ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ and English
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ is a culturally rich city with a plethora of connections to literature and language, and everything that comes with it.

Festival of the Mind
Every year, the University of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ hosts Festival of the Mind, breaking down the barriers of academia and hosting free events in the city showcasing the latest breakthroughs in research in collaboration with creatives from across the city, featuring multiple academics from the School of English.
The following academics from the School of English were involved in :
- Professor Frances Babbage:
- Professor David Forrest:
- Professor Jo Gavins & Dr Seth Mehl:
- Dr Chris Montgomery:
- Dr Tom Rutter:
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Theatres
Home to the largest theatre complex in the UK outside of London, ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Theatres comprises of three theatres: the Crucible, the Lyceum and the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, all of which host a variety of in-house and touring productions.
DocFest
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ DocFest is the largest documentary festival in the UK and the third largest in the world, annually showcasing film screenings, interactive and virtual reality exhibitions and talks & seminars in June every year.
Off the Shelf
Off the Shelf Festival of Words takes place in the city every October, attracting many media and literary figures, such as journalists, broadcasters, poets and authors to the city. Off the Shelf is also one of the largest celebrations of reading and writing in the country, hosting talks, workshops and exhibitions.
Cinemas in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ is home to multiple independent cinemas which show everything from indie films to the latest blockbusters. Here are some of our favourites:
- : A large independent cinema, café, bar, creative workspace and unique cultural hub situated in the heart of ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ's Cultural Industries Quarter.
- : Curzon are a small group of cinemas specialising in art house films, with a three-screen cinema in ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ city centre.
- : Located inside a building that's over 100 years old, Abbeydale Picture House is a Grade II listed building currently being renovated, but still hosts occasional film-related events.
- : Housed inside our award-winning students' union, Film Unit are the oldest student film society in the whole of the UK.
ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Guide to Arts and Culture
We've also created our own ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Arts and Culture Guide that you might find useful - feel free to take a look!

Visit us
Discover what sets ÎÛÎÛ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ apart at our undergraduate open days on Saturday 21 June and Saturday 5 July 2025.