Imagine this if you will; A lazy morning drinking flat whites and talking life and love with Dolly Alderton, followed by a casual encounter with Hugh Bonneville on a leather sofa, an afternoon lusting over orgasmic food with Heston and Jamie, then laughs into the late hours with Rob Delaney, Graham Norton and Davina.

The best bit of this fantasy? This is no daydream, but exactly what you can do at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival – for 10 fabulous days.

Every year when this behemoth of books rolls into town I literally lose hours of my life digitally thumbing the brochure of enticing events, and this year is one of the best so far. The longest-running literary festival of its kind in the world, this gathering of lit glitterati has hosted some of the world’s leading novelists, poets, humorists, historians, philosophers, actors and politicians.

Taking place in and around Montpellier Gardens, this year sees 10 terrific days of talks, workshops, performances and events for all ages (with 200 free events thrown in for good measure).

So what’s it like to spend a few hours here? Firstly, don’t be put off by thinking you won’t be able to park within a 35 mile radius of such a big event. I bagged a spot right outside Imperial Gardens, so it is super easy to get to. The town centre is used to visitors with its array of bars, cafes and boutiques so it is primed and ready, lined with hundreds of pay and display bays just nearby, failing that head for one of the big car parks within skipping distance of the Festival.

It’s well laid out too (especially good if you’re coming for one of the many childrens’ events with a buggy or toddler in tow), with the action and talks taking place at several venues in and around the gardens.

So what to put on your list from the epically stellar line-up? There’s just so much good stuff to tap into here, I warn you, you’ll be spoilt for choice. I could easily have camped out and seen 90% of them given half the chance, but seeing as tents and blow-up beds are not up for grabs at this spa town jamboree (Chelt’s far too refined for that darling) I picked two headliners happening on the Saturday afternoon.

First up was Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen: More!. Chaired by the Editor of the Sunday Times Home supplement the talk was in good hands, a rip-roaring 60 minutes of the legendary Changing Rooms presenter and all round interiors icon giving his tips, tricks and acerbically entertaining takes on the interiors of us mere mortals.

After an hour I’d learnt an awful lot about Maximalism (the subject of his new book) and came away seriously re-examining my Farrow & Ball grey-scale life choices. The talk was interspersed with What’s Apped-in photos of real rooms from the audience (oh you brave, brave souls) which were then brilliantly dissected by LLB to howls of laughter from the audience.

This year it also feels like the Festival has really stepped up its interactive game, with the audience now invited to send in live questions via an app called Slido, which are read out to the unsuspecting authors and celebs – a fabulously fun new addition to the festival.

Next up was an audience with Edward Enninful, CEO of Vogue magazines. Rarely interviewed publicly, the audience for this one was packed. As I attempted to blend in with 2,000 way-cooler-dressed-than-me Gen Zs I settled in for what was a fascinating chat hosted by Guardian journalist Afua Hirsch (also turns out cousin of super model and first black cover star of Vogue Adwoa Aboah). The talk took you through his incredible journey from a traumatic childhood in Ghana to rising to become the first black male editor of Vogue. It was another absolutely fascinating 60 minutes.

There are lots of tents to explore from the book tent with piles of tempting looking new releases laid out for perusing and purchasing. Even if you haven’t booked a talk, I recommend coming down for a browse because many of them have been hand signed by the authors so you can snap up a valuable copy of your favourite book.

It’s also the area where you can meet and greet authors so stick around long enough and you’ll spot more than a few famous faces.

A refuel here is highly recommended, you’ve got the al fresco food pavilion where you can feast on artisan burgers, vegan wraps, crepes and more, or order a beer or a wine from the drinks van, and people watch from the band stand which was draped with autumnal gourds and plants.

If it’s a bit nippy for that, head into the main Cafe tent where you can chill out on one of the long tables with a large flute of bubbly from the Champagne bar or a pick-me-up coffee to see you through the day.

There’s a really cool laid back vibe to the Cheltenham Literature Festival, it’s a pretty special place,a not to mention super sociable. Even if you are rocking up solo I guarantee you’ll end up chatting to people it’s so friendly.

Intrigued to know what other people had made a pilgrimage for, I chatted to a mother and daughter who were fresh and still quite teary-eyed from seeing the brilliant Charlie Mackesy (The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse), and a couple who’d bagged tickets for Bono, one of this year’s headliners.

Tempted? The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is on until 16 October, there’s still time and tickets available, check out what’s up for grabs here.

Want to see more? Read my 12 picks of the talks you can’t miss.

Muddy reviews the Cheltenham Literature Festival

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