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Popular Ilkley Book Fair returns this week

Tuesday, 21 July 2026 16:39

The Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA) Ilkley Book Fair returns to King’s Hall and Winter Garden this week, with 30 dealers offering a wide range of rare and popular titles.

Running Friday 24 July from 12:00–18:00 and Saturday 25 July from 10:00–16:00, the two-day event brings dealers from across the country, offering a broad selection of books and related ephemera for collectors, casual readers and families, with free public admission.

Fair manager Louise Harrison said the event reflects current reading trends and long-standing classics:

“At the moment there is a huge interest in J.R.R. Tolkien’s many works, sci‑fi and all things Gothic and ghostly, but visitors can also browse Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, P. G. Wodehouse, the Brontë family, Jane Austen and strong non‑fiction sections including natural history, local interest, industrial and military history.

"There’s something for every budget and taste.”

The fair’s diverse stalls will feature both collectible and affordable options, from paperback crime fiction priced from £2 to rare children’s editions and specialist regional titles focused on Yorkshire and Wharfedale. Dealers travel to Ilkley from across the UK, each bringing carefully curated selections that span fiction, non‑fiction and unique ephemera. The event offers a chance to find unexpected treasures as well as well‑known favourites.

Visitors can make a day of it, a café will operate in the Winter Garden throughout both days, providing refreshments and a place to sit and browse recent purchases.

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