National Poetry Library
Spend time among the stacks in our sanctuary for lovers of poetry
Housing the world’s largest public collection of modern poetry, we are the National Poetry Library; free to join across the UK, and London’s only space dedicated to poetry study.
Founded by the Arts Council in 1953 and opened by poets TS Eliot and Herbert Read, we’ve been at the heart of the nation’s poetry community ever since, nurturing generations of talented and much-loved poets.
Since 1988, and a relocation ceremony led by Seamus Heaney, the National Poetry Library has lived here at the Southbank Centre on Level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall.
We believe poetry is for everyone to enjoy and is a great way to understand the world around us.
‘Many of my obsessions with poets were formed here… having affordable access to this library has been completely invaluable.’Raymond Antrobus
A Poet in Every Port
See how we’re celebrating 75 years of the Southbank Centre with poetry in port towns and cities across the UK.
Projects & exhibitions
We do more than just house poetry at the National Poetry Library, we explore, celebrate and protect it, in all its forms.
Don’t miss a thing
Subscribe for email updates on poetry events, new collection items, competitions, publishers and magazines.
Sign me up
On now & coming up
Poetry Buildings
European Poetry Festival: Estonia
Rug Rhymes: Summer
European Poetry Festival: Latvia
Rug Rhymes: Autumn
Schools & young visitors
Schools
Step out of the classroom and join us for poetry sessions for primary and secondary schools.
Little Library
Introduce the next generation to the joy of poetry and reading in our dedicated reading space.
Poetry stories
5 things to know about Iris Colomb
An introduction to the multi-talented poet, artist, improviser and curator.
Who is poetry collective Femina Culpa?
Introducing the new all-woman poetry collective that are as much one for the past as they are one for the future.
How I create… with poet Anthony Anaxagorou
From the need for music to thriving on feedback, get an understanding of how the award-winning poet crafts his lines.
Carol Ann Duffy reads at WOW Festival’s Laureates Night
Enjoy a reading from Carol Ann Duffy, part of a 2014 event celebrating the women who together held the UK’s five most prominent poet laureate roles.
Ciarán Hinds reads from Seamus Heaney: A Life in Letters
The actor Ciarán Hinds reads an extract of Heaney’s writings on the subject of growing old in this video filmed in our Royal Festival Hall in 2023.
George the Poet: ‘there was no blueprint for what I do’
An in-depth interview with George the Poet who talks about his journey from grime MC to award-winning podcaster, and guiding the next generation.
Nikki Giovanni at Poetry international
Listen to the legendary poet and activist Nikki Giovanni live in conversation with Bridget Minamore, recorded at our 2019 Poetry International.
Poets and the Planet
Poets Khairani Barokka, Lidija Dimkovska and Aaron Kent on how poetry helps them understand our natural world and fight against the climate crisis.
Poet Arji Manuelpillai on inspiration, influences and Improvised Explosive Device
Poet Arji Manuelpillai talks about his debut collection Mutton Rolls in this 2022 interview ahead of an appearance at our London Literature Festival.
‘It’s beautiful to have experienced the journey’: 10 years of Out-Spoken
Celebrating the first decade of Out-Spoken, one of London’s premiere poetry, spoken word and live music nights.
Rescuing poetry from the edge of extinction
Chris McCabe discusses Poems from the Edge of Extinction, an anthology of poetry from endangered languages, inspired by the Endangered Poetry Project.
Chris McCabe on Instagram Poetry For Every Day
National Poetry Librarian Chris McCabe discusses the world’s first anthology of Instagram Poetry, Instagram Poetry For Every Day, published in September 2020
Abstract Benna on life as Lambeth’s first Poet Laureate
Writer and poet Abstract Benna talks about his year as Lambeth’s first Poet Laureate and his 2023 project WATCHIN.
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
Monday, closed.
Getting here
The National Poetry Library is on Level 5 of our Royal Festival Hall.
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.
Study & library use
The library is London’s only space dedicated to poetry study. Visitors studying another subject or looking for a place to work are kindly asked to find an alternative space in the Royal Festival Hall.
