The month of May marks the return of Norfolk & Norwich Festival – one of the longest-running arts festivals of its kind in the UK. For more than two centuries, it has brought performance, creativity and conversation to the city.

READ MORE: Discover 10 of Norfolk’s best literary adventures this May

Few English cities have such a long and layered relationship with words. Norwich was once home to medieval scribes and early printers, produced the first provincial newspaper outside London in the early 18th century, and today holds the title of England’s first UNESCO City of Literature.

That legacy comes into focus over the City of Literature Weekend, which is part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Authors, illustrators and readers will gather across the city for talks, workshops and shared reading events.

Ellie Reeves, programme officer at the National Centre for Writing (Image: OLLY HILL)

Ellie Reeves, programme officer at the National Centre for Writing, has selected some top picks from this year’s City of Literature Weekend programme:

Set Sail! with Robert Starling

10.30am on Friday, May 22

Author and illustrator Robert Starling leads a morning of crafts and storytelling for families with children up to seven years old. Meet some of Rob’s characters in the colourful surroundings of the Spiegeltent and bring your own ideas to life through drawing.

The event will finish with a reading from Rob’s newest book, This is the........

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