The London Book Fair 2027 will be held from 16-18 March at ExCeL London, uniting the global publishing community.
Dates
16–18 Mar 2027
City / country
London, United Kingdom
Venue
ExCeL London
Time
9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Event overview
The London Book Fair is the world's largest spring book trade and publishing event, taking place at ExCeL London from 16 – 18 March 2027.
This event brings together publishing professionals to develop relationships, gain insights, and define the future of creative content.
TL;DR
Visitors will benefit from networking opportunities, access to industry insights, and the chance to meet key players in the publishing world. The event features various conferences and sessions tailored to different aspects of the industry. Event Dates: 16-18 March 2027. Location: ExCeL London. The London Book Fair is the world's largest spring book trade and publishing event, taking place at ExCeL London from 16 – 18 March 2027. This event brings together publishing.
Exhibitors gain visibility among a targeted audience of publishing professionals, access to networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase their products and services to a global market. Organiser: Reed Exhibitions Limited organises the fair and publishes visitor and exhibitor information on londonbookfair.co.uk. Rights Trading: Exhibitors, publishers and literary agents negotiate translation, film and distribution rights on the show floor. The London Book Fair is.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
London, United Kingdom
Attend
Event days & opening times
Who runs the show
Reed Exhibitions Limited
How the last edition performed
Current edition
2027
Visitors
25,000
Exhibitors
1,000
Exhibitor countries
60
Visitor countries
100
Impact
The London Book Fair is the world's largest spring book trade and publishing event, taking place at ExCeL London from 16 – 18 March 2027. This event brings together publishing professionals to develop relationships, gain insights, and define the future of creative content. The London Book Fair is crucial for the publishing industry as it facilitates networking, showcases new trends, and provides a platform for discussions on the future of publishing. The.
Audience quality
Visitors typically include Publishing professionals, Authors and writers, Literary agents, Book retailers. Edition Dates: The London Book Fair runs 16-18 March 2027 at ExCeL London. Venue And City: ExCeL London in the UK capital hosts the spring rights and publishing trade gathering. Organiser: Reed Exhibitions Limited organises the fair and publishes visitor and exhibitor information on londonbookfair.co.uk. Rights Trading: Exhibitors, publishers and literary agents negotiate translation, film and distribution.
Exhibitor outcomes
Exhibitors gain visibility among a targeted audience of publishing professionals, access to networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase their products and services to a global market. The London Book Fair is crucial for the publishing industry as it facilitates networking, showcases new trends, and provides a platform for discussions on the future of publishing. Exhibitor categories include Book publishers, Literary agencies, Technology providers for publishing, Educational publishers.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
The London Book Fair is one of the two global rights-trading floors in the English-language publishing calendar and the spring counterpart to Frankfurt. London is the world's largest book-export market and home to the major trade publishers, literary agencies, rights and translation intermediaries, so a single week at ExCeL gives access to rights buyers, scouts, audio and screen adaptation partners, and the UK's distribution, print and edtech supply chain that most regional fairs cannot assemble in one place.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Digital buyer journeys
Professionals expect pre-show agendas, product finders, and meeting tools; suppliers align demos and literature to short on-stand decision cycles.
Sustainability in procurement
Energy use, recyclable materials, and carbon reporting increasingly appear in RFPs and exhibitor scorecards across industrial trade fairs.
Automation and labour efficiency
Visitors benchmark machinery, software, and services that reduce downtime, staffing pressure, and total cost of ownership.
Regional supply-chain resilience
Buyers diversify suppliers across Europe, MENA, and Asia while favouring vendors with local service, spare parts, and training.
Hybrid engagement models
Live demonstrations remain decisive, but follow-up webinars, digital catalogues, and year-round supplier portals extend the commercial window after the show.
London Book Fair sits on a year-round circuit of rights fairs: the spring European cycle (London, Bologna, Abu Dhabi) feeding into the autumn Frankfurt–Sharjah–Guadalajara block. Teams planning booths, rights diaries and travel budgets usually plan these as a set rather than one-off trips.
Booth and rights bookings typically 6–9 months ahead; contracts often signed during the London spring fair.
Falls within weeks of London Book Fair — plan children's/YA rights calendars together.
Autumn cycle; travel and stand decisions informed by London and Frankfurt activity.
Autumn/winter cycle; Spanish-language rights planning usually starts mid-year.
Peer fairs listed from their public organiser sites; confirm dates, stand deadlines and rights-centre access with each organiser.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Elizabeth line and Tube serve most London exhibition venues.
to venue
45–75 min off-peak
by car
Gatwick Express to Victoria, then Tube to the venue district.
to venue
50–80 min
by car
Gateway airport for London.
to venue
by car
Gateway airport for London.
to venue
by car
Gateway airport for London.
to venue
by car
Gateway airport for London.
to venue
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 100–180 / night
Room-only rates for the March fair period; book early as Docklands hotels fill during ExCeL event weeks. Approximate USD conversions of GBP rates — confirm live pricing.
sourceUSD 165–260 / night
Walking distance to the halls, so no daily transport cost; weekend/event surcharges common. Approximate USD conversions — confirm live rates.
sourceUSD 255–480 / night
Best for meeting space and client hosting; Canary Wharf options add a short Elizabeth line/DLR hop to Custom House. Approximate USD conversions — confirm live rates.
sourceGet around the city with these convenient transport options.
taxi
Elizabeth line and Tube serve most London exhibition venues.
taxi
Gatwick Express to Victoria, then Tube to the venue district.
taxi
taxi
taxi
taxi
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | Visa-exempt nationals, including EU/EEA, US, Canadian, Australian, Japanese and Gulf Cooperation Council passport holders. | $20.00 | Usually decided within 3 working days; typically much faster. | |
| Standard Visitor visa (6 months) | Nationals of countries without a UK visa waiver, including India, China, Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria and much of Asia and Africa. | $165.00 | Typically around 3 weeks from a completed online application and biometrics appointment; priority services available at extra cost. | |
| Standard Visitor visa — exhibitor/business purpose | Visa nationals exhibiting, staffing a stand or shipping display materials to ExCeL London. | $165.00 | Apply 6–8 weeks ahead if freight and staffing depend on the visa outcome. |
Visa-exempt nationals (EU/EEA, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Gulf states and others) no longer travel visa-free in the paper sense — they must hold a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure. Irish citizens are exempt. Check your nationality on gov.uk before booking.
The UK accepts ATA Carnets for the temporary admission of exhibition and professional equipment, which suits exhibitors shipping stand materials, books and demonstration kit. Confirm processing with your national issuing chamber and list freight items in the exhibitor manual.
Official visa pageWeather
March in London is changeable: expect daytime highs of about 10–13°C (50–55°F) and overnight lows of 3–6°C (37–43°F), with roughly 10–12 rain days and around 40 mm of rain across the month. Pack layered clothing, a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes for the walk between Docklands hotels and the ExCeL halls.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
UK mobile networks offer prepaid SIM and eSIM options for visitors; venue Wi‑Fi availability varies — confirm with the organiser.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Tipping and service charges
A discretionary 12.5% service charge is often added to restaurant bills in London — check the bill and tip the remainder in cash or by card only if service was good. Tipping bar staff and taxi drivers is not expected, though rounding up is appreciated.
Business dress and meeting etiquette
Smart casual to business dress is standard at UK trade fairs; suits are common for rights meetings but not required on the show floor. Punctuality matters, meetings start on the hour and a firm handshake with first names is normal even on first introduction.
Everyday practicalities
London runs largely cashless — contactless cards, Apple Pay/Google Pay and mobile tickets work on the Elizabeth line, DLR and Underground. Queuing is observed strictly, and small talk about weather or travel is a standard opener before business.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: LHR
Book flights to LHR when possible for the shortest transfer to the venue; compare LGW only if fares are materially lower.
Visa-exempt nationals (EU, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Gulf states and most of the Americas) can attend The London Book Fair without a visa but must hold a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding — approximately GBP 16, applied for online, valid for 2 years and usually decided within 3 working days. Nationals of countries without a UK visa waiver (e.g. India, China, Turkey, much of Africa and Asia) need a Standard Visitor visa — approximately GBP 127 for a 6-month visa, applied for online via gov.uk with biometrics at a visa application centre, typically decided in about 3 weeks. Both routes cover attending a trade fair and holding business meetings/negotiating contracts; paid work in the UK is not permitted. Exhibitors shipping stand materials may use an ATA Carnet. Confirm current fees and nationality rules on gov.uk before booking travel.
Estimated cost: Varies by visa type and nationality (check official site).
Processing: Varies by nationality; apply several weeks before travel.
Applied for online via gov.uk and digitally linked to the passport; valid for 2 years or until passport expiry. Must be held before boarding. Approximate USD conversion of the published GBP fee. Covers attending a trade fair, business meetings and negotiating contracts; paid employment in the UK is not permitted. Apply at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa. Approximate USD conversion of the published GB
OfficialFind a stay near the venue with options for every budget.
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: LHR/LGW/STN/LCY: Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, or Gatwick Express then Tube to venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near ExCeL London: Royal Victoria Dock / Custom House, 5–15 minutes' walk or one DLR stop from ExCeL London: Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL), ibis London Excel-Docklands; Directly at or adjacent to ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock: Holiday Inn Express London – ExCeL, Aloft London ExCeL, Novotel London ExCeL; Royal Victoria Dock and Canary Wharf fringe, 10–20 minutes from the venue: DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL, Sunborn London Yacht Hotel, Crowne Plaza London – Dockland
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing apps are commonly used in London; confirm local availability before travel.
Public transit: Tube and Elizabeth line serve ExCeL (Custom House), Olympia (District), and Business Design Centre.
Parking: On-site parking is available at ExCeL London; confirm daily rates and hall access on the organiser or venue site.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: March 2027
Temperature: March: daytime highs about 10–13°C (50–55°F), overnight lows about 3–6°C (37–43°F).
Seasonality: March is a transitional, showery month in London — roughly 10–12 rain days and around 40 mm of rain — so pack a waterproof jacket, layers and an umbrella for the Docklands walk to ExCeL.
Packing: March is a transitional, showery month in London — roughly 10–12 rain days and around 40 mm of rain — so pack a waterproof jacket, layers and an umbrella for the Docklands walk to ExCeL.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 2 — Wednesday 17 March 2027
London Book Fair programmes typically peak mid-run: day one is dominated by opening rights traffic, while the second day carries the densest seminar and stage schedule alongside full exhibitor presence, making it the best single day for a first-time visitor, author or journalist. Day three is quieter and better suited to closing follow-ups and supplier conversations than to seeing the whole fair.
Check passport validity and UK entry requirements for your nationality — Confirm the current UK visit visa or electronic travel authorisation rules on the official UK government visa portal before booking anything.
Book flights to London for 16-18 March 2027 — Target London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW) or London City (LCY) and leave buffer time before day one at ExCeL London.
Reserve a hotel in London near ExCeL London — Docklands and Canary Wharf precincts sit closest to ExCeL London; choose a rate with free cancellation.
Complete visitor registration and badge request — Register through londonbookfair.co.uk and note the badge collection process for your arrival day.
Download the Fair programme and ExCeL London hall plan — Shortlist sessions, the FutureBook Conference and exhibitors you want to see before travelling.
Request meetings with publishers, agents and rights contacts — Email or use organiser matchmaking tools to lock appointment slots rather than relying on walk-ups.
Plan your airport to ExCeL London transfer — Compare Docklands Light Railway, Elizabeth line and taxi options and note realistic journey times for the morning peak.
Confirm meeting documents and rights materials — Print or load catalogues, rights lists and business cards, and check meeting room or stand locations.
Pack for London in March — Bring smart business layers for changeable spring weather, comfortable walking shoes and a charged phone plus power bank.
Recheck flight, hotel and registration confirmations — Verify times, booking references and any organiser emails sent in the final week before 16 March 2027.
Day-1 arrival: collect badge and orient on the show floor — Collect your badge at ExCeL London, walk the halls once to fix locations, then start your scheduled meetings.
Arrive at ExCeL London (Custom House / Prince Regent), collect your badge and walk the floor plan to map priority stands.
Back-to-back rights and acquisitions meetings in the International Rights Centre, then publisher and literary agency stands on the main floor.
Seminar and stage track — Author HQ, Children's & YA, audio, translation and scholarly/research publishing sessions.
Follow-up meetings, distributor and service-provider walk-ups, then end-of-show wrap and shipping/logistics check before the halls close at 15:00–17:00.
International Rights Centre lounge
Purpose-built deal-making space where agents, scouts and rights managers take back-to-back appointments; the single highest-value room for rights conversations.
Author HQ & show-floor cafés
Author signings, stage sessions and open seating make this the easiest place for informal introductions without a booked meeting.
Docklands venues near the venue — The Fox @ ExCeL and the Aloft/Novotel ExCeL bars
Standard after-hours meet-ups for exhibitors and visitors staying in the docklands hotel cluster; useful for follow-ups that outlast the show floor.
Budget
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_ticket
visitor · standard
GBP 75 / per person (3-day trade pass)
exhibitor_stand
exhibitor · space-only / shell scheme
GBP 350–600 / per sqm
visa_fee
visitor · Standard Visitor visa (6 months)
GBP 127 / per application
visa_fee
visitor · Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
GBP 16 / per applicant (valid 2 years)
visa_fee
visitor · Standard Visitor visa — exhibitor/business purpose
USD 165 / per application
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_ticket | visitor | standard | GBP 75 / per person (3-day trade pass) | estimate | |
| exhibitor_stand | exhibitor | space-only / shell scheme | GBP 350–600 / per sqm | estimate | |
| visa_fee | visitor | Standard Visitor visa (6 months) | GBP 127 / per application | official | |
| visa_fee | visitor | Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | GBP 16 / per applicant (valid 2 years) | official | |
| visa_fee | visitor | Standard Visitor visa — exhibitor/business purpose | USD 165 / per application | official |
Decision
Pick the closest answer for each. Your recommendation updates live.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You need rights conversations, a read on spring 2027 publishing trends, or you are evaluating whether to exhibit in a later edition.
Best for
Authors, agents, scouts, librarians, audio and rights professionals who want rights meetings, market intelligence and distributor/agent contacts without committing to a stand.
Min. budget
$750.00
Timeline
2–6 weeks ahead — trade registration, flights and Docklands hotel rooms tighten as the March dates approach.
Risks
Budget estimate from listing cost signals — confirm live rates.
Trade-only event: business credentials may be requested at registration; free pass requires pre-registration before the deadline.
exhibit
You have 20+ qualified meetings or rights deals to work over three days and can staff the stand across the full run.
Best for
Publishers, literary agencies, packagers, audio/print/tech suppliers and national book boards with a qualified lead pipeline or rights deals to close.
Min. budget
$3,500.00
Timeline
6–9 months ahead — space selection, shell scheme or stand build, freight/ATA Carnet and staffing rosters.
Risks
Budget estimate from listing cost signals — confirm live rates.
Shell-scheme and space-only rates vary sharply by hall and position; freight, insurance and staff travel sit on top of the stand cost.
skip
Rights targets are already served elsewhere, or budget and travel approvals will not clear before registration deadlines.
Best for
Trade professionals whose 2027 rights and sales pipeline is already covered by Frankfurt, Bologna or a regional fair, or non-trade readers looking for a consumer book festival.
Timeline
Not applicable.
Risks
You forgo the spring London rights window that sits ahead of the Frankfurt autumn cycle.
Book with
Recommended providers
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Trust footer
13
References
1
Publishers
0
Date checked
The London Book Fair
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
