The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968. It mounts temporary exhibitions of contemporary and historical art. The gallery, named after the late Sir Isaac Hayward, the former leader of the London County Council, is also responsible for National Touring exhibitions and for the Arts Council Collection, which it manages on behalf of the Arts Council of England. The building itself has been much derided over the years as an ugly concrete block typical of the sixties. It has been largely left as it was created by the GLC Department of Architecture as part of the South Bank Arts Centre, led by Geoffrey Horsefall, with Hubert Bennett as the principal designer. A group of young architects including Dennis Crompton, Warren Chalk and Ron Herron executed the design. Now that it is one of the few remaining buildings of this style it has been embraced as one of our idiosyncratic national buildings.
South Bank Centre
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Thriving riverside arts complex
The South Bank Centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion... More
Undercover Surrealism: Picasso, Miró, Masson and the Vision of Georges Bataille
11th May - 31st July 2006
Surrealism has, over the years, picked up rather a cosy reputation. Dali's wacky... More
Riverside Building County Hall,South Bank,
London,
SE1Map
7 minutes walk from The Hayward Gallery
The Dali Universe is an innovative, permanent 3,000 square metre exhibition beautifully located at County Hall, part of London's cultural hub along the South Bank. ... More
Located along the banks of the River Thames in the former Bankside Power Station, originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1947, the architect ... More
Level 5,
Royal Festival Hall,Belvedere Road,South Bank,
London,
SE1Map
1 minutes walk from The Hayward Gallery
The most comprehensive and accessible collection of poetry from 1914 in Britain, The Poetry Library within the Southbank Centre contains 90,000 items and is still ... More
A simply unbeatable location for anyone who loves to keep themselves busy. London's County Hall is at the heart of the South Bank, surrounded by ... More
American photographer Anthony Suau is the winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2008 and you can see his award-winning photograph along with ...More
The award-winning international sensation Ennio Marchetto returns with his special Christmas show at the Southbank Centre this December. The legendary quick-change artist uses origami techniques ...More
As you stare across the river at this bustling, stylish, multi-faceted venue, it’s hard to believe that this riverside warehouse was once a reprocessing plant ... More
Benugo is a high class chain of cafes selling handmade sandwiches, salads and desserts. What makes it stand out from the over-crowded coffee shop market ... More
The menu here reads like a comforting childhood reminiscence with some sophisticated bunting thrown on top. Devilled kidneys on toast, followed by an excellent slow-roast ... More
The concrete promenade along the South Bank greatly benefits from this large patch of green grass for striders, strollers and sightseers to relax on. ...More
Located on the South Bank, in the heart of one of London's prettiest thoroughfares, The London Bicycle Tour Company is ideally placed for a spot ... More
Originally the National Film Theatre, the Southbank Centre BFI is the perfect film buff's cinema, with three screens showing 2000 films a year ranging from ... More
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Los Angeles based artist Ed Ruscha, regarded as one of the most influential and pioneering American artists, coming to prominence as one of the pioneers ...More
American photographer Anthony Suau is the winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2008 and you can see his award-winning photograph along with ...More
The Southbank's Classics for Christmas concert at Royal Festival Hall features works by the likes of Berlioz, Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, performed by the Philharmonia ...More
Following a sold-out debut at Royal Festival Hall earlier this year, this stunningly beautiful rendition of Peter & the Wolf returns to Southbank Centre this ...More
ZooNation's award-winning interpretation of Sondheim's musical Into The Woods presents a contemporary and urban twist on the 1980s Broadway hit. One of the UK's finest ...More
The award-winning international sensation Ennio Marchetto returns with his special Christmas show at the Southbank Centre this December. The legendary quick-change artist uses origami techniques ...More
The Cologne Christmas Market returns to the Southbank Centre as chalet-style stalls are set up, running along the riverside stretch from the London Eye to ...More
Get your little groovers down to Baby Loves Disco, the worldwide phenomenon that's getting the whole family out on the dancefloor. The Southbank Centre is ...More
Comedienne Sandi Toksvig hosts a seasonal Christmas Cracker at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, a fun filled variety show featuring special guests including Ronnie ...More
LondonTown.com has special discounts every week. The amount of discount will vary depending on the dates you are coming and how far in advance you book. All discounts are subject to availability.
The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968. It mounts temporary exhibitions of contemporary and historical art. The gallery, named after the late Sir Isaac Hayward, the former leader of the London County Council, is also responsible for National Touring exhibitions and for the Arts Council Collection, which it manages on behalf of the 
