LBF is a global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.

In 1971, Lionel Leventhal, with business partner Clive Bingley, organised The Specialist Publishers’ Exhibition for Librarians, with 22 exhibitors displaying titles on tabletops.

There are many activities during the whole week of the London Book Fair, ranging from business meetings between publishing companies, introductions of titles to readers and visitors, many workshops and seminars to discuss current issues and trends in the industry, and the announcement of prizes and awards.

With the development of digital technologies and an increasing level of engagement from people, especially children and young teenagers, many authors and publishers are looking for a new way to tell stories that can help readers have more interaction with the fantasy and gain new knowledge during the games.

It incorporated, among other things, the Publishing for Digital Minds Conference, the recently launched Tech Tuesday, writers from this year's Market Focus and a direct-to-consumer creative writing event.

[5] In 2012, the London Book Fair appointed China's censoring organization, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), to choose which Chinese authors would be represented at the event.

"[27] The exiled Chinese writer Ma Jian used red paint smeared across his face and a copy of his banned book Beijing Coma while he protested the event.