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The London Magazine

See other projects related to this listing.

This listing may be deactivated on: 04 Oct 2026. Learn about this process.

About

The UK's oldest cultural journal featuring the best original poetry, short fiction, cultural reviews and literary essays since 1732. The London Magazine has been responsible for publishing some of the most significant literature in British history. Recent contributors include Christopher Reid, Helen Dunmore, John Sutherland, Michael Holroyd and Beryl Bainbridge, Michael Blackburn, Roddy Lumsden, Mario Petrucci, John Hartley Williams, George Szirtes, Martyn Crucefix and many more. Consistently on the pulse of what is happening on the literary scene, The London Magazine is a meeting place of the day's greatest minds.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for some submissions. They charge fees for submissions in even numbered months and after quota met in other months, except for low-income writers who can apply for free entries.
The fee is GBP £3.50 (above average for magazines that charge).
Important: If they are currently running a contest (listed separately), they close to general submissions in that genre.
Submission Caps: They may close to free submissions if they reach their quota.
Important Notice: On our latest check, they were not open to submissions, although their website states they should be.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United Kingdom
Established in 1732

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown publication frequency
Print Publication Print Publication
Published 6 x per year

AI Policy

Human-created work only; no AI use allowed
422 members set this magazine as a Favorite.

Statistics Synopsis

Slower
The London Magazine's overall average response time is slower than most magazines.
More Challenging
The London Magazine's overall acceptance rate is lower than most magazines.
Responsive
The London Magazine's overall rate of non-response is within a normal range for magazines.
Learn more about our statistics

Collapse section Fiction Open

Short fiction should address mature and sophisticated themes. Moreover, it should have an elegance of style, structure and characterisation. We do not normally publish science fiction or fantasy writing, or erotica.

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

2

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Short Story: 1,000 - 4,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Methods: Submittable submission manager. Postal.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Open

Reviews, essays, memoir pieces and features should be erudite, lucid and incisive.

Dates:

Open to nonfiction submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:

Review: 800 - 2,000 words.
Essay: 800 - 2,000 words.
Narrative Nonfiction: 800 - 2,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Personal.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics including...
Literature/Books: Theory/Analysis/Criticism.
Memoir.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Methods: Submittable submission manager. Postal.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Open

Poetry should display a commitment to the ultra specificities of language, and show a refined sense of simile and metaphor. The structure should be tight and exact.

Dates:

Open to poetry submissions through 30 September 2026* (approx. 15 days from now).

4

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: Up to 40 lines; Up to 6 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

No monetary payment No monetary payment.

Submissions:

Methods: Submittable submission manager. Postal.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Expand section Visual Art Closed

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

Recent cover image or website screenshot for The London Magazine

Go to publication's website

Report:
Submission/Response
Correction/Update
New Cover Art

Social:
Instagram @thelondonmagazine
X (Twitter) @thelondonmag

Support this Publisher:
Purchase Issue(s)

For the Editor(s):
Request Interview
Link to Duotrope

The London Magazine Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 85 reports from 72 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
3 min | 108.5 mean avg | 107.0 median | 227 max days (81.9 std dev)
Responses
71.76 %
Acceptances:
0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet.
Rejections:
71.76 % (117.1 avg. days per rejection) | 14.8 % personal, 72.1 % form, 13.1 % unspecified | 1.2 % shortlisted
Non-Responses
2.35 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
2.35 % (203.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded)
Withdrawals
25.88 % (63.1 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
57 responses are pending (2 min | 108.3 mean avg | 117.5 median | 239 max days waiting | 582.6 std dev) from 56 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The editors will try to make a decision within 120 days. (41.2 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 120 days.)
The most common submission fee paid: GBP £3.50. (29.1 % of reports specified whether they paid a fee; of those, 64.9 % paid fees.)
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 10 Sep 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 30 Jul 2026.
Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 02:50 UTC (6 hours, 27 minutes ago).
View report of recent responses from this project

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Your Submissions

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The London Magazine Essay Competition BELIEVED DEFUNCT  Charges fees for all submissions
The London Magazine Poetry Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
The London Magazine Short Story Prize  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 06 Sep 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.

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