Call for Papers

Proposals should be emailed to
proposal.wsc@gmail.com
by December 1, 2025.

The Wordsworth Conference Foundation invites 200-word paper proposals for its 2026 Winter Conference, to be held at the Wordsworth Trust (now rebranded as Wordsworth Grasmere) in Grasmere, UK. Our theme this year is “Romantic Ballad and Romantic Song”, and we especially look for proposals that fit the theme, but any Romantics-related topic will be considered.

Bursaries
 

This year there are three bursaries available, each at a value of £300.

These are open to post-graduates and early career academics.
To apply, please send in your proposal before the deadline along with a short C.V. and an academic reference.

Programme

Keynote speakers include Katie Garner on ‘The Mermaid in Romantic Ballad and Song’, Jon Quayle on John Clare, and Laura Mandell on “Resurrecting the Romantic Circle’s Lyrical Ballads.”

We will also have a musical evening in the Grasmere Town Hall, with a presentation performance by Caroline O’Shea and Flor Ó Riain.
As in recent years, the conference is nonresidential; participants will need to seek their own lodging. However lunches, teas and coffees are provided.

Information and recommendations on accommodation and travel can be found towards the bottom of this page.

Registration Fee
£235
 

If you have any questions, please contact: wordsworthsummerconference@gmail.com

Accommodation

Participants should make their own lodging arrangements.

We recommend the following hotels in Grasmere:

The Daffodil: https://www.daffodilhotel.co.uk/

The Swan: https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/the-swan-grasmere/

Tweedies: https://www.tweediesgrasmere.com/

For those on a budget, we recommend the nearby youth hostel, YHA Grasmere:

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-grasmere-butharlyp-howe

Or the youth hostel in Ambleside:
https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ambleside

You can book a shared dorm or a private room here.

Travel

Train

If you are coming from the South, you can get a train to Windermere. From here it is a simple bus ride to Grasmere. 

To research rail connections we suggest using:

https://www.thetrainline.com/ 

Bus

Once you are in Windermere, you can get the 555 or 559 bus from directly outside the station. These are regular and will take you directly to Grasmere:

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables 

Travelling from Outside the UK

We recommend flying into Manchester airport. From here there is a direct train to Windermere. There are also frequent trains to Oxenholme - you can easily change at this station for Windermere (one stop).