LIST OF EVENTS

FRIDAY

Walking Book Club with Emily Rhodes
Friday, 16:30–18:00 | Meet at the Golden Gates | pre-book only
Rain or shine, join Emily for a stroll on Hampstead Heath, sharing insights about Rumer Godden’s classic novel The Greengage Summer. Please read the book beforehand.

For Gods’ Sake!: An Immersive Mythical Melodrama
Friday, 17:30–21:00 | Around Fenton House and Gardens
There’s a storm brewing on Olympus! The ancient gods will accept one more deity into their hallowed halls.  You’ll encounter a host of wannabe gods who’ll try to persuade you why they deserve to join Zeus and Athena. Your votes will decide who will be elevated to eternity.

How to Live Like a Stoic: Tom Hodgkinson in conversation with Florence Read
Friday, 18:00–18:45 | Lawn
It turns out the ancient philosophy of Stoicism is much stranger and more radical than we thought. Tom shows how the great Stoics can help us find happiness with everything from love and politics to money and spirituality.

The Queerness of Magical Creatures with Sacha Coward
Friday, 18:00–18:45 | Dining Room
Author and historian Sacha Coward takes us on a wild ride through the forgotten narratives and hidden queer histories of myths and monsters.

Finding Albion: Zakia Sewell in conversation with John Mitchinson
Friday, 18:45–19:30 | Orchard
Zakia Sewell uncovers an alternative spirit of Britain that’s still vividly alive and lies beyond divisive national myths and symbols. It’s found in otherworldly folk songs, ancient legends, Celtic seasonal rites and mystic stone circles.

Jojo Moyes in conversation with Rowan Pelling
Friday, 19:30–20:15 | Lawn
With her signature warmth and wicked sense of humour, best-selling, award-winning author Jojo Moyes discusses family, love and starting again.

How Skateboarding Shaped British Culture
Friday, 19:45–20:30 | Dining Room
Join eminent and lifetime skateboarders Prof Iain Borden and Neil MacDonald with former skateboard shop worker Tom Hodgkinson for a dive into the colourful history of skateboarding and how it shaped British culture. 

Murray Lachlan Young’s Hard Folk Sound System
Friday, 20:15–21:00 | Orchard
Poet and performer Murray spins folk tunes in the Orchard.

The Awakened God’s Ceremony
Friday, 20:30–20:50 | Lawn
One wannabe god will be crowned.

SATURDAY

Embrace Uncertainty: Margaret Heffernan in conversation with Sarah Corbett
Saturday, 12:15–13:00 | Orchard
Renowned entrepreneur Margaret and craftivist Sarah discuss what we can learn from an artist’s mindset to help us move from anxiety to action in challenging times. 

Enshittification with Cory Doctorow and Tom Hodgkinson
Saturday, 12:30–13:15 | Lawn
Cory Doctorow explains how social media giants have made fortunes and destroyed the value of the internet through a process he calls “enshittification”. Luckily he also tells us what we can do about it.

Inside Stories of Father Ted: Lissa Evans with Suzi Feay
Saturday, 12:30–13:15 | Dining Room
BAFTA-winning producer Lissa Evans chats to Suzi Feay about the creative chaos and crazy times involved in making the award-winning comedy series.

Philosophy Walk with Mark Vernon
Saturday, 13:00–13:45 | Meet on the Front Lawn
Join the Idler’s Head of Philosophy to discover how the great William Blake was inspired by wandering the hills of Hampstead.

Learn Harmonica with Ed Hoped
Saturday, 13:15–13:45 | Yellow Room | pre-book only
Catch a harmonica lesson with Idler Academy tutor Ed Hopwood, a superb multi-instrumentalist with extensive experience of performing and teaching.

Idle Beekeeping with Bill Anderson
Saturday, 13:30–14:15 | Orchard
Learn how to keep bees the low-cost, low-effort, sustainable way with the Idler Academy’s beekeeping tutor.

Jah Wobble in conversation with Suzi Feay
Saturday, 13:45–14:30 | Lawn
Legendary post-punk bassist Jah Wobble treats us to tales from his rollercoaster ride of a life – from East End childhood to playing bass in Public Image Ltd (PiL) to his thriving solo career.

Self-Help from the Middle Ages with Peter Jones
Saturday, 13:45–14:30 | Dining Room
In medieval times they used the Seven Deadly Sins as a practical guide to living well. Find out how this framework can give new insights into modern struggles and help us lead happier lives.

Fenton Garden Tour
Saturday, 14:30–15:00 | Meet on the Front Lawn
Fenton’s Head Gardener leads a tour around the gardens. 

Craftivism Workshop with Sarah Corbett
Saturday, 14:30–15:15 | Orchard | pre-book only
Award-winning activist Sarah Corbett’s craftivism (craft + activism) has helped change hearts, minds, policies and laws around the world. Join her workshop and become a gentle craftivist.
Stitch a letterpress card of a renowned changemaker and take home as an object of encouragement. Suitable for adults and 13+.

Pranayama with Tessa Mair
Saturday, 14:30–15:00 & 15:45–16:15 | Yellow Room
Take a pause in your festival flow for a rejuvenating breathwork journey rooted in ancient yogic practices from India.

Prue Leith in conversation with Matthew Stadlen
Saturday, 15:00–15:45 | Lawn
Cook, writer, campaigner and national treasure Prue Leith will be exploring the trials and taboos of growing older – along with its unexpected joys. And nothing is off limits!

Offshore Finance: Kojo Koram in conversation with Dalia Gerbil
Saturday, 15:00–15:45 | Dining Room
The award-winning author and academic will tell us about secrecy, stolen wealth, and how Britain’s imperial afterlife has turned our capital into a global money-laundering machine. 

Esther Freud in conversation with Rowan Pelling
Saturday, 15:45–16:30 | Orchard
The celebrated author will discuss drawing on her extraordinary childhood and using her family members in her novels. 

Hampstead Architecture Walk with Harry Mount
Saturday, 15:45–16:30 | Meet on the Front Lawn
Join classicist, historian and editor of The Oldie Harry Mount for an insightful, educational and amusing walk learning about Hampstead’s unique and historic style.

Charlie Higson in conversation with Tom Hodgkinson
Saturday, 16:15–17:00 | Lawn
Join the comedian and best-selling author for an entertaining chat with Idler editor Tom. 

Divas from the Dark Side with Cathi Unsworth
Saturday, 16:30–17:15 | Dining Room
Author of Season of the Witch: The Book of Goth, Cathi has curated the new Ace Records anthology Dressed In Black, featuring 20 of the greatest femme fatales of the genre, from The Shangri-Las to Anna Calvi. She’ll be talking about them with illustrative video clips.

Classical Lounge with Georgia Mann
Saturday, 16:45–17:45 | Orchard
A summery selection of classical music, plus comments and insights from the Radio 3 and Proms presenter. Lie back among the apple trees and let the music flow through you.

Fenton House Tour with the National Trust
Saturday, 17:00–17:30 | Meet on the Front Lawn
Find out about the history of Fenton House and its collection.

Learn Ukulele with Danny Wootton
Saturday, 17:00–17:30 | Yellow Room | pre-book only
Danny demonstrates basic strums and chords, and gets you playing simple tunes. No musical experience needed.

Solidarity: Rowan Williams in conversation with Florence Read
Saturday, 17:30–18:15 | Lawn
Former Archbishop Rowan discusses the slippery concept of solidarity, which he sees as an ongoing process of mutual recognition that allows others to be “fully themselves”. Building genuine communion across differences will help solve hatred and prejudice.

Art History’s Funniest Bits with Verity Babbs
Saturday, 17:45–18:30 | Dining Room
Art historian, presenter and comedian Verity Babbs leads us through her favourite moments in 500 years of artists behaving badly, jaw-dropping artworks and mad art manifestos.

Cathi Unsworth’s Goth Disco
Saturday, 18:15–19:00 | Orchard
Cathi plays a selection of femme fatales from her new Ace Records double album Dressed In Black, its first public outing. Dance to the dark side with weird sisters from Siouxsie to Shirley Collins. 

ALL DAY

Renaissance Selfies in the Blue Porcelain Room
London Drawing’s Anne and Susannah use everyday objects like pillow cases and paper cups to create Renaissance-style photographic portraits – with you as the sitter!

SUNDAY

Ben Moor: Not Everything Is Significant
Sunday, 12:00–13:00 | Lawn
Start the festival day with Ben Moor’s brilliantly absurd and comic stand-up show Not Everything is Significant.

Literary Walk with Henry Eliot
Sunday, 12:00–13:00 | Meet on the Front Lawn | pre-book only
Follow the footsteps of John Keats, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, William Blake and Katherine Mansfield on Henry’s bookish and entertaining jaunt.

The Next Fix: Kojo Koram in conversation with Tom Hodgkinson
Sunday, 12:15–13:00 | Dining Room
The celebrated author, journalist and Professor of Law shows how illegal drugs are being rebranded as commodities in a new, billion-dollar industry and looks at what kind of future we’re building in a world hooked not only on drugs, but on economic “fixes” of every kind.

Amy Matthews Comedy
Sunday, 13:00–13:30 | Orchard
Laugh along as acclaimed stand-up comedian Amy weaves in and out of wry despair and whimsical imagination. Amy is known for her distinctive, witty and warm comedy style.

Learn Harmonica with Ed Hopwood
Sunday, 13:00–13:30 | Yellow Room | pre-book only
Catch a harmonica lesson with Idler Academy tutor Ed Hopwood, a superb multi-instrumentalist with extensive experience of performing and teaching.

Nigel Planer in conversation with Suzi Feay
Sunday, 13:15–14:00 | Lawn
Hailing from the 80s alternative comedy scene and finding fame as Neil in The Young Ones, Nigel has never stopped creating – from narrating The Magic Roundabout to writing novels, plays and poems. His latest poetry collection, Travelling Light, was a recent Idler Book of the Week.

Waning Moon Tea Ceremony with Miri O’Connor
Sunday, 13:00–13:45 | Rose Garden
Join Rootlight Rituals founder Miri for a small-group meditation, a blessing and mindful drinking of tea blended during this moon phase, which is about release, completion and clearing space for what comes next.

The Education Commons with Guy Standing
Sunday, 13:30–14:15 | Dining Room
The economist who pioneered the concept of the “precariat” shows how education has become more about societal control than human emancipation, and offers solutions for reviving its lost values and saving society for all.

Luke Wright: Later Life Letter
Sunday, 13:45–14:45 | Orchard
The award-winning poet and performer presents his highly praised new show about his adoption, the life he leads, and the one he might have done. Expect laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum ’n’ bass. 

Clare Pollard’s Poetry Salon with Keith Jarrett and Imogen Wade
Sunday, 14:00–14:45 | Yellow Room
Catch up on contemporary poetry with the Idler’s Poetry Editor, who will read from her latest collection and introduce two of her favourite new poets to the festival. 

Fanzine Workshops with Artizine’s Ioana Simion
Sunday, 14:00–15:00 & 15:30–16:30 | Orchard | pre-book only
Create your own zine with collage, drawing and simple folds in this gentle workshop exploring DIY publishing as a way of gathering thoughts, feelings and fragments of everyday life.

Kevin Rowland in conversation with Will Hodgkinson
Sunday, 14:30–15:15 | Lawn
There’ll be unique insights and stories from Dexys Midnight Runners’ iconic frontman, one of the great mavericks and creative minds of British music.

Philosophy Slam with Mark Vernon and Robert Rowland Smith
Sunday, 14:45–15:30 | Dining Room
Throw yourself into the free flow of improvisation as two thinkers, informed by philosophy and psychology, riff on anything you want to ask about, from aardvarks to zeitgeist.

Ed Hopwood’s One Man Band
Sunday, 15:15–16:00 | Orchard
Multi-instrumental Ed forges a sound grounded in roots music with a style all his own. Drawing on blues, zydeco, and bluegrass, he effortlessly weaves them into a highly original live show. 

Learn Ukulele with Danny Wootton
Sunday, 15:30–16:00 | Yellow Room  | pre-book only
Danny demonstrates basic strums and chords, and gets you playing simple tunes. No musical experience needed.

Chris Difford in conversation with Miranda Sawyer
Sunday, 15:45–16:30 | Lawn
The award-winning lyricist and founder of iconic band Squeeze reveals stories behind Trixies, their first album in nearly a decade, with songs written by Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook as teenagers. 

The Landscape of Man with Tim Richardson
Sunday, 16:00–16:45 | Dining Room
Idler art critic and celebrated garden writer Tim talks about the seminal book by Geoffrey and Susan Jellicoe, newly edited and updated by Tim, in which they explore how humans have shaped the landscapes around them.

Comedians Do Poems hosted by Amy Matthews and Ben Pope with Nigel Planer and more
Sunday, 16:30–17:30 | Orchard
The popular cult sell-out show with comedians sharing their poetic musings, short stories, parodies, lyrics and spoken word. Sometimes sincere, sometimes funny, always out of their comfort zone.

Pranayama with Tessa Mair
Sunday, 16:30–17:00 | Yellow Room
Take a pause in your festival flow for a rejuvenating breathwork journey rooted in ancient yogic practices from India.

Irvine Welsh in conversation with Will Hodgkinson
Sunday, 17:00–17:45 | Lawn
“Trainspotting the Musical” opens on 15 July. Irvine will talk about adapting his iconic book for the West End stage and whether heroin addiction should be given the all-singing, all-dancing musical theatre treatment.

Craftivism Drop-in Workshop
Sunday, 17:00–18:00 | Orchard
Award-winning activist Sarah Corbett’s craftivism (craft + activism) has helped change hearts, minds, policies and laws around the world. Join her workshop and become a gentle craftivist.  Choose one of five messages on woven labels to sew on your clothes or accessories. Suitable for adults and 13+.

Fenton House Tour with the National Trust
Sunday, 17:30–18:00 | Meet on the Front Lawn
Find out about the history of Fenton House and its collection.

Festival Singalong with The Loafers
Sunday, 18:00–18:30 | Lawn
Idler editor Tom leads a merry singalong to close the festival. Everyone join in!

Will Hodgkinson’s DJ Set
Sunday, 18:30–19:00 | Orchard
Will sees the festival to a close with tunes in the Orchard.

ALL DAY
Renaissance Selfies
Blue Porcelain Room
London Drawing’s Anne and Susannah use everyday objects like pillow cases and paper cups to create Renaissance-style photographic portraits – with you as the sitter! 

ALL WEEKEND

Murray Lachlan Young’s Five Minute Parties
Orchard Bar
Look out for the renowned poet Murray handing out invitations around the festival and don’t miss out.

Renaissance Dancing
with Chris Goodwin and Jeni Melia on the Lawn
Friday, 18:45–19:15 | Saturday, 13:15–13:45 & 15:45–16:15
Sunday, 14:00–14:30 & 16:30–17:00
Shake a leg and learn some old English dances.

Wandering Minstrels
All Weekend | House and Garden
Our wandering minstrels will be popping up throughout the weekend. See musicians Phil Danter, Will Summers and Marie-Louise Schelde Handberg playing tunes in the garden and hear harpsichord players in the house.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Head and Neck Massages on the Front Lawn
Harpsichords
Fenton House & Garden Tours
Renaissance Selfies
Plus: Keep a look out for festival performers
spinning tunes in the Orchard between events

Book tickets: idler.co.uk/festival