Write & publish
If you write poetry and want help to develop your work or get some ideas of where to get it published, we have plenty of free-to-access information to point you in the right direction.
Research using our collections, including an unrivalled selection of current UK poetry magazines, and come along to some of our wide-ranging poetry events and exhibitions.
You can also search our lists of magazines and publishers to find out their submission policies. And discover a list of current poetry competitions which are currently open for entry.
Advice for emerging poets
Tips on how to start writing poetry, improve your work and find out about publishing it.
Competitions
Discover upcoming poetry competitions in which you can enter your work.
Poetry publishers
All the UK’s major and independent poetry publishers listed in one place.
Poetry magazines
Find contemporary poems to read and ideas of where to get your poetry published.
Donate to the National Poetry Library
You can support our work and programme of free events for children and adults by making a donation. Every penny you give will go towards the National Poetry Library.
For your visit
National Poetry Library Southbank Centre
The National Poetry Library is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 12 noon – 6pm
Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 8pm
Getting here
The National Poetry Library is on Level 5 of our Royal Festival Hall.
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Study & library use
The library is London’s only space dedicated to poetry study. Visitors studying another subject or looking for a place to work are kindly asked to find an alternative space in the Royal Festival Hall.
