Below you will find a comprehensive list of UK poetry organisations, ordered by category. Just click on the category name to open the list.
If you would like your organisation to be included, please email the details to us at listed@poetrylondon.co.uk.
The Albany
For spoken word, music and theatre events in south-east London.
Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG
Booking: 020 8692 4446
www.thealbany.org.uk
Apples and Snakes
The UK’s leading organisation for performance poetry. The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG
Tel: 08455213460
www.applesandsnakes.org
Arts Council England
Funds arts events, oversees ACE deparments & regional arts boards. 2 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R 0DS
Tel: 0845 300 6200
enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
www.artscouncil.org.uk
The British Council
Produces free listings of courses & festivals as well as organising events. Literature Dept, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN
Tel: 020 7389 3194
https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts
Cypriot Writers’ Association
Main activities are poetry readings, cultural events, festivals and dancing. There is also a theatre group. London-wide. Meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 8-10pm.
Contact Maria Spyrou on 020 8882 7712.
Literature South West
Poetry Can – Poetry news, events and opportunities
www.literaturesouthwest.co.uk
Modern Poetry in Translation
Founded in 1965 by Ted Hughes, this is the UK’s leading poetry translation magazine. Publishing the best of world poetry, alongside translation features and reviews.
www.mptmagazine.com
Poetry Book Society
Long-established membership organisation for poetry readers which also awards the T S Eliot Prize. Dutch House, 307-8, High Holborn, London WC1V 7LL.
Tel: 020 7831 7468.
www.poetrybooks.co.uk
Poetry Can
The Poetry Can, 12 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RH
Tel: (0117) 933 0900<a
www.poetrycan.co.uk
Poetry Foundation
Chicago-based independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry. They publish Poetry magazine and maintain a rich website with poems, features, resources, programmes, etc.
www.poetryfoundation.org
Poems in the Waiting Room
This registered arts in health charity supplies poetry cards for waiting NHS patients. Currently 30,000 are distributed quarterly nationwide to 1400 NHS surgeries. The poems need take account of a patient’s anxieties.
POBox 488 Richmond TW9 4SW
Email submissions & submission guidelines:
pitwr@blueyonder.co.uk
www.poemsinthewaitingroom.org
Poetry Society
Produces Poetry Review & Poetry News as well as running courses, readings & events for adults & children. •1st floor: BT Poetry Studio – venue for workshops, lectures & talks. • Ground floor: Poetry Cafe. • Basement: Performing space – different focus every night of the week. 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BX
Tel: 020 7420 9880
info@poetrysociety.org.uk
www.poetrysociety.org.uk
The Poetry Translation Centre
A small organisation dedicated to translating contemporary poetry from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
PO Box 61051
London SE16 4YY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7078 7628
deborah@poetrytranslation.org
www.poetrytranslation.org
Royal Society of Literature
Organises 12 lectures, discussions & readings a year. Somerset House, Strand WC2R 1LA
Tel: 020 7845 4676
info@rslit.org
www.rslit.org
Scottish Book Trust
Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Tel: 0131 524 0160
info@scottishbooktrust.com
www.scottishbooktrust.com
Writers’ Centre Norwich
Writers’ Centre Norwich is a literature development agency based in Norwich, interested in both the artistic and social impact of creative writing.
14 Princes Street, Norwich, NR3 1AE
Tel: 01603 877177
info@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
Asian Writers Workshop
Balbeer Bahi, Tara Arts Centre, 356 Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES Tel: 020 8871 1458. Also: Barham Park Library, Harrow Rd, Wembley.
Contact Nikhil Kapur on 020 8937 3550
Banipal
Magazine of modern Arab literature. PO Box 22300, London W13 8ZQ
Tel: 020 8568 9747
banipal@compuserve.com
Africa Centre
38 King St, WC2E
Tel: 020 7836 1973
020 7240 6649 (Book Centre)
www.africacentre.org.uk
Apples & Snakes
Poets in Education, The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG.
Tel: 0845 521 3460
lisa@applesandsnakes.org
www.applesandsnakes.org
East-Side
Runs workshops & events. Suite 16, Perseverance Works, 37 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London E2 7NX.
Tel: 020 7033 2380
www.eastside.org.uk
English & Media Centre
Offers advice, support & courses to teachers.136 Charlton St, NW1 1RX.
Tel: 020 7383 0488
National Association of Writers in Education
Supports development of creative writing in education. Includes directory of writers & writing courses. PO Box 1, Sheriff Hutton, York YO60 7YU.
Tel: 01653 618429
clare@nawe.co.uk
www.nawe.co.uk
Poets in School
Advice on inviting poet to schools, includes directory of poets.
Info:www.poetryzone.ndirect.co.uk/index2.htm
Young Book Trust
Info on all aspects of children’s books & reading. Library holds all children’s books published in last 2 yrs. Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ
Tel: 020 8516 2977
www.booktrustchildrensbooks.org.uk
Artsline
London’s info service on access to arts & entertainment for disabled people. Have venue database online. 21 Pine Court, Wood Lodge Gardens, Bromley BR1 2WA.
Tel: 020 7388 2227
access@artsline.org.uk
www.artsline.org.uk
Deafworks
Arts training, consultancy, support. 59 Banner St, EC1Y 8PX
Tel: 020 7689 0033
020 76891048 (text)
020 7689 1049 (fax)
general@deafworks.co.uk
www.deafworks.co.uk
Shape
Creates access to the arts, enabling greater participation by disabled and older people. Deane House Studios, 27 Greenwood Place, London NW5 1LB.
Tel: 0845 521 3457
Electronic Poetry Center
Library of poetry texts online, focusing mainly on contemporary experimental & innovative work from US & world-wide. Info:
http://epc.buffalo.edu/
Not the 4 of July
Seeking poems to celebrate alternative America & global diversity. Patrick Cooper-Duffy
phcduffy12@aol.com
carolebaldock@hotmail.com
Gay Authors’ Workshop
Contact Roy Heaps, 80 College Rd, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5DS
Tel: 0208 568 3777
prdsprss@netscapeonline.co.uk
Gay London Writers
Alternate Fridays
Tel: 020 7733 4047
www.gaylondonwriters.com
Gay Men Writing
Various venues & times. Contact Shaun Levin on
020 7241 6450
gay_men_writing@yahoo.co.uk
The Isle of Lesbos
Info: www.sappho.com
Queer Way to Write
Postal/online. Queer Words, Magik House, Pembroke House, Morfa Mawr, Aberystwyth SY23 2HS
Tel: 020 7681 1956
mail@magikhouse.com
British Library National Sound Archive
Includes The Poet Speaks (British Council 1955-1975), National Poetry Centre readings (1979-1989), BBC Radio (1930-now), In Conversation (ICA, 1981-1993) & literature festivals. 96 Euston Rd NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7440
www.bl.uk/soundarchive
Literature Online Database
Includes full texts of English poetry 600-1900; Faber Poetry Library; Yeats; early US, modern US, & African-American poetry. Info:
http://lion.chadwyck.co.uk
Little Magazines Collection
Little Magazines Dept, The Library, UCL, Gower St, London WC1E 6BT
Tel: 020 7679 7796
www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll/litmags.htm
London and Regional Arts Board Literature Departments
London Arts Board, Elme House, 133 Long Acre, London WC2E 9AF
Tel: 0171 240 1313
john.hampson.lab@artsfb.org.uk
Northern Poetry Library Serves
Includes Tyne & Wear, Cumbria, Durham, Cleveland & Northumberland. Established in 1968 it collects all poetry published in the area and contemporary work from throughout Britain. Postal lending. The Willows, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1TA
Tel: 01670 534524
The Poetry Library
Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, London SE1 8XX Info:
www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
Scottish Poetry Library
Mon-Fri, 11-6 (Sat 1-5). Branches throughout Scotland & mobile library van. Emphasis on modern poetry written in Scots, Gaelic & English. Also translations from around the world. Events & education programme. 5 Crichton’s Cl, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: 0131 557 2876
inquiries@spl.org.uk
www.spl.org.uk
Smithsonian Folkways
Cassette collection. Info:
www.folkways.si.edu
Lapidus
Annual Conference in March. Promotes positive use of literary arts in personal development. Details of local groups in London, Birmingham, Bath & Sheffield can be had from London-based
www.lapidus.org.uk
Survivors’ Poetry
Promotes poetry by survivors of the mental health system. Supportive workshops for all levels of experience. Performances, outreach work & members’ anthologies. Groups all over UK. 34 Osnaburgh Street, NW1 3ND
Tel: 020 7916 5317
survivor@survivorspoetry.org.uk
CoolTan Arts
Mental well-being is enhanced by the power of creativity. A a charity run by and for adults with mental distress.
www.cooltanarts.org.uk
CoolTan Arts, Unit B 237 Walworth Rd London SE17 1RL T: 0207 701 2696 M: 0798 565 8443
University of the Third Age
Regional organisations, includes poetry. Info:
www.u3a.org.uk
Second Light
Second Light Network is a network of 350 women poets with events organised in London and around the country. Their magazine ARTEMISpoetry comes out twice yearly and is for women poets only, publishing poems, reviews, articles, interviews. Poems (2 copies of each) should be sent to co-editor Dilys Wood, 9, Greendale Close, London SE22 8TG at any time. Specimen copies, £5, to include p&p. For further information contact Dilys Wood on
dilyswood@tiscali.co.uk
www.secondlightlive.co.uk
Haiku
British Haiku Society Colin Blundell, Longholm, E Bank, Wingland, Sutton Bridge, Spalding PE12 9YS Info: www.britishhaikusociety.org
Sonnet
Sonnet Central Info:
www.sonnets.org
Villanelle
Craft of Poetry Info:
www.uni.edu/~gotera/CraftOfPoetry/
The AA Independent Press Guide
Academy of American Poets
Acumen Literary Journal
poetry, memoirs, criticism, reviews
www.acumen-poetry.co.uk
A-Gender
database of women poets in the UK.
American Poetry Review
Apples & Snakes
Author network
British Council
British Library
Brittle Star
Coffee-House Poetry at the Troubadour
Culture Map of Shoreditch
Enitharmon
German Cultural Foundation
Online English language magazine.
www.signandsight.com
HappenStance Press
for poetry pamphlets.
www.happenstancepress.com
Hearing Eye
London Magazine
PoetCasting
poetry podcasts of UK writers.
Poetry Archive
Poetry Cafe events
Poetry Daily
Poetry International
Collaboration between Netherlands Poetry International and twelve countries featuring poems, news, reviews, discussions. Info:
www.poetryinternational.org
Poetry Kit
Poetry Library
Excellent resource centre.
www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
Poetry Magazines
Includes first issues of Poetry Review, originally published in 1912. Also includes recent issues of Poetry London, Poetry Wales and Modern Poetry in Translation. More to come. Info:
www.poetrymagazines.org.uk
Poetry pf
A showcase of modern poets in which members have their own pages on the site, which include poems, bios, photographs, links to their own and favourite sites and their publishers’ details.
www.poetrypf.co.uk
Poetry Society
Central organising body for UK poetry.
www.poetrysociety.org.uk
Poetry Society of America
Poetry Wales
Prose-n-Poetry
The Reader
A quarterly magazine based at the University of Liverpool (School of English) publishing reviews, essays, interviews and high quality new poetry and fiction. Also specialising in community projects and programmes for schools. www.thereader.org.uk
Rumi
Seren Publishers
Sheer poetry
Poetry resources compiled by poets themselves.
www.sheerpoetry.co.uk
Sit Down and Write: Poetry Resources
Designed specifically to help you get started in writing poetry, as well as offering resources on ways to gather inspiration and advance your skills.
seatup.com/blog/sit-down-and-write–poetry-resources
South Bank Centre
The Poets House
Almost 20 years old, this NY site is the largest open-access collection in the US.
www.poetshouse.org
The Poetry School
The Poetry Trust
Torbay Poetry Festival
Every October, check events and buy tickets
www.torbaypoetryfestival.co.uk
Torriano Meeting House
www.hearingeye.org
www.torriano.org
UK & Irish Poetry
set up by Edward Barker, AB Jackson
www.thepoem.co.uk
Caribbean Women Writers’ Alliance
Based at Caribbean Centre, Goldsmith’s, New Cross, SE14 6NW Contact Joan Anim-Addo on
020 7919 7395
cea01jaa@gold.ac.uk
Clean Break Theatre Co
Performance Poetry for Women with Experience of the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Systems, 2 Patshull Rd, NW5 2LB
Tel: 020 7482 8600
lillie@cleanbreak.org.uk
Convergence
Women’s Workshops Contact Pauline on
020 8558 7199
Female Eye
Support & services for women writers. Watersmead, Norwood Green Hall, Halifax HX38 8QX
Mslexia
Magazine for women writers. Mystery Guest editors include the best. PO Box 656, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 1PZ
Tel: 0191 281 9772
Daneet Steffens at
editor@mslexia.co.uk
www.mslexia.co.uk
Second Light
Second Light Network is a network of 350 women poets with events organised in London and around the country. Their magazine ARTEMISpoetry comes out twice yearly and is for women poets only, publishing poems, reviews, articles, interviews. Poems (2 copies of each) should be sent to co-editor Dilys Wood, 9, Greendale Close, London SE22 8TG at any time. Specimen copies, £5, to include p&p. For further information contact Dilys Wood on
dilyswood@tiscali.co.uk
www.secondlightlive.co.uk
Women Writers Network
Manchester 4th Tue. Pankhurst Centre, 60-20 Nelson St M13. Monthly speaker, networking & food. Tel: 0161 929 0894. London Meets Conway Hall, Lion, WC1 Contact 21 Prospect Rd, NW2 2JU
