Enter our letter writing competition for a chance to have your letter read live on stage at the Royal Albert Hall
Presented by Letters Live, in partnership with The Times and supported by Montblanc.
London means something different to everyone. A memory. A moment. A place. A person. A feeling. In our letter writing competition Dear London, we’re inviting people from across the globe to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and write a personal letter to the city we call home.
It could be a love letter to a particular bus route. A note of thanks to a neighbour. A farewell to a flat. A gentle rant aimed at the pigeons. A tribute to a bridge, a bench, a bakery, or a blurry night you’ll never forget. It could be a letter to a version of you that once lived there. All that matters is that it’s heartfelt, original, and under 500 words.
The winning letter will be read aloud on stage at Letters Live at the Royal Albert Hall on 28 November 2025. An unforgettable night in one of the world’s most iconic venues.
Write a letter to London, or to something or someone within it, and send it to us by:
Deadline to enter: midnight on September 19, 2025
Maximum word count: 500 words
Language: English
Open to: Everyone, anywhere in the world*
Please note: Due to the volume of entries we expect to receive, we’re sadly unable to reply to each one. But we promise to read every single letter.
All entries will be read with care by a panel of letter-lovers. People who believe deeply in the power of the written word.
Four shortlisted writers will receive:
The overall winner will also receive:
Important dates for your diary:
We can’t wait to hear what London means to you.
To read more about the inspiration behind Dear London, head to the Times website now >
*Under 18s need permission from their parent or guardian to enter.