Poetry London

Poetry London’s artistic vision is based on the understanding that ‘the best poetry’ includes the broadest variety of styles and subjects, and that the very best of that poetry often acts as an unacknowledged catalyst for change. Our understanding of change is that it is argumentative and uninhibited and Poetry London will do all it can to encourage that kind of poetry and be a home to it. Poetry London is committed to supporting, empowering, and uplifting racially and ethnically marginalized writers. The magazine’s roots are punk and DIY, born as a listings magazine during the austerity years of the 1980s, it sought to provide an alternative to the mainstream establishment by featuring writers from backgrounds often ignored and sidelined. Honouring those origins, we will publish poems that shock and unsettle. These poems will speak of trauma, war and injustice, because that is the world we live in. We will prioritize work that deals with issues of migration, economic injustice and freedom of speech, introducing our audiences to poetry of the highest level that also addresses the most pressing issues of our times. Via our range of publishing-based activities – first and foremost our magazine, our annual poetry prize, our pamphlet competition, and our apprenticeship schemes, we will work to help our fellow artists undertake their first steps in their literary careers, creating a space for established writers to showcase their most experimental work, publishing them alongside emerging writers who have yet to publish their first collections.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United Kingdom

Established in 1988

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