The Poetry Pharmacy, London - Everything You Need to Know
Here’s everything you need to know about Lush’s new poetry bookshop on Oxford Street in London.
The Poetry Pharmacy started life as a pop up at Lush Studios, which is the brand’s dedicated event space in Soho. It then moved to the flagship Lush shop on Oxford Street in June 2024 where it’s now open on a permanent basis. You’ll find it occupying half of the first floor, opposite the store’s extensive range of bath products.
Opened in collaboration with poet Deborah Alma, she said that:
“My long term mission has been to bypass the gatekeepers and bring poetry to more people in playful and engaging ways; and I couldn’t have wished for a better place to do it. With the generous support of Lush, now poetry will be on the most famous shopping street in the world!”
As the name suggests, the Poetry Pharmacy specialises in all things poetry, and offers a unique prescription service that fulfils a variety of emotional needs. For example, one wall of the shop houses bookshelves that are organised by theme, while another contains individual pill bottles that are filled with poems. These can be browsed by emotion, with a variety of options including ‘Happy Pills’, ‘Joy’ ‘Invigoration’ and ‘Chill Pills’. Of course I had to purchase one and opted for a vial of Chill Pills, which were popped into a little paper prescription bag at the checkout.
The Poetry Pharmacy also sells a variety of fiction and non-fiction books, and I purchased a copy of In Therapy: The Unfolding Story by Susie Orbach. I love books about psychology so I just couldn’t resist! It’s so fun to visit bookshops like this one which have been curated with a specific theme in mind, and makes for a unique browsing experience.
Aside from the book selection, I also loved the Poetry Pharmacy’s theming and decor. The furniture echoes what you might expect from a real, albeit very aesthetically pleasing pharmacy, and there’s a large dispensary sign that marks the cafe. Although I wasn’t hungry during my visit I’d love to go back for a cup of tea and to sit by the window, where you can the world go by on Oxford Street.
Of course, this is a Lush shop and ‘Bathing in Poetry Bath Bombs’ are also available.
Above left: My friend Christy is a poet and she contributed to this book! @Kukadoodles
Opening hours
The Poetry Pharmacy is open during Lush Oxford Street’s opening hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10am – 9pm
Sunday, 11am – 5pm
(Correct at the time of writing, check their website for updates)
How to find the shop
You’ll find Lush Oxford Street in between Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street tube stations. The area is also served by regular buses and other underground stations are within walking distance.
There’s also another branch of the Poetry Pharmacy in Bishops Castle, Shropshire.
Have you visited the Lush Poetry Pharmacy yet? I’d love to know what you think!