Dear London

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.

 

 

How to Enter

Write a letter to London, or to something or someone within it, and send it to us by:

  • Email: dearlondon@letterslive.com
  • Post: Dear London, PO Box 81900, London, WC1A 9RH

 

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.

 

Judging the Letters

All entries will be read with care by a panel of letter-lovers. People who believe deeply in the power of the written word.

 

What You Could Win

Four shortlisted writers will receive:

  • Publication of their letter in The Times
  • A pair of tickets to the Royal Albert Hall Letters Live show
  • An invitation to a special drinks reception in London on 21 November 2025
  • A beautiful Montblanc writing instrument

 

The overall winner will also receive:

  1. Their letter performed live on stage at the Royal Albert Hall

 

Key Dates

Important dates for your diary:

  • Closing Date: midnight on September 19, 2025.
  • Winning Letter Published in The Times: 27 October 2025
  • Royal Albert Hall Show: 28 November 2025

 

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.