Passionately searching for poetry

For those poetically inclined, London can be the playground of their dreams.

A cluster of unique bookstores, cafés and libraries hold together the impressively large society of poets who meet and share their work, in this artistic sprawl of a city.

Ambit is the perfect starting place for a taste of this poetry scene.

They hold regular open mic slots around London and launch a new issue of their magazine every three months at The Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town.

The Poetry Society have their own Poetry Café in Covent Garden which hosts events every weeknight ranging from women’s only to poets living in exile.

In general, the groups are friendly, encouraging and diverse.

Poetry London online has detailed listings of all the events and readings on around London as does the Poetry Society’s website.

Most importantly these nights are about coming and listening to others as they share their work.

Find regular poetry readings at:

Briton Art Gallery every other month. Other places to explore are the Calder Bookshop, Monday nights at the Troubadour Coffee House, Laudurdal House, London Review Bookshop, Museum of London Docklands, Questors Theatre for Pitshonger Poets, the Dog and Bull pub for Poets Anonymous, Café Oto and The Lamb – host of Keith Jebb’s Blue Bus nights, all information online.