Walking to Relax: A Literary Stroll through London

Join Liz Ison on a journey of exploration through literary St James, uncovering the hidden histories and stories of London’s writers and poets such as William Blake, Lord Byron, Samuel Pepys and Ignatius Sancho.

We’ll be bringing poetry and literature off the bookshelves and outside by spending time in one of the capital’s most beautiful parks, St James Park, seeing how the combined power of poetry and parks can help us to relax and unwind, before further literary wanderings through the districts of St James and Piccadilly, ending up at the Poetry Ph*rm*cy in Oxford Street.

The walk will finish at the Poetry Ph*rm*cy on Oxford Street for tea and cake where participants will also receive a Poetry Ph*rm*cy goody bag! This will include a copy of 100 Poems to Help you Relax, edited by Liz, and your own bottle of Relax pills, specially created to celebrate the publication of this lovely book.

About 100 Poems to Help you Relax

100 Poems to Help Your Relax is a collection of calming, relaxing, positive poems to help with anxiety and stress. With poems about pets, nature, creativity and more, there are any number of topics to help you de-stress and forget about your worries. If you struggle to unwind after a long day at work, or it’s difficult to find time that’s just for you, this collection is the ideal solution.

Meeting point: St James Park Station. 9.50am for a prompt 10am start!

End point: The Poetry Ph*rm*cy, LUSH, Oxford Street

£35 including refreshments, plus a goody bag.

Over 16s only

Duration: Approximately 1¾ - 2 hours

Please note that the walk will happen no matter what the weather is like, so please dress

accordingly!

Feedback on ‘In Search of London’s Poets’:

“I loved the Poets Tour! Informative, inspiring & hugely enjoyable. Liz is a superstar.”

“Liz has been very lovely. Will come back for another walk”

“Such a lovely morning meeting past and present literary giants. Thank you so much”

“Exactly what I needed! Loved uncovering all these special corners of London. Thank you!”

About Liz Ison

Liz believes in the transformative power of poetry. She runs regular shared reading groups and has conducted workshops encouraging a daily poetry habit and extolling the benefits of reading aloud, and reading together. Liz has edited several poetry anthologies including A Poem to Read Aloud Every Day of the Year (Batsford 2023), 100 Poems to Help you Heal and 100 Poems to Help you Relax. She is a museum educator at the Charles Dickens Museum. Liz has a degree in English Literature and social science from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate from University College London for research into childhood speech and literacy development.

You can follow Liz on Instagram @liz.ison

Host or Publisher Poetry Pharmacy- Deborah Alma