Exeter City of Literature - 2025 Wrapped

Written By Exeter City of Literature

We got to experience so many incredible things as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2025. From an ever growing audience at our bookish events, to an incredible array of continent-crossing collaborations with our fellow Cities of Literature, 2025 has been a great year for Exeter—and 2026 will be no different! Viewing this page on a phone? It may be easier to view our 2025 Wrapped here >>

  • We supported: 10 low-income readers and writers in Exeter with fully funded memberships to the Devon & Exeter Institution

  • We donated: Over 100 Books to designated Warm Spaces in Exeter and Devon

  • We hid: 125+ Books around Exeter and low-literacy wards in Devon with Book Fairies

  • We welcomed: 1400+ visitors to our biggest Book Market yet! and worked with...

    • 13 authors, business owners, and comedians for our Author Tent

    • 20 independent bookshops and vendors from Devon

    • 31 volunteers who made the entire day possible!

  • We sold: 700+ books in our Penguin Books Vending Machine!

  • We celebrated: 90 years of Penguin Books at the train station where it all began!

  • And collaborated: with Penguin on two sponsored Silent Book Clubs in honour of the publisher’s local origins. 137 readers joined us for Penguin book giveaways, sweet treats, and more!

  • We hosted: 1281 Silent Book Club readers in 2025!

  • And saw a: 37% increase in mood for our Silent Book Club attendees following an hour of quiet communal reading!

  • We donated: £990 worth of National Book Tokens to readers in need of support to purchase a new book to attend Silent Book Club.

  • We unveiled:

    • A new Devon-wide strategy to connect the region’s culture.

    • A vision for everyone to love stories and storytelling.

    • An aim for Exeter to be one of the most inclusive, imaginative, and globally connected literary cities by 2030.

Exeter City of Literature
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