Tamsin Greig and Rowan Williams in the Green Room before their event

Suraiya, Silver and Delilah

Amy Matthews on the Lawn Stage

Art Flâneur Tim Richardson in the Dining Room

Yes, we are attracting a younger crowd

Historian Salena Wisnom demonstrates Mesopotamian liver divination

“And they all buzzed off!” Emma Thompson, Idle Beekeeper Bill Anderson and Greg Wise share a bee-related joke

Miranda Sawyer remembers the days of Britpop

“Why did I sign up for this?” Tom Hodgkinson tries and fails to dance like Mr D’Arcy

Idle Beekeeper Bill Anderson explains the housing preference of the honeybee

John Mullan on the matchless Jane Austen, Lawn Stage

Emma Thompson on the Lawn Stage

Greg Wise provides a bee-related fact for wife Emma T

Emma, Tom and Greg agree that St Austell Tribute is a damn fine ale

A quiet moment

Gavin Turk chats to Sam and Sam Clark of Moro

Barman Zino

An ode in the orchard: James Parker reads from his new book

They just don’t care: dancing with Oli

Florence Read gets grilled by roving reporter Scarlet

Classicist Daisy Dunn with Rowan Pelling in the Dining Room

Wandering minstrels Katy Carr and William Summers

A break to watch Wimbledon in the pantry

Florence Read quizzes Will Hodgkinson and Lawrence on the Lawn Stage

Robert Rowland Smith and Mark Vernon perform their amazing Philosophy Slam

The audience in the Orchard

Aliya Lewis and Lilibet Williams at the Info Desk

NJ Stevenson and Caroline Catz in the Dining Room

Tessa Mair takes a break from her Pranayama sessions, Lady Binning’s bedroom

Ferdinand Mount speaks on the nature of tyranny, Lawn Stage

The legendary Joe Boyd in the Dining Room

“And Farage is going to be Prime Minister in 2028.” Stewart Lee delivers a gloomy prognosis

Georgia Mann’s classical music set in the Orchard

Ladies who lounge

Tim Barnes (of Findings Gallery) and James Parker

Oluwaseun Olayiwola in the Dining Room

Ben Moor performs “A Three Thing Day”, Lawn Stage

Beats and banjoleles: Mr B rocks the chappish rhymes

From Mormon to anarchist: Boff Whalley in the Orchard

Arthur Smith leads a surreal walk

Tom Hodgkinson and John Lloyd discussing the meaning of idling, Lawn Stage

Arthur Smith takes the mike

Damian Kathuda AKA Mostar Diving Club in the Orchard

Tim Barnes’ Findings Gallery, attic

Minstrelsy in the house

Word on the Water’s bookshop

Look out for more pics and videos coming up soon.

The Idlers x