Southbank Centre

Who we are

Southbank Centre is a world-famous, multi-venue arts centre in London, with a dynamic year-round artistic programme and an inclusive ethos. The UK’s largest arts centre, Southbank Centre was founded with the Festival of Britain in 1951. It’s a place where people experience world-class art, music and culture that stimulates, inspires, educates and amazes. Our festival programme encompasses classical and contemporary music, art, theatre literature, dance and debate. It reaches 6.25 million people a year, and encompasses over 5,000 events featuring world-class artists from across the globe. Southbank Centre sits in London’s most vibrant cultural quarter (and Europe’s largest arts campus) on the southern bank of the Thames.

The site is home to the much loved Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Hayward Gallery, National Poetry Library, and Arts Council Collection of visual art, as well as all the indoor and outdoor performance, cafe and retail spaces in between. The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900 seat venue and is home to 4 resident orchestras. It hosts contemporary music events as well as dance, performance and talks. The Hayward Gallery is one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries and has played a crucial role in presenting work by some of the world’s most significant artists. Southbank Centre is proud to be the UK’s only permanent festival site.

Our festivals are based on a range of themes and subjects and celebrate the diverse experiences of people and cultures. We present as many free activities as possible alongside our ticketed events, and provide a unique educational offer to thousands of schools, young people and adults to immerse themselves in imaginative creative learning programmes all year round.