Cityread London is an annual celebration of literature that brings reading to life for the whole capital in a massive book group. Each spring, Cityread invites London’s citizens, workers and visitors to pick up a book – the same book – and read it together. Taking the chosen novel as a starting point, a month-long programme of book groups, author talks, workshops and other events takes place across London’s libraries, bookshops, museums and other venues.

Cityread is a registered charity number 1167210.

You can find out more about us, our trustees and partners here.

Cityread London was first celebrated in 2012 to coincide with Dickens’s 200th birthday. London has one of the richest, most fascinating and entertaining literary traditions in the world. From the opening of The Canterbury Tales to the dénouement of The Da Vinci Code, our city has inspired countless incredible stories and nurtured endless amazing writers.

Each year we choose a different book to focus our celebration on and, whether delving into the past, exploring contemporary life or imagining an alternative reality, they are all brilliant reads.

Previous books have included:

2017
Prophecy by S.J. Parris

2016
Ten Days by Gillian Slovo

2015
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

2014
My Dear I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young

2013
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks

2012
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens