Fiction Book Publishers in the UK Accepting Submissions
Every UK fiction publishing house below was checked on its own website in October 2026: who is open, who needs an agent, what to send and how long replies take.
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
UK fiction publishers to watch
Open doors and named routes for novelists in the UK.
- 1
Bluemoose Books
Literary fiction from writers anywhere, with or without an agent. It replies within 24 weeks only if it wants more.
Reply: About 24 weeks
- 2
Chicken House
Agent-only, but unagented writers can enter its yearly Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition.
Reply: Not stated
- 3
Nosy Crow
Agent-only children's publisher that sometimes runs time-limited open calls, announced on its blog.
Reply: Not stated
- 4
Canongate
Independent Edinburgh publisher reading fiction through literary agents.
Reply: Not stated
- 5
Jonathan Cape
Prose through agents only, but its poetry list can be approached directly by post.
Reply: 4 to 16 weeks
All UK Fiction publishers
Filter by what you write and how you want to submit. Open publishers come first; every card shows when we last checked it.
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Mid-sizeBlack & White PublishingChildren's, Cookbook, FictionEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Black & White Publishing is open to unagented nonfiction proposals by email. Send a one-page proposal covering your background and a book summary. Unsolicited fiction is accepted only in announced windows, which are currently closed, and no reply within six months means no.No agent neededSend: One-page nonfiction proposal by emailEmail26 wks replyest. 1999View profile →
Small pressBluemoose BooksFiction, Independent, Literary fictionHebden Bridge, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Bluemoose Books is open to literary fiction from writers anywhere, with or without an agent. Email a covering letter, the first three chapters and a synopsis in one file. It replies within 24 weeks only if it wants more.No agent neededSend: Covering letter, first three chapters and synopsis in one fileEmail24 wks replyest. 2006View profile →
Traditional publisherFaberChildren's, Fiction, Literary fictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Faber & Faber now accepts unsolicited submissions of poetry only, and poets do not need an agent. Send six examples of your work; no reply within eight weeks means no. It does not take unsolicited fiction, nonfiction, plays, screenplays or children's books.Some imprints unagentedSend: Poetry only: six poems8 wks replyest. 1929View profile →Big 5 publishing houseJo Fletcher BooksFiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, HorrorLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Jo Fletcher Books is open to unagented science fiction, fantasy and horror by email. Put a brief covering letter in the email and attach the first 10,000 words or three chapters plus a one-page synopsis. If you hear nothing within six months, the answer is no.No agent neededSend: Letter + first 10,000 words + one-page synopsisEmail24 wks replyView profile →
Small pressLantana PublishingChildren's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voicesUKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Lantana Publishing is open to children's book submissions from authors and illustrators from under-represented groups, through its online form. Send one file with the manuscript, a synopsis and a short bio. It replies within 12 weeks for picture books and 24 for chapter books; no reply in that time means no.Send: One file: manuscript, synopsis and short bioOnline form24 wks replyest. 2014View profile →
Independent publishing companyLuath PressFiction, History, IndependentEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Luath Press is open to unagented submissions, but only on paper by post. Send a synopsis of up to 250 words, your genre, sample chapters or the full manuscript and a short bio to its Edinburgh office. Luath aims to reply within a year.No agent neededSend: Synopsis, sample chapters or full manuscript and bio by postPost52 wks replyest. 1981View profile →
Small pressLuna PressFiction, Academic, Fantasy and Sci-FiEdinburgh, Scotland, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Luna Press Publishing, in Edinburgh, has closed its fiction submissions, but its academic imprint, Academia Lunare, reads proposals all year. Academic authors email a proposal saying whether the book is written yet and its rough word count. Luna publishes only speculative fiction and scholarship about it.No agent neededSend: Academic proposal with rough word countEmailReply time not statedest. 2015View profile →Independent publishing companyOneworldChildren's, Academic, FictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Oneworld Publications is open to nonfiction proposals from authors without an agent. Fill in its nonfiction form and email it to submissions@oneworld-publications.com. All fiction, including its Point Blank, Magpie and Rock the Boat lists, is closed for now.No agent neededSend: Nonfiction proposal form by emailEmailReply time not statedest. 1986View profile →
Small pressOwlet PressChildren's, Comics, Diverse and BIPOC voicesLeamington Spa, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Owlet Press, an independent publisher in Leamington Spa, takes children's book submissions by email. Its picture book list is full, and it most wants graphic novels and chapter books from diverse creators. Attach the manuscript with about 50 words on the book and 100 on you. It gets in touch only if interested.Send: Manuscript + 50 words on the book + 100 words on youEmailReply time not statedView profile →
Mid-sizeProfile BooksNonfiction, Business, FictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Profile Books accepts unsolicited nonfiction only from published authors (not self-published) and university academics. Send an outline, a table of contents and one sample chapter of up to 2,500 words. It is not accepting unsolicited fiction or poetry, and it never charges reading fees.No agent neededSend: Outline + contents + sample chapter up to 2,500 wordsEmailReply time not statedest. 1996View profile →Independent publishing companyRebellionComics, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionOxford, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Rebellion's Solaris Nova imprint is open to unagented authors with complete science fiction, fantasy or horror novels of 70,000 to 150,000 words. You send through its online form, while agents send by email. Its comics imprint, 2000 AD, is not taking unsolicited submissions.Some imprints unagentedSend: First 10,000 words, synopsis + cover letter via online formOnline formReply time not statedest. 2000View profile →
Independent publishing companySarabandFiction, Audiobook, IndependentSalford, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Saraband is open to nonfiction submissions by email from authors without an agent, but fiction and the Inklings series are closed. You send a book description, table of contents, one sample chapter and a short writing CV. Saraband says it cannot reply to most enquiries.No agent neededSend: Nonfiction: description, contents, 1 chapter + CV by emailEmailReply time not statedest. 1994View profile →
Independent publishing companySelfMadeHeroComics, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026SelfMadeHero is open to unagented graphic novel submissions by email or post. Send a synopsis of no more than one A4 page and at least eight pages of sequential art. It welcomes new and established creators from the UK and beyond.No agent neededSend: One-page synopsis + 8 or more pages of art by email or postEmail, PostReply time not statedest. 2007View profile →Independent publishing companyTitan BooksFiction, Art and Photography, ComicsLondon, UKOpen to submissionsChecked Oct 2026Titan Books, in London, is open to nonfiction proposals for film, TV, art and comics reference books. For fiction and comics it reads only a brief synopsis with a covering letter, not a manuscript, and it is not looking for general fiction right now. Most of its fiction comes through agents.Some imprints unagentedSend: Nonfiction proposal; fiction: synopsis and letter onlyReply time not statedest. 1982View profile →Independent publishing companyAngry RobotFiction, Diverse and BIPOC voices, Fantasy and Sci-FiUKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Angry Robot reads adult science fiction, fantasy and horror novels through literary agents. Unagented writers can submit only during its occasional Open Doors periods, announced on its site and social media; the last ran in April 2024. A separate call for unagented Black authors was extended indefinitely.Send: Agent proposal; unagented only in Open Doors periodsEmail10 wks replyest. 2009View profile →
Independent publishing companyCanongateFiction, Cookbook, IndependentEdinburgh, Scotland, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Canongate does not accept unsolicited submissions. This independent Edinburgh publisher reads fiction and nonfiction sent by literary agents and suggests writers find an agent first.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1973View profile →
Major publishing houseChicken HouseChildren's, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionFrome, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Chicken House reads general submissions only through literary agents. Unagented, unpublished writers can enter its yearly Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition, which closed for 2026 on 1 June.Send: Through a literary agent, or its yearly competitionThrough an agentPays an advanceReply time not statedest. 2000View profile →
Big 5 publishing houseGollanczFiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, HorrorLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Gollancz reads science fiction, fantasy and horror only through literary agents. Its parent, Orion, does not consider unsolicited manuscripts. Gollancz has run open submission windows in the past, but none is open now, so the route in today is an agent.Send: Through a literary agent onlyReply time not statedest. 1927View profile →Big 5 publishing houseJonathan CapeFiction, Comics, Literary fictionUKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Jonathan Cape, part of Vintage at Penguin Random House UK, reads prose only through literary agents. Its poetry list can be approached directly by post with a typed English-language collection.Some imprints unagentedSend: Prose through an agent; poetry collections by postThrough an agent, Post4 to 16 wks replyView profile →Independent publishing companyNosy CrowChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Nosy Crow does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or proposals. The London children's publisher reads agented work and sometimes runs time-limited open calls, announced on its blog.Send: Through a literary agent, or an open call when one runsThrough an agentReply time not statedView profile →
Big 5 publishing houseOrbitFiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, HorrorLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Orbit UK reads science fiction and fantasy through literary agents only and cannot respond to unsolicited material. Hachette UK's Future Bookshelf occasionally runs group-wide open submission periods, which are the only other route.Send: Through a literary agent onlyReply time not statedest. 1974View profile →
Independent publishing companySaltFiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, HorrorCromer, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Salt Publishing does not accept unsolicited submissions from authors. Literary agents can email submissions, and silence after one month means no. Literary fiction is at the heart of its list.Send: Through a literary agent, by emailThrough an agent, Email4 wks replyest. 1999View profile →Big 5 publishing houseTransworldFiction, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, HistoryUKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Transworld, part of Penguin Random House UK, does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or synopses. Its imprints Bantam, Doubleday, Torva and Wayward read work sent by literary agents.Send: Through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1950View profile →
Major publishing houseUsborneChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Usborne accepts fiction manuscripts only through literary agents and does not read unsolicited work. Its baby, picture, activity, novelty and nonfiction books are written in-house, so it takes no submissions for those. It suggests finding an agent through The Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook.Send: Fiction through a literary agent onlyThrough an agentReply time not statedest. 1973View profile →Major publishing houseWalker BooksChildren's, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, FictionUKAgent submissions onlyChecked Oct 2026Walker Books does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Writers need another route, usually a literary agent. Illustrators and author-illustrators can email illustrated picture-book stories or artwork samples to its illustrator submissions address, though a reply is not guaranteed. It says it never charges authors a fee.Send: No manuscripts; illustrators may email samplesThrough an agent, EmailReply time not statedest. 1978View profile →
Independent publishing companyAndersen PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Andersen Press is currently unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts or book proposals. The independent London children's publisher, home of Elmer and Little Princess, publishes picture books, fiction and graphic novels. Watch its contact page for changes, or work with a literary agent.Send: No unsolicited manuscripts or proposalsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1976View profile →
Independent publishing companyBedford Square PublishersFiction, Independent, Mystery and ThrillerLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Bedford Square Publishers is closed to submissions as of October 2026 and gives no reopening date. When open, it reads fiction and nonfiction, and silence after one month means no.Send: Closed for now; check its submissions pageNo reopening date given4 wks replyest. 2022View profile →
Small pressDead InkFiction, Horror, IndependentLiverpool, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Dead Ink Books is not open for general submissions as of October 2026. The Liverpool small press publishes weird, bold and genre-defying fiction, and warns writers about people pretending to be its editors.Send: Closed to general submissions for nowNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 2011View profile →Small pressFirefly PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentCaerphilly, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Firefly Press is closed to fiction and nonfiction submissions right now. It opens occasional windows, announced in advance on its social media, and publishes fiction for readers aged 5 to 19. Illustrators can still email a small sample and a website link at any time.Send: Closed; illustrators may email a sample and linkEmailNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 2013View profile →
Independent publishing companyGranta BooksLiterary fiction, Fiction, MemoirLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Granta Books does not accept unsolicited book proposals or manuscripts. The London publisher of literary fiction, memoir, reportage and poetry works through agents. Its sister Granta magazine reads single stories and essays in set months, with a small fee and free low-income places.Send: No unsolicited proposals or manuscriptsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedView profile →
Major publishing houseLittle TigerChildren's, Fiction, Middle gradeLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Little Tiger Group is unable to accept unsolicited submissions. The London children's publisher, owned by Penguin Random House, publishes board books, picture books, chapter books, novels and nonfiction. Watch its guidelines page for any change, or work with a literary agent.Send: No unsolicited submissionsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1987View profile →Independent publishing companyMyriadComics, Fiction, Literary fictionBrighton, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Myriad Editions is closed to submissions right now. When it reopens, it takes email submissions from agents and directly from authors of graphic novels, literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. The next window will be announced on its website and social media.No agent neededSend: Email + synopsis + full manuscript (prose) or sample PDF (graphic)EmailNo reopening date given8 wks replyView profile →
Independent publishing companyPushkin PressChildren's, Fiction, IndependentLondon, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Pushkin Press is not accepting unsolicited submissions and will not respond to manuscripts or pitches. The independent London publisher still considers translation projects, so translators can query by email using the address on its about page.Send: Closed; translation queries onlyNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1997View profile →
Small pressScotland Street PressChildren's, Art and Photography, Diverse and BIPOC voicesEdinburgh, Scotland, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Scotland Street Press, an independent publisher in Edinburgh, is closed to submissions right now and does not read unsolicited work sent while it is closed. When it reopens, you send a link to your full manuscript through its online submission form.Send: Closed now; when open, manuscript link via online formOnline formNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 2014View profile →
Independent publishing companySeren BooksPoetry, Fiction, IndependentUKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Seren Books is closed to submissions right now and reads work only during occasional free call-out windows. It publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction, including memoir, for adults, with a focus on English-language writing from Wales. Writers must be 18 or over and live in the UK.No agent neededSend: Only during announced call-out windowsNo reopening date givenReply time not statedest. 1981View profile →
Independent publishing companyVagabond VoicesFiction, Independent, Literary fictionGlasgow, Scotland, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Vagabond Voices is closed to submissions and says it will not accept them for the foreseeable future. It is an independent Glasgow press publishing literary fiction, translations, poetry and nonfiction. Watch its submissions page for any change.Send: Closed for the foreseeable futureEmailNo reopening date given24 wks replyest. 2008View profile →
Small pressWild Goose PublicationsChristian, Fiction, LGBTQ+Glasgow, Scotland, UKClosed nowChecked Oct 2026Wild Goose Publications is closed to submissions until at least June 2027. When it reopens, poets whose work fits its profile may send a sample selection by email. Paper submissions are not accepted. It is the publishing house of the Iona Community, with a Glasgow address.Send: Closed until at least June 2027; poetry samples by emailEmailNo reopening date givenReply time not statedView profile → What do Open, Closed and Agent needed mean?
- Open now: the publisher's own site says it is reading submissions today, in at least one genre listed.
- Closed: not reading new submissions right now. We show the reopening date when the publisher gives one.
- Agent needed: it only reads manuscripts sent by a literary agent.
Submit with confidence
Four checks before you send anything to a publisher, whichever list you use.
Check it on their own site
Guidelines change. Read the publisher's own submissions page on the day you send.
Never pay to be published
A traditional publisher pays you. If a company asks for money, it is a paid service.
Send exactly what they ask
Query, proposal or sample chapters: follow the format and word count to the letter.
Track every submission
Note the date, the reply time and whether no reply means no before you follow up.
We list 38 UK fiction publishers, and 15 of them are open to submissions today. Every listing was checked on the publisher's own site and shows whether you need an agent, what to send and how long a reply takes. Most large UK houses read novels only through agents, but a few independents still read unagented fiction, and some run competitions or open calls. Use the filters to find the houses reading now, and check each profile for the exact package it wants.
UK fiction publishers that read unagented novels
Bluemoose Books is the clearest open door on this page: it reads literary fiction from writers anywhere, with or without an agent. Birlinn takes some proposals directly, but its Polygon fiction imprint is closed to unsolicited work. Bedford Square Publishers and Dead Ink Books are closed for now, so check their profiles for a reopening.
Agent-only houses and how to get in
Transworld, Canongate and Salt Publishing read novels through literary agents. Chicken House also works through agents but runs a yearly competition for unagented, unpublished writers, and Nosy Crow sometimes opens time-limited calls. These are worth watching even if you do not yet have an agent.
Before you send your novel
Finish and revise the book first. UK houses that read unagented fiction usually want a covering letter, the opening chapters and a synopsis, often in a single file. Read each profile for the exact package and reply time. For nonfiction and children’s houses as well, see our full list of UK book publishers.
Competitions and open calls
When most doors need an agent, competitions and open calls matter. Chicken House runs a yearly competition for unagented, unpublished children’s writers, and its 2026 round closed on 1 June. Nosy Crow announces time-limited calls on its blog. Keep an eye on these profiles, because we update them as windows open and close, and prepare your opening chapters now so you are ready.
How we check these listings
Every publisher on this page was checked on its own website, and we review each listing every month. We list only traditional publishers, which pay authors and do not charge them to publish. If a house adds fees, packages or a paid route, we say so on its profile or leave it out of the directory.
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Questions authors ask
Answers use the live data on this page.
Which UK publishers accept unagented fiction?
On this page, Bluemoose Books reads literary fiction from writers anywhere, with or without an agent. Chicken House runs a yearly competition for unagented, unpublished children's writers, and Nosy Crow sometimes opens time-limited calls. Most other UK fiction houses listed here, such as Transworld and Canongate, read through literary agents.
Do UK fiction publishers want the whole manuscript?
Most start with less. Bluemoose asks for a covering letter, the first three chapters and a synopsis in one file, and it asks for more only if it is interested. Agent-only houses will see your full novel through your agent. Always finish the book before you submit anywhere.
Are any UK fiction publishers closed right now?
Yes. Bedford Square Publishers and Dead Ink Books are closed to general submissions as of October 2026, and Birlinn's Polygon fiction imprint is closed to unsolicited work. Their profiles show the latest status, and we check every listing monthly, so look back before you send anything.
Browse more:UK book publishersAll book publishersSelf-publishing services
How we verify listings. We list traditional publishers only: no hybrid, vanity or paid self-publishing companies. Every listing is checked on the publisher's own website and rechecked every month. This page was last updated 25 Oct 2026; next review November 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us.
