Tucked away inside Lush Spa on Oxford Street, London, this walk-in Poetry Pharmacy offers a quiet retreat that invites visitors to explore the soothing and transformative power of poetry. Here, poetry is not just literature but a remedy of emotional support, available on prescription.
I paid a visit to London’s new Poetry Pharmacy to see what this unusual literary destination had in store:
Poetry as Prescription
The concept behind the Poetry Pharmacy is simple but profound: poetry can provide relief, insight, and comfort, much like medicine.
Originally founded by Deb Alma and Jim Sheard in 2011 as the Emergency Poet, a travelling service offering poetry from the back of a vintage ambulance.
Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle
In 2019, the pair opened a physical Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle, close to the border between England and Wales.
The pharmacy’s mission is to create a space where anyone can seek out poetry as a source of emotional care. You can even have a poetry consultation at the Bishop’s Castle branch, where visitors are prescribed poetry by the resident Poetry Pharmacists.
As of 2024, the Poetry Pharmacy has started a new chapter in London…
Bookish Tours & Day Trips in London
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Where is the Poetry Pharmacy in London?
After the success of a pop-up at Lush Studio Soho in 2023, the Poetry Pharmacy now has a permanent home on the first floor of the Lush Spa in London’s Oxford Street. (Note that the location means there is a strong smell from the Lush products.)
It’s a carefully curated space filled with literary gifts, books, and “poetical remedies,” with an emphasis on mental well-being and inclusivity.
Visitors can enjoy browsing through selections of poetry while sipping coffee or tea from the in-house Dispensary Coffee Shop, which serves ethically sourced coffee from Shropshire’s Hundred House Coffee and teas from the Good and Proper Tea company.
It was a super-hot day when I visited, so I grabbed this flavoured soda (served with a glass beaker filled with ice!), which came with a few lines of poetry:
To not end where you thought you did / not with skin but water / not with arms but meadow / of watercress, dropwort, floating pennywort / against all odds to be buoyant / to feel there is an upward force / greater than the weight of the heart – from swims by Elizabeth-Jane Burnett
The Poetry Pills & Books
The poetry pill bottles are labelled with ailments and remedies, from Social Media Detox to Plath Distilled. Each contains pill capsules with rolled up poetry quotes inside. I really love this idea, especially as a thoughtful gift or stocking stuffer at Christmas, though they are a little pricey.
The Pharmacy also collaborates with the British Haiku Society, creating a special line of Zen Garden Poetry Pills that offer short, calming haikus as an antidote to the fast pace of city life.
I also loved that there’s a poison cabinet, filled with the toxic and macabre:
And, of course, there are poetry books! As well as gorgeous notebooks, books about London, and more:
The Verdict
With its thoughtful curation, unique concept, and focus on well-being, the Poetry Pharmacy is a welcome addition to London’s literary scene and multitude of bookshops—a quiet space where words are medicine.
I love the story behind the Poetry Pharmacy and it’s a cool place to hang out or grab a unique gift. It’s a shame that it’s inside the Lush store itself, so the smell and bustle is a lot. This would be a great place to hold literary events or simply enjoy an afternoon of reading poetry with some good coffee.
Opening Hours
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 9pm
Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
Dispensary Coffee Shop
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 12pm – 5pm
For those curious to learn more, you can follow the Poetry Pharmacy on social media:
More UK Travel
I was born and raised in the UK, though I’ve spent most of my adulthood living overseas. For UK travel recommendations, you can read my UK Guide here, filled with lesser-known destinations and local insights.
More Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them
For more of what to read where, check out my full Travel Books Guide, filled with book recommendations for different destinations, the most beautiful bookstores around the world, tips on how to get the best deals on audiobooks and e-books, as well as more literary travel.
Travel Essentials
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
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FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki.
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.
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