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.
Also search our lists of magazines and publishers to find out their submission policies. You can also find a list of current poetry competitions which are currently open for entry.
Advice for emerging poets
Start writing poetry, improve your work and find out about publishing it
Competitions
Get your poetry published with a bit of help from our handy list
Poetry publishers
All the UK’s major and independent poetry publishers listed in one place
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.
Getting here
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 site.
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.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.
