I've just been looking at the line - up for a literary festival being held in Clapham, and it's managed to attract a load of excellent and high profile writers. I live in Bristol, which is a truly lovely city and pretty cultural, but it just doesn't compare in terms of literary festivals, theatre etc to London. Mostly, I understand this, as London is obviously very affluent in parts and so can afford its theatres, but writers often aren't as rich. It's just got me wondering why London's literary culture is so much more vibrant than the rest of the UK. (And I know about Hay, Cheltenham etc) Also not a covert dig at London, as I really love it. Just: why does it have so much more going on culturally? It can't just be money as there's plenty of well off people in lots of places, but not the same cultural stuff thriving...