From Sunday 4 May to Sunday 18 May 2025, access to parts of the Alison Watt: From Light exhibition will be limited. The manor will remain open, but the gallery will be closed. During this time, special admission prices apply: £8 Standard / £4 Students. Visitors can explore the manor, see J’Accuse…! Sculptures by Nicole Farhi, and enjoy Alison Watt’s work in Soane’s historic home.
Please note that during this period there will be no accessible toilet available at Pitzhanger. The nearest accessible toilet is located at Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, just a 5-minute walk away. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Keep your ticket — it can be stamped at the front desk to allow you to return and enjoy the full Alison Watt: From Light exhibition from Wednesday 21 May 2025 at no extra cost. Learn more
Why does espionage fiction remain so popular and compelling? Join three leading writers in the genre. The granddaughter of infamous British traitor Kim Philby has written a fictionalised account of the fascinating relationship between her grandfather and the woman who recruited him as a Soviet spy in the 1930s. Jake Kerridge is the crime and thriller reviewer of the Daily Telegraph and local Ealing author Alex Gerlis’s latest bestseller is based on real events that took place during the Second World War.
Chairing this event is Shane Whaley, the passionate force behind Spybrary, a podcast and vibrant community of spy fiction aficionados who enjoy his engaging discussions, interviews, and reviews.
Charlotte Philby is a journalist and author of four spy novels, all focusing on the role of women in espionage.
Jake Kerridge is the crime and thriller reviewer of The Daily Telegraph, as well as one of the UK’s leading commentators on the world of books and publishing. He has interviewed writers ranging from Margaret Atwood to Elmore Leonard and, in the spy fiction field, John le Carré, Len Deighton, Mick Herron, Charles Cumming and many more
Ealing-based Alex Gerlis is a former BBC journalist who began writing espionage novels in 2011 when he left the BBC. He has written eleven novels, all set in Europe during the Second World War and based on real events.
Shane Whaley the host of the Spybrary Podcast, is a seasoned podcaster and a fervent enthusiast of spy books and espionage history. His insightful discussions and engaging style make him a beloved figure among spy genre aficionados.
About Ealing Book Festival
The aim of Ealing Book Festival is to celebrate the joy of reading and to advance engagement and education around literature and reading. Through our events we hope to bring people and communities together; inspire and develop writers of all ages; showcase well-known authors and promote local writers, and grow book-loving audiences. The Festival team is Catherine Jaquiss, Jeff Brown, Alex Gerlis, Anne Elletson, Tanya Burgess, Nadine Thompson, Jeff Highfield, Ian Burge, Emma Walker and Natalie Arestis.
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