The London Book Fair is a huge event in the annual publishing calendar, and from 11-13 March 2025 London Olympia will be packed full of publishing industry professionals and suppliers.
With all of that publishing expertise gathered under one (massive) roof, it's a great place for networking, building professional connections and gathering insights that'll help you on the first steps in your publishing career.
A student ticket to the London Book Fair costs £20 a day (compared to £69 a day for non-students). You can see all of the ticket options here.
If you're thinking of going along to the London Book Fair, it's worth doing a bit of prep to make sure you get your most out of your time there.
Bookcareers.com has this useful post on networking at the London Book Fair and will be hosting a careers clinic with recruitment teams from some of the big publishing companies.
For more insights, we asked Ellie Gorton, Co-Chair of the Society of Young Publishers UK, to share her top tips for aspiring publishing professionals who are going along to the London Book Fair 2025 – and here's what she said...
Tip 1: Speak to everyone you can
"The one key tip I would give aspiring publishing professionals visiting the London Book Fair this year is to be open and willing to speak to anyone! The London Book Fair is filled with interesting, inspiring and friendly people who are often more than happy to talk to you, so try your best to speak to as many people as you can. Even just making small talk with those near you in a queue for a presentation or chatting with the person next to you at the water fountain can be low-pressure, casual opportunities to network!"
Tip 2: Ask for contact details and follow up on LinkedIn
"My next tip would be to get contact details for the people you speak to. Don't be shy about asking to connect on LinkedIn! It's a good idea to message those you met at LBF to thank them for their time and let them know that you're keen to stay in touch. This way, they can stay as longer-term connections, and you can stay up to date with their work (and also be in the know for any hiring updates!)"
Tip 3: Be prepared to be on your feet all day
"My final tip would be to wear some comfortable shoes! If you haven't been before, the venue is much bigger than you'd think, and you'll likely be on your feet for most of the day - you don't want to be stuck wearing that pair of shoes that give you blisters all day. Be comfortable, at ease, and excited for a full day of panels, networking, and career development."
