Skip to main content

What’s on

Filter events

Filter by date

Choose a timeframe
Today Tomorrow This week Next week This weekend
Or choose dates
Insert start date as dd/mm/yyyy or click on date picker to choose a start date
Insert end date as dd/mm/yyyy or click on date picker to choose an end date

Or filter by type

Art & exhibitions Classical music Comedy Courses & workshops Family & young people Gigs Literature & poetry Performance & dance Talks & debates Tours & activities
Our festivals & series Free events Access events
Access events
Clear Filters

Showing results for
Literature & poetry

Overview Calendar

Wednesday 2 October

Special Edition: The Last Dance

Special Edition: The Last Dance

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Tickets From £7.00

Thursday 3 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
10 Years of Serial: An Evening with Sarah Koenig
Sarah Koenig sits in front of a red background wearing a grey top

10 Years of Serial: An Evening with Sarah Koenig

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL) Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00

Friday 4 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Saturday 5 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Sunday 6 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Neneh Cherry: A Thousand Threads

Neneh Cherry: A Thousand Threads

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00

Tuesday 8 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Wednesday 9 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
The Forward Book of Poetry 2025: Launch Event
Joelle Taylor wears a checked three piece suit holding a microphone

The Forward Book of Poetry 2025: Launch Event

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00

Thursday 10 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Friday 11 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Saturday 12 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Sunday 13 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Tuesday 15 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Wednesday 16 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Thursday 17 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Friday 18 October

Rug Rhymes
Toddlers with their parents sitting on the floor at Rug Rhymes event

Rug Rhymes

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Tickets From £4.00
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Saturday 19 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Sunday 20 October

Making Poetry: Creating Banner Poems
Blackboard covered in writing in white chalk with fragments of paper and material partially obscuring the words.

Making Poetry: Creating Banner Poems

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Tickets From £7.00
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Tuesday 22 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free

Wednesday 23 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2024
Various editions of Wasafiri magazines are displayed in stacks on a wooden table.

Wasafiri: New Writing Prize 2024

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £10.00
Debut London Literature
Woman in a grey vest top stands in front of a wall in a garden.

Debut London Literature

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £12.00
Jordan Stephens: Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs
Jordan Stephens against a grey wall wearing a grey jacket and black baseball cap

Jordan Stephens: Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00

Thursday 24 October

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Out-Spoken: October
Danez Smith sits onstage, wearing a camo jacket.

Out-Spoken: October

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters
Deborah Levy sits in front of a curtain and rests her head on her hand.

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Book Now

Last few tickets

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free

Friday 25 October

London Literature Festival: Rug Rhymes
Woman standing onstage in the Clore Ballroom in front of an audience.

London Literature Festival: Rug Rhymes

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as A relaxed performance
The Clore Ballroom
Free
The Children's Bookshow: Sydney Smith
Four children and one adult standing in an event space.

The Children's Bookshow: Sydney Smith

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Sold out
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Alan Hollinghurst: Our Evenings
Writer Alan Hollinghurst wears rectangular glasses and looks into the camera

Alan Hollinghurst: Our Evenings

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Somali Week: Trailblazing Women Poets
Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf standing at a microphone, clicking her fingers.

Somali Week: Trailblazing Women Poets

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £12.00
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free

Saturday 26 October

Poetry Day!
A selection of books at the National Poetry Library Open Day

Poetry Day!

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Poetry Day!
A selection of books at the National Poetry Library Open Day

Poetry Day!

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Poetry Day!
A selection of books at the National Poetry Library Open Day

Poetry Day!

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Poetry Day!
A selection of books at the National Poetry Library Open Day

Poetry Day!

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Lindsey Hilsum: I Brought the War with Me
Lindsey Hilsum stands against a pink background wearing a green jumper and scarf.

Lindsey Hilsum: I Brought the War with Me

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Robert Macfarlane: The World to Come
Robert Macfarlane stands against stone background wearing a navy blue coat

Robert Macfarlane: The World to Come

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL)
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Danez Smith: Bluff
Danez Smith wearing an orange shirt against a white background.

Danez Smith: Bluff

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £12.00
Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Woman in a brown jacket stands by a wall in a field.

Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Helen Charman & Marianne Brooker: Maternal Lines
Helen Charman (left) is wearing a blue jumper, Marianne Brooker (right) is wearing a white shirt and brown glasses

Helen Charman & Marianne Brooker: Maternal Lines

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £12.00
The People’s Favourite Poets
Lemn Sissay smiling and wearing a blue jumper against a black background.

The People’s Favourite Poets

Literature & poetry
Purcell Room
Tickets From £15.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards Showcase
Woman sitting in audience leaning forward and listening.

Creative Future Writers' Awards Showcase

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £5.00
Rupert Everett: The American No
Rupert Everett sits in a dark room, leaning forward and wearing a navy blazer.

Rupert Everett: The American No

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream
A young woman with long brown hair in a wheelchair is speaking into a microphone on stage

Creative Future Writers' Awards – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream
A woman with short blond hair wearing a black shirt and a white pearl necklace

Deborah Levy: Why the Novel Matters – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Ghetts: Live
Ghetts stands against a rocky outcrop wearing a light blue jacket.

Ghetts: Live

Gigs
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL)
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00

Sunday 27 October

Creative Future Writers' Day
Three speakers sitting onstage at Southbank Centre, engaging in a discussion.

Creative Future Writers' Day

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Purcell Room
Free
Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream
A panel of writers talk to the crowd at the creative future writers awards

Creative Future Writers' Day – Live Stream

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Free
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Artist's face behind a transparent page with black letters

Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou

Literature & poetry
National Poetry Library
Free
Florence Given: Women Living Deliciously
Writer Florence Given wears a fur coat in front of a pink background that matches her hair.

Florence Given: Women Living Deliciously

Talks & debates
This performance is tagged as Speech to text
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets From £15.00
Outspoken Masterclass: October
Three writers sat at a table each holding a pen and writing in a poetry workshop

Outspoken Masterclass: October

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00
And Other Stories Book Club: Hanne Ørstavik
Writer Hanne Ørstavik has blue eyes and short white curly hair and looks off camera to the right

And Other Stories Book Club: Hanne Ørstavik

Literature & poetry
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £22.00
An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Friends
Richard Dawkins wears a blue suit sitting in front of a bookshelf

An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Friends

Literature & poetry
This performance is tagged as British sign language interpreted (BSL) Speech to text
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets From £25.00
1 2 3 4

Whilst you’re with us

Modified Social Benches

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

Crazy Boules
A close up shot of the boules by the 'jack'

Crazy Boules

The classic French game gets a neon-spangled makeover.

Southbank Centre Food Market
Mango chutney being added to a wrap at La Sani

Southbank Centre Food Market

With a huge choice of street food and drinks, our weekly food market is a must-visit.

Ground & Sound
Gardener Paul Pulford listening to Ground and Sound in the Roof Garden

Ground & Sound

Experience an enchanting musical score in our very own secret garden.

Shopping
A variety of Block Scene merchandise on sale at the Royal Festival Hall shop including colourful printed t-shirts, mugs and tea towels.

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.