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
Join online for free
Join and access digital and print poetry books and audio.
Find, reserve, renew
Renew any current loans you have on our online catalogue.
On now & coming up
Making Poetry: Astra Papachristodoulou
Rug Rhymes
Making Poetry: Creating Banner Poems
DH Lawrence Celebration
Special Edition: The Other Side of Hope
Special Edition: Working at Working Class
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.
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, direct to your inbox.
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
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.
