A Crime and Thriller Festival with a Difference
With only a few days to go until Capital Crime in St Paul’s, London, one of the UK’s biggest crime and thriller festivals, I thought it might be nice to write a kind of ‘Beginner’s Guide’ to the festival. Check out the programme, rammed full of your favourite authors, to see if there’s anything that takes your fancy. (How will you choose?!) There are a few tickets still available – you know you’ll only end up with FOMO if you’re not there!
I like to peruse the schedule in advance. I decide who I absolutely cannot miss, which panels I’d quite like to see and when I’m going to fit in lunch! There is so much going on, it would be easy to miss something. Don’t forget to look at the fringe events taking place – usually in the bar area. These are usually a little less formal than the panels, and give a great opportunity to mix with authors and readers, and have a catch up with friends. There are evening events too – totally worth scheduling your dinner around. Last year’s quiz was hilarious!
The beauty of Capital Crime is that it’s all in one place and all on one floor. When you arrive at the Leonardo you can take one of the lifts down, but these can get quite busy what with hotel guests using them as well. (The audacity!) So, if you don’t want to wait, and you’re able, there are stairs on the left beside where the main reception is. The stages, bookshop, bar and bathrooms are two floors down, and there is a large seating area for lounging and chatting when you’re in need of a break. There are also places to fill up water bottles and tea and coffee is available.
Getting There
Leonardo London St Paul’s is situated on Godliman Street, but there is also an entrance Carter Lane. There are three tube stations nearby, Blackfriars, St Pauls and Mansion House. Blackfriar’s is a 7 minute walk, St Paul’s and Mansion House are both a 6 minute walk. Depending on where you are coming from, you could also get the City Thameslink – the nearest station is also only a six-minute walk away.
Where’s Good to Eat?
I don’t know about you, but whenever I go somewhere different I’m always on the look out for somewhere to eat. Preferably somewhere that comes recommended!
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes in the area, many of which you will be familiar with, but here are a few I recommend that you might not necessarily know about.
The King’s Wardrobe on Carter Lane is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the venue. It’s a lovely spot, open from 7.30am and the perfect place for breakfast or lunch.
Bicafe Piccolo is on Queen Victoria Street and is a personal favourite. It’s a tiny place, so I like to get my panini to go and then wander up to St Paul’s and find a bench to sit on; fabulous for people watching! (Obviously this only works if the weather is good!)
For an evening meal, again, you don’t need to wander far. There are lots of places to eat on St Paul’s Churchyard/Ludgate Hill. I, however, have two particular favourites on Carter Lane.
Terra Rossa is a lovely Italian place with good food and excellent service. (If you love a slightly mental Italian waiter, this is the place for you!)
Krua by Napthong serves delicious Thai food; last year I had the pad kra pow and have been dreaming of it ever since! I’d recommend booking in advance for these restaurants, and any others you might like to try – just to be on the safe side!
Five Things I Recommend You Bring With You
A pen. Authors are always happy to sign books for you, but they don’t always have a pen on them.
A bag. For carrying around all those books you’re going to buy! 😝
A notebook. Without fail, whenever I go to a panel, one or more of the authors always says something that strikes a chord, and I like to make a note.
A battery pack. Even if you’re not a prolific social media poster – like me – it’s still nice to take a few photos. The last thing you want is to miss the opportunity to take a selfie with your favourite author because your phone has died.
An open mind. We can’t all be interested in all of the panels, but I do like to try something that, on the face of it, isn’t for me, at least once over the weekend. I’m rarely disappointed!