About us

From modest beginnings in 1988, when it was a listings newsletter, Poetry London has developed into one of the UK’s leading poetry magazines. Do not be misled by our name: Poetry London has the same relation to London as The New Yorker has to New York. In other words, it is a national and international magazine. We publish three times a year and feature poems and reviews from across the UK and Ireland, but also from the US, Canada and Australia and many in translation. Poetry London wants to attract the best poems by the best poets currently writing in English. But an important editorial aim is also to foster emerging writers. On average a third of the poetry pages is given to poets who have yet to publish a first collection. We review pamphlets in the autumn issue and first collections in every issue, and we run an annual poetry competition. Supported by Arts Council England, Poetry London is unique among major UK poetry magazines in that it is independent of any owner, poetry organisation or publishing house. It is run by an editorial team headed by Ahren Warner who, as Poetry Editor, is the most recent in a line of distinguished poet/editors including Pascale Petit, Maurice Riordan and Colette Bryce.

‘The name Poetry London might suggest a publication geared to a metropolitan coterie. Nothing could be further from the truth. Poetry London spreads its net wide to include the latest from Europe, American and other parts of the world, as well as from the islands of Britain and Ireland: work by new poets and established ones. The reviews are intelligent and articulate. The design is simple and accessible. In other words, it’s one of the best poetry magazines around.’

- Ciaran Carson

‘It’s eclectic international editorial vision makes Poetry London one of the very best, essential poetry magazines in English.’
- Steve Berg, Editor, American Poetry Review