From London's South Bank to Manchester's Droylsden library, events are taking place around the country today to mark National Poetry Day. Southbank Centre artist in residence Simon Armitage, Jackie Kay, Michael Rosen, Imtiaz Dharker, Glyn Maxwell, Joelle Taylor and Lemn Sissay, to name but a few, will be taking part in National Poetry Day events on 6 October at the Clore ballroom, Royal Festival Hall, from 12pm – 6pm. This year’s theme is games, which at the South Bank will mean poetry bingo and hide and seek. The event is free. In Droylsden, former Cheshire poet laureate Joy Winkler is giving a workshop and reading at the library in Manchester Road, Droylsden, from 5.45pm to 7.45pm. Tel: 0161 370 1282. Admission: Free. Contact the library to reserve your place. Elsewhere, at Garstang library in Lancashire poets Ron Scowcroft, Rachel McGladdery and Norman Hadley will be reading from 7-8pm. Entry is £1, including wine and nibbles.

More details of National Poetry Day events around the country