Islington Central Library, London • March 5 – 8th, 2025

London’s most inclusive book fair.

Coinciding with the start of London Book Fair 2025, the Alternative Book Fair is a week of publishing and author events to bring the world of publishing and literature to a wider audience, especially aspiring authors, emerging writers and avid readers.

All Events are free, including access to the Indie Press Fair, all day, Saturday 8th, thanks to Islington Libraries, Arts Council England, Watson, Little Literary Agency, Indie Novella and The Diversity in Publishing Partnership

WEDNESDAY

5/March 6.30pm

TBC

Last year we had Award Winning Crime Writer Ajay Chowdhury talk about his latest book The Spy (Penguin April 2024), his Kamil Rahman series whose first book – The Waiter – was named the Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month and is currently in TV development with Moonage Pictures, and how we can inspire more writers to take up crime writing.

THURSDAY

6/March 6.30pm

TBA

Last year our panel of three acclaimed authors Chloë Ashby, Kate Maxwell, Rose Diell talked with journalist, Emily Rhodes, about examining and challenging societal norms and expectations on motherhood, identity and choice. Event was in partnership with local charity Book Banks.

SATURDAY

8/March ALL DAY

The Indie Press Fair

CONFIRMED for 2025 — Meet some of the UK’s most inspirational independent publishers, with a day of stalls and events from the publishers of the world’s most innovative fiction and non-fiction, including Dead Ink Books, Weather Glass Books, Renard Press, Indie Novella, Heloise Press, Scorpius Books, Istros Books, Jantar Books, époque press, Goat Star Books & Prototype Publishing.

10.30am until 5pm - Stalls running All Day: Opportunity for readers and writers to meet leading independent publishers, experience their books, meet authors, and ask any question about publishing.

Authors talks and events throughout the day. Last year saw Marieke Bigg, Phoebe McIntosh, Emma Brand, Andrew Hayward, Xaviere Musih Tedji and Mira Marcinow speak about their writing and the world of their novels. Authors for 2025 to be confirmed, however we have confirmed below:

Publishing Panel with leading independent publishers including Will Dady of Renard Press and Neil Griffiths of Weather Glass Books and the Republic of Consciousness Prize.

Free Tickets ➡