The London Magazine is the UK’s oldest literary magazine, proud to have published some of the biggest names in poetry including T. S. Eliot, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Philip Larkin. Past winners include Kathryn Bevis, Jay Gao and Isabelle Baafi.

Now, continuing that tradition, the organizer has launched the 2025 Poetry Prize. Entries will be judged by Fiona Benson, Jason Allen-Paisant and Mai Serhan.

Established to encourage emerging literary talent, the award provides an opportunity for publication and recognition. While there is no criteria as to theme, form or style, judges are looking for resonant and accomplished work.

Poems must be previously unpublished and no longer than 40 lines. Submissions are open for international entries.

All three prize winners will appear in a print issue of The London Magazine. Prize winners will also receive cash prizes, and will be celebrated at a prize-giving event in the summer.

Entry fee: £10 per poem. Student/Low Income Entry: £5 per poem

We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives.