Southbank Centre

About

Southbank Centre is London’s flagship arts hub, housing the iconic Royal Festival Hall, the intimate Queen Elizabeth Hall, the acoustically acclaimed Purcell Room, the avant‑garde Hayward Gallery and the literary National Poetry Library. Spanning 11 acres on the south bank of the River Thames, it brings together five world‑class performance spaces, a vibrant outdoor plaza, and a growing public art collection. Since its opening in 1951, the Centre has hosted thousands of music concerts, theatre productions, dance performances and art exhibitions, drawing over 3.7 million visitors in 2024 alone. The complex is renowned for its Brutalist architecture and has been the creative home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. It also stages annual festivals such as Meltdown, Unlimited and Women of the World, making it a dynamic platform for both established and emerging talent. For visitors, Southbank Centre offers a range of free events and ticketed performances, extensive accessibility features, and a host of on‑site amenities, including cafés, a sculpture garden, and a dedicated visitor information centre. By combining world‑class venues with a rich cultural programme, the Centre remains a cornerstone of London’s artistic life.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 3 hours