Manchester Literature Festival presents Maggie O’Farrell
- Spoken Word
When
Fri 9 Oct 2026, 7pm
Price
£22
Promoter
Manchester Literature Festival
On sale Thu 13 Aug 2026 at 10am
About
Maggie O’Farrell makes a welcome return to Manchester Literature Festival with her extraordinary new novel, Land – a sweeping, multi-generational epic inspired by her own family history and the dramatic landscapes of Ireland’s Atlantic coast. Set in 1865, in the shadow of the Great Hunger, the novel follows mapmaker Tomás and his son as they survey a devastated country. When they discover an uncharted woodland absent from every existing map, a strange encounter sets in motion a journey through buried histories, longing and survival. Join one of contemporary fiction’s greatest storytellers as she explores the way history shapes both landscapes and the lives bound to them. Hosted by Alex Clark.
Co-presented with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester. Sponsored by The Edwardian Manchester.
Maggie O’Farrell is one of today’s most beloved writers. Her novels have sold over four million copies and been translated into 43 languages. Her memoir I Am, I Am, I Am was a number one bestseller, while Hamnet, The Marriage Portrait and The Hand That First Held Mine have all received major literary acclaim. Land follows the film adaptation of Hamnet, co-written by Maggie O’Farrell and Academy Award-winner Chloé Zhao.
Photo credit: Heather Chuter
If you have step-free accessible seating requirements or require a wheelchair position, please contact the RNCM Box Office by emailing [email protected] or phoning 0161 907 5555. Emails are monitored throughout the week. RNCM phone lines are open on Mondays and Thursdays between 2pm and 5pm. Please note this excludes bank holidays.
Advance tickets for this event are now available for MLF Get Closer Members to buy. To buy tickets, please sign in at the top right-hand side of the screen or call QuayTickets Box Office on 0161 876 2015. Memberships start at £25 per year – visit the MLF website for full details of membership benefits and buying options.
This week
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Things to know before your visit
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How to Get Here

Bus
There are frequent bus services from Manchester City Centre (Piccadilly Gardens) to Oxford Road and Booth Street West.
These bus stops are all within a five-minute walk to the RNCM:
Aquatics Centre (Southbound):
Bus Numbers 15, 18, 41 CrossCity, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 111, 142, 142N, 143, 147, 191, 197, V1 Vantage, V2 Vantage, V4
Cavendish Street (Northbound), Higher Cambridge St/Boundary St West (Southbound):
Bus Numbers 101, 102, 103
Royal Northern College of Music (both directions):
Bus Numbers 53 Orbits, 85, 85A, 86, 250, 263 Sapphire
University Shopping (Northbound):
Bus Numbers 15, 18, 41 CrossCity, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 111, 142, 142N, 143, 147, 191, 197, V1 Vantage, V2 Vantage, V4
Tram
The nearest tram stop is St Peter’s Square (0.8 miles). From there you can walk to the RNCM in 15 minutes or catch a southbound bus down Oxford Road.
Bike
A public bike rack can be found in the RNCM surface car park located on Rosamond Street West, next to the entrance doors – don’t forget to bring your bike lock!
There is also a Bee Network docking station on the corner of Rosamond Street West and Oxford Road, next to the RNCM.
Please note that e-bikes are not permitted at the RNCM.
Train
The nearest train station is Manchester Oxford Road (0.5 miles). From there you can walk to the RNCM in 13 minutes or catch a southbound bus down Oxford Road.
Other train stations include:
Manchester Piccadilly (0.8 miles/20 minute walk)
Deansgate (0.9 miles/21 minute walk)
Manchester Victoria (1.5 miles/33 minute walk)
Car and Parking Information
If you are travelling by car we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey. Please note that general traffic along Oxford Road is no longer permitted to use the route between 6am and 9pm, seven days a week. Visitors driving into and across the city centre will need to use alternative routes, such as Upper Brook Street and Princess Street, rather than Oxford Road.
Parking
Please note that there is no public car parking available at the RNCM on weekdays and Saturdays before 5pm. Daytime visitors are advised to use nearby public car parks.
We have limited blue badge spaces within our surface car park that can be pre-booked by customers at [email protected] (these are subject to availability). There is also limited on street provision for disabled parking on Rosamond Street West, adjacent to the main car park entrance.

Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence Underground Car Park (evenings and all day on Sundays) Off Rosamond Street West
On weekdays and Saturdays between 5 – 11.30pm, and on Sundays between 6am – 11.30pm, visitor parking is available in the RNCM secure underground car park, located next to the College in the basement of Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence. This is a cashless car park.
The current charge per visit is £5 per car, payable by contactless or chip and pin only.*
Please note that the underground car park entrance/exit is 2.1 metres high and 2.3 metres wide. Customers who own larger vehicles may wish to consider using alternative car parks in order to reduce the risk of damage to vehicles.
Overnight parking in the Sir Charles Groves Hall car park is prohibited, and is subject to a fine of £50 per night.
The two closest public car parks to the RNCM are:
University of Manchester Booth Street West Car Park
Booth Street West
M15 6AR (access via Higher Cambridge Street)
Further information
Manchester Aquatics Centre Car Park (NCP)
Booth Street East
M13 9SS
Further information
Please note that travel and parking information has been given as a guide only, and may be subject to change. Car parks 2 and 3 are not managed by the RNCM. Visitors are advised to check travel plans ahead of your journey.
Air
Our nearest airport is Manchester Airport, located about 10 miles south of the city centre. There are regular train, bus and taxi connections to the city.
For more information please visit the Manchester Airport website.

Where to eat
Our fully accessible RNCM Café Bar serves freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches, and evening meals, as well as takeaway salads, sandwiches, wraps, cakes, and snacks. All our selections include vegan options, and we operate our service in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way.

