If London is your base, head for the Festival of Asian Literature (12-23 May). If you were able to catch the fascinating The Story of India on BBC recently, you may enjoy a talk by historian Michael Wood about the series and his experiences in India. I am also looking forward to hearing one of my favourite authors, Shashi Tharoor, speak about The Elephant, The Tiger and The Cell Phone—a talk about the changes in India.
Other literary festivals taking place in the UK over the summer include the London Literature Festival (June/July), the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival (17-20 July), the gigantic Edinburgh International Book Festival (9-25 August) and the ominous sounding Festival at the Edge (FATE) in Shropshire (18-20 July).
So, get those walking shoes out and join the literary trail. Just don’t leave behind the quintessential English accessory: a brolly.
TRIP PLANNER
How to get there
Visas: Visit ‘www.vfs-uk-in.com’ for complete visa application process. Visas cost Rs5,700.
Flights: British Airways (‘www.ba.com’) and Jet Airways (‘www.jetairways.com’) connect Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore daily with London. Return fares start from around Rs40,000, including taxes.
Getting around
Public transport in England can be often unreliable, so plan your journey in advance, wherever possible. Most towns have up-to-date information on their websites, including bus and rail timings. To book train tickets for travelling within the UK, see ‘www.nationalrail.co.uk’ or buy a Brit Rail pass (‘www.britrail.co.uk’). Locally, you are likely to be walking a lot, so pack comfortable shoes.
Getting to the Festivals
u Hay-on-Wye
– From London Paddington: Take a First Great Western train to Hereford station. Fares for a standard return are around £80. Prices vary significantly depending on type of ticket chosen. Check ‘www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk’ for the latest fares and timings.
– From Hereford: Regular buses take about an hour to get to Hay.
u Fowey, Cornwall
– By air: Daily flights from London Gatwick or Manchester to Newquay Airport (‘www.newquaycornwallairport.com’).
– By train and bus: The main station for Fowey is St Austell. Regular services operate from Newquay.
u Festival of Asian Literature, London
The festival takes place at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street (‘www.asiahouse.org’). Take the underground tube service or a bus to either Oxford Circus or Regents Park. The website has a map of the area.
Where to stay
Find a local family-run bed and breakfast (B&B) to stay in for authentic English residences and food. Prices range from £30 to £100 per day, depending on the location. (‘www.bedandbreakfast.co.uk’)
u In Hay-on-Wye
Accommodation during the Hay festival can be hard to find. If camping outdoors is not an option, look for a B&B in one of the surrounding villages. The Hay-on-Wye website (‘www.hay-on-wye.co.uk’) lists available accommodation. Or try the Baskerville Hall Hotel (‘www.baskervillehall.co.uk’)
uIn Fowey, Cornwall
The Daphne Du Maurier festival website offers a selection of accommodation for visitors to the festival: ‘www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk/where-to-stay.php’
Where to eat