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A selection of books at the National Poetry Library Open Day
View all events for category: Literature & poetry

Poetry Day!

On the theme of spoken word, the National Poetry Library’s annual poetry day features readings and a workshop, and shows off the collection’s hidden gems.

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The library’s annual Poetry Day is a chance to view the rarities, hidden gems and new acquisitions from the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world. Books and items on display include works by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Naomi Shihab Nye, Yoko Ono, Stephanie Sy-Quia and Greg Thomas.

Discover a whole world of ideas in poetry, from poetry and place, action poetry, queer voices in the London spoken word scene, indigenous women’s poetry and the Poetry Stage at Glastonbury.

Plus, hear brilliant new poetry by up-and-coming poets in live reading sessions, try your hand at writing your own, and check out displays of artists’ books including a selection of tiny and illustrated books from the National Poetry Library collection.

Live reading: 1.30pm
See a performance from the Southbank Centre’s New Poets Collective as they read brand new poems in response to the work of the most popular poets in the National Poetry Library collection. See some of the most exciting new talents in poetry performing live, including Michaela Coplen, Luigi Coppola, Kit Griffiths, Jordan Hayward, Erica Hesketh, Pẹ̀lúmi Obasaju, Kaz Reeves, Patrick Romero McCafferty, AC Smith and William Wyld.

Workshop: 11am – 5pm
Drop-in to a collaborative workshop run by artist Nick Murray and Antosh Wojcik. Use collage and poetry prompts to create a neighbourhood and the history of the people that live in it. The workshop culminates in a huge map of everyone’s neighbourhoods, which also becomes a digital game.

Need to know

Age guidance
For all ages
Event information

Poetry live readings take place from 1.30pm – 2pm

Stage Sponsor

TCL in black capital letters

For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

Queen Elizabeth Hall building at Southbank Centre View larger image

Plan your visit

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.

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 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.

Food & drink

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.

Places to eat and drink whilst you’re here