diff --git a/plugins/python/README.md b/plugins/python/README.md
index eeaa1148a..4968cca6d 100644
--- a/plugins/python/README.md
+++ b/plugins/python/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ plugins=(... python)
 
 ## Aliases
 
+<<<<<<< HEAD
 | Command          | Description                                                                           |
 | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `py`             | Runs `python`                                                                         |
@@ -19,3 +20,11 @@ plugins=(... python)
 | `pygrep <text>`  | Looks for `text` in .py files                                                         |
 | `pyuserpaths`    | Add --user site-packages to PYTHONPATH, for all installed python versions.            |
 | `pyserver`       | Starts an http.server on the current directory. Use `--directory` for a different one |
+
+## Virtual environments
+
+The plugin provides two utilities to manage Python venvs:
+
+- `mkv [name]`: make a new virtual environment called `name` (default: `venv`) in current directory.
+
+- `vrun [name]`: activate virtual environment called `name` (default: `venv`) in current directory.
diff --git a/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh b/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
index 896fae3ca..6c7fc6cbb 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/python/python.plugin.zsh
@@ -51,3 +51,36 @@ alias ipython="python -c 'import IPython; IPython.terminal.ipapp.launch_new_inst
 
 # Share local directory as a HTTP server
 alias pyserver="python -m http.server"
+
+
+## venv utilities
+
+# Activate a the python virtual environment specified.
+# If none specified, use 'venv'.
+function vrun() {
+  local name="${1:-venv}"
+  local venvpath="${name:P}"
+
+  if [[ ! -d "$venvpath" ]]; then
+    echo >&2 "Error: no such venv in current directory: $name"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ ! -f "${venvpath}/bin/activate" ]]; then
+    echo >&2 "Error: '${name}' is not a proper virtual environment"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  . "${venvpath}/bin/activate" || return $?
+  echo "Activated virtual environment ${name}"
+}
+
+# Create a new virtual environment, with default name 'venv'.
+function mkv() {
+  local name="${1:-venv}"
+  local venvpath="${name:P}"
+
+  python3 -m venv "${name}" || return
+  echo >&2 "Created venv in '${venvpath}'"
+  vrun "${name}"
+}