Press room

The Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, has received the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the written word and his enthusiastic promotion of poetry, in particular, to the younger generation.

For the first time in the City of London’s history, the Freedom ceremony, which is held most often in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall or The Mansion House, was conducted in the Barbican Centre’s Conservatory. 

Simon was appointed as Poet Laureate in May 2019, succeeding Carol Ann Duffy, and is professor of poetry at the University of Leeds. During a career spanning nearly four decades, he has written over 20 collections of poetry, starting with Zoom! in 1989. His most recent work includes Magnetic Field: The Marsden Poems in 2020 and Blossomise in 2024, a limited-edition collaboration with artist Angela Harding. 

He has translated major classic texts, including the Odyssey and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and written several non-fiction works, including Walking Home: Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way and A Vertical Art: Oxford Lectures. Simon is also an accomplished playwright, novelist, and the frontman of the ambient post-rock band, LYR.

Simon was nominated for the Freedom by the Recorder of London, His Honour Mark Lucraft KC, and Honorary Secondary of London, Fiona Adler, from the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey).

Following the ceremony, Simon took part in a special public reading of a selection of his works. Before the reading, two members of the Barbican’s artist development programme, Barbican Young Poets, Geraint Ellis and Christy Ku, each read an original poem inspired by his work. 

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said: 

“One of our most celebrated Poet Laureates, Sir John Betjeman, lived in Cloth Fair and our greatest playwright and poet, William Shakespeare, bought a property in the City, so the Square Mile enjoys a tangible association with poets and poetry.  

“Of particular note, the City of London Corporation owns the beautiful Regency villa in Hampstead where Simon’s hero, John Keats, lived and wrote some of his most popular works, such as ‘Ode to a Nightingale.’

“With these links forged in our history and mindful of how Simon is a leading ambassador for poetry, it is entirely fitting that his achievements are recognised by this tribute from the City.”

Recorder of London, His Honour Mark Lucraft KC, said:

“As prolific and versatile as he is popular and accessible, Simon Armitage is one of our finest poets – now, almost six years into the historic position of Poet Laureate - and also a talented musician, playwright, and novelist. 

“It has given my colleague, Fiona Adler, and I tremendous pleasure to support his admission into the Freedom, which is richly deserved, and we hope that he will have fond memories of his ceremony for many years to come.”

Speaking after his ceremony, Simon Armitage said: 

“This is a wonderful and exciting honour. I’m a northerner and have lived in West Yorkshire all my life, but through poetry and all its different manifestations, London has become a home from home, the place I know best outside my own postcode.  

“The City itself has always been something of a mystery to me until recent years when I’ve started exploring it more for work and pleasure. 

“The Freedom feels like an invitation to spend even more time in a place that feels truly historic yet determinedly futuristic, a sort of visa in my poetic passport. Thank you - expect me any moment.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.  

As well as being nominated or applying for the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.

Recent recipients include comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry; Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold- and Silver-medal winning athlete, Lady Mary Peters; former Attorney General of England and Wales and Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve; and British actor, musician and filmmaker Giles Terera MBE, shortly after his performance in The Meaning of Zong at the Barbican in April 2023.