National Poetry Library Open Day 2022

National Poetry Library Open Day 2022

National Poetry Library Open Day 2022 at Southbank Centre

This year the Southbank Centre is celebrating the 13th National Poetry Library Open Day which takes place on Saturday 29th October in the Royal Festival Hall. Attendees will be able to view a handpicked selection of rarities from the depths of the collection that are scarcely seen.

Founded by the Arts Council in 1953 and opened by poets T.S. Eliot and Herbert Read, the Southbank Centre has been the epicentre of the nation's poetry community to this day, because the collections have been ever-growing the library itself has been housed in several places over the years. It finally found residence at the Southbank Centre in 1988 where it has remained ever since.

The National Poetry Library is the world's largest public collection of modern poetry, and among those many, many words, there are many poets who have responded to the pressing need to address the environment, one of the focuses of this year's London Literature Festival.

The Festival starts at 11am and from 2pm guests will be able to listen to live recordings from a selected range of contemporary poets as they respond to issues relating to the environment.

The event is free to attend and is part of the grander London Literature Festival, access is on the fifth floor of the Royal Festival Hall and full details can be found on the Southbank Centre website.

If you're planning on coming to London for National Poetry Library Open Day and looking for somewhere to stay then look no further than Mercure London Hyde Park with our amazing selection of rooms and customisable amenities you'll definitely feel like a rock star in our luxurious 4* hotel near Hyde Park.

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