The London Magazine

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Poetry, Fiction, Essays, Reviews. Official guideline: The London Magazine guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Poetry with a commitment to the ultra specificities of language and a refined sense of simile and metaphor — tight, exact structure, no longer than 40 lines, maximum six poems.
• Short fiction addressing mature and sophisticated themes with elegance of style, up to 4,000 words.
• Non-fiction — reviews, essays, memoir and features that are erudite, lucid and incisive, 800–2,000 words.

Subjects they avoid

• Abstraction — "the enemy of good poetry". Long, loose poems.
• Science fiction, fantasy or erotica — not normally published.
• Work published anywhere before, including a website, blog or online forum, broadcast, or placed in any competition.

Key requirements

• Submittable portal
• £3.50 fee outside the free monthly quota
• Genre-specific word limits
• Previously unpublished

Who can submit

No nationality restriction stated. They are interested in writing with a London focus but not exclusively, since London is a world city with international concerns.

Rights

Publication includes the print issue, the eBook (Kindle) edition, The London Magazine App and thelondonmagazine.org.

AI policy

Not stated in the guideline

How to write for them

Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.

BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.

How to pitch

Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Submittable portal, email to the portal, or post

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Submittable portal, email to the portal, or post
• Submission email: submissions@thelondonmagazine.org

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Read https://thelondonmagazine.org/submission-guidelines/.
• Submit near the start of the month, before the free quota is used, to avoid the £3.50 fee.
• Use the Submittable portal, or email the genre-specific portal address with your work attached.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Not stated; the portal is intended to be faster than the old email system

If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.