Southbank Centre
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London's hub of cultural arts, The Southbank Centre announced in March 2013 that it's set for a £100 million revamp that will see the 1960s design finally move into the 21st century with a proposal that includes a floating glass pavilion, two more roof gardens, a space for riverside arts and a large pedestrian area. Currently, the centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion (usually negative) on its distinctive design - famous detractors include Prince Charles, who once described it as looking like a "nuclear power station". Yet, if the The West End is the centre of popular culture in London, it is the Southbank Centre that is the centre of true excellence in the arts. Comprising the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery, the complex consistently produces classical and world music events and fine art exhibitions of high renown. Over 150,000 hours of music have been performed at the Royal Festival Hall - the largest venue in the Southbank Centre - since its completion in 1951. Welcoming over three million visitors a year, the Royal Festival Hall is primarily a classical music venue. It benefits from the residency of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonia and four associate ensembles. The programme also includes events from opera to the London Jazz Festival. The Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room host regular recitals, dance performances and choral concerts. Free lunchtime concerts held in the foyer offer a more relaxed musical experience. The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968. The colossal Poetry Library houses the Arts Council modern collection, while the BFI Southbank (previously the National Film Theatre) shows 2,000 films (art house and classics) a year alongside many film festivals and director-led seasons. A happy architectural accident has also made this complex the best spot for skateboarding and BMXing in the capital, meaning it is loved by London's counter-culture as much as by its highbrow elite. In the last ten years, the building of Tate Modern and the London Eye adjacent to the centre has been the final step in making the South Bank of the Thames into the beating heart of a thousand years of British culture.
Southbank Centre events
event > Exhibitions > Art exhibitions - Painting | PRICING Free
DATES 19th September to 4th November 2018 - 10am-11pm
Art, writing and music created by prisoners, secure patients and detainees, as well as those on community sentences across the UK.
Space ShiftersSpace ShiftersThousands of litres of recycled oil form a waist-high horizon that surrounds you as you walk down a gangway through inky liquid. Richard Wilson's monumental installation, 20:50, occupying an entire upper space of the Hayward Gallery, is one of 20 works in Space Shifters, an exhibition which explores the gallery's refurbished spaces. All of them alt2018-10-17T11:00:00+01002019-01-06T00:00:00+0000
Where:
event > Exhibitions > Art exhibitions - Multimedia
PRICING £16.50
DATES 26th September 2018 to 6th January 2019
VENUE The Hayward Gallery
Thousands of litres of recycled oil form a waist-high horizon that surrounds you as you walk down a gangway through inky liquid. Richard Wilson's monumental installation, 20:50, occupying an entire upper space of the Hayward Gallery, is one of 20 works in Space Shifters, an exhibition which explores the gallery's refurbished spaces. All of them alt... More about this event
event > Exhibitions > Lifestyle - Talks & Lectures | PRICING Free
DATES 17th October 2018 to 31st March 2019 - 10am
Literary & Education, Author Event.
event > Exhibitions > Lifestyle - Talks & Lectures
PRICING £30-£50 inc copy of Thanks A Lot, Mr Kibblewhite: My Life, concs £22.50-£37.50
DATES Thursday 18th October 2018 - 7.30pm-9pm
The founder and lead singer of The Who talks to music critic Will Hodgkinson about his rise to fame.
event > Concerts > Classical
PRICING £10-£45
DATES Thursday 18th October 2018 - 7.30pm
A performance by the pianist who is particularly renowned for her instinctive interpretations of Chopin, and here performs the dramatic Fantaisie In F Minor, the lilting Barcarolle and the intense Sonata No 2.
London Literature FestivalLondon Literature FestivalDiscuss and digest the written word with Salman Rushdie, Akala, Mary Beard, Carol Ann Duffy, Sue Perkins, Melvyn Bragg and Olafur Eliasson at this year's London Literature Festival. Marilynne Robinson is 'in conversation' at the 2018 festival where you can enjoy an evening with Roger Daltrey for the exclusive London launch of his new memoir Thanks 2018-10-18T00:00:00+01002018-10-28T00:00:00+0100
Where:
event > Exhibitions > Lifestyle - Literary Events & Book Signings
PRICING Various, some Free
DATES 18th to 28th October 2018
Discuss and digest the written word with Salman Rushdie, Akala, Mary Beard, Carol Ann Duffy, Sue Perkins, Melvyn Bragg and Olafur Eliasson at this year's London Literature Festival. Marilynne Robinson is 'in conversation' at the 2018 festival where you can enjoy an evening with Roger Daltrey for the exclusive London launch of his new memoir Thanks ... More about this event
event > Exhibitions > Lifestyle - Talks & Lectures
PRICING £25-£35 inc copy of In Pieces, concs £18.75-£26.25
DATES Friday 19th October 2018 - 7.30pm-9pm
The Oscar-winning actress talks candidly to author Elizabeth Day about her life and career.
event > Concerts > Classical
PRICING £10-£65
DATES Friday 19th October 2018 - 7.30pm
Alondra de la Parra conducts a performance of Glinka's Overture, Ruslan And Lyudmila, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5. With pianist Benjamin Grosvenor.
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Southbank Centre
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Make the most of your precious time off with the LondonTown weekend guide, which gives you the lowdown on the best events and things...
With an exciting calendar of entertainment, 2018 is another special year in London. Find out what's happening throughout the capital with our thorough guide to the best 2018 London events.
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London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel from £112 29% off
1 Addington Street, SE1 | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
Close to Waterloo, the 4 star Park Plaza is - as the name suggests - just behind County Hall. Near to the Thames, it's also convenient ... More
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel from £147 22% off
2 Whitehall Court, SW1A | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
Emulating the style of a French chateau, this grand Victorian residence, built in 1884, occupies a prime location within Westminster. It's worth staying at the Grade ... More
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel from £244 21% off
Whitehall Place, SW1A | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
With 294 bedrooms, multi-level penthouse suites and terraces offering spectacular views of the River Thames, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall - the £300 million restoration of the ... More
London > Entertainment > Arts Centres
Arches 228-232 Station Approach Road, SE1 | 5 minutes from Southbank Centre
In the midst of Leeke Street tunnel, one of the biggest graffiti canvases in London, and opposite The Vaults you'll find House of Vans, ... More
London > Entertainment > Arts Centres
Strand, Covent Garden, London WC2R | 7 minutes from Southbank Centre
Somerset House, once the site of a spectacular Tudor palace, now includes a magnificent 18th century art gallery housing celebrated collections belonging to the Courtauld Institute ... More
London > Entertainment > Arts Centres
44 Lambeth High Street, Albert Embankment, SE1 | 17 minutes from Southbank Centre
Once the fire engine workshops of the London Fire Brigade, The Workshop on Albert Embankment in Lambeth is opening its doors once again, as a temporary ... More
London > Entertainment > Classical Music
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Housed in the same modernist block as the Royal Festival Hall and sandwiched between it and the Hayward Gallery, the Purcell Room has a 372-seat auditorium, ... More
London > Entertainment > Live Music
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Located by the River Thames, with sweeping views of the capital from the London Eye to St Paul's Cathedral, the Southbank Centre is a unique metropolitan ... More
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Jubilee Gardens, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Each summer, from May to September, a Speigeltent (from the Dutch for 'mirror tent') is set up in the shadow of the Southbank Centre, to host ... More
London > Events > Concerts Dates: Wednesday 17th October 2018 - 7.30pm
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
The quartet melds music and theatre to reveal world of Ukrainian folklore....More
London > Events > Theatre Dates: 8th November 2018 to 5th January 2019
Southbank Centre, South Bank, Covent Garden, London SE1 | 3 minutes from Southbank Centre
This moving adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's World War I epic War Horse returns to the theatre where it all started, the National Theatre, eleven years after ...More
London > Events > Concerts Dates: Wednesday 17th October 2018 - 7.30pm
Southbank Centre, 7 Exton Street, SE1 | 5 minutes from Southbank Centre
...More
Sights and Attractions near Southbank Centre
London > Attractions > Museums
Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
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 growing. ... More
London > Attractions >
South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
This stretch along the Thames is one of the cultural and social hubs of London with the Southbank Centre - which includes Royal Festival Hall, Queen ... More
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | 1 minute from Southbank Centre
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 ... More
London > Shopping > Books
Riverside, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
The family-run Foyles book shop has been in the book selling business since 1906. Around 30,000 books are stocked at this branch on a broad range ... More
London > Shopping > Delicatessens
22 Cornwall Road, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
Konditor & Cook specialise in the creation of amazingly tasty cakes which are also sold on to some of the finest restaurants in the city. This, ... More
London > Shopping > Markets
Lower Marsh, South Bank, London SE1 | 7 minutes from Southbank Centre
On weekdays a street food market runs along Lower Marsh displaying a diverse range of global food for all tastes, from Italian ... More
Restaurants near Southbank Centre
London > Restaurants > Cafes and Delis
South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Food to go in its simplest form. Freeshly baked bread for hand-made made sandwhiches; home made soups; simple salads. Another high street option for fresh. fast ... More
London > Restaurants > Italian restaurants
Unit 6, Royal Festival Hall Riverside, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Strada has started something of a pizza revolution. The chain has blossomed thanks largely to its focus on fresh, high quality ingredients, and efficient, friendly service. ... More
London > Restaurants > International restaurants
Unit 1, Royal Festival Hall Riverside, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
If you happen to be with the kids on the South Bank this summer this is a great little eatery in which to recharge their batteries. ... More
London > Education > Arts and Drama
Somerset House, Covent Garden, London WC2R | 7 minutes from Southbank Centre
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and prime ... More
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
1 Sheffield Street, Holborn, London WC2A | 12 minutes from Southbank Centre
The award-winning Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, designed by Irish architects O'Donnell + Tuomey and awarded the RIBA London Building of the Year Award in 2014, ... More
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
24 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, WC2H | 13 minutes from Southbank Centre
The London Film School is the oldest-established international school of film technique in the world. The school has contributed significantly to ... More
Leisure near Southbank Centre
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
Westminster Bridge Road, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from Southbank Centre
Fancy detoxing in the building where the Greater London Council used to run the city? The Spa at the London Marriott County ... More
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
3 Belvedere Road, South Bank, South Bank, London SE1 | 4 minutes from Southbank Centre
The concrete promenade along the South Bank greatly benefits from this large patch of green grass for striders, strollers and sightseers to relax on. Not ... More
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
Upper Ground, South Bank, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
Located between Oxo Tower Wharf and Gabriel's Wharf, Bernie Spain Gardens is a pleasant green space to stop off on a riverside walk along the South ... More
London > Nightlife > Pubs
25 Roupell Street, South Bank, London SE1 | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
A short walk from the South Bank Centre, The Old Vic and The National Theatre this traditional old watering hole is a good place to have ... More
London > Nightlife > Pubs
10 Northumberland Street, Covent Garden, London WC2N | 7 minutes from Southbank Centre
Thirsty Sherlock Holmes fans look no further than this homage to the great detective himself and to original Victorian pubs. While you indulge in a soothing ... More
London > Nightlife > Pubs
62 Stamford Street, South Bank, London SE1 | 8 minutes from Southbank Centre
If you're the kind of drinker who gets thirsty, very thirsty, and you don't have the time or patience to queue for at a very busy ... More
Nightlife near Southbank Centre
London > Nightlife > Bars
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Designed by the Eden Project, the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden is the place to be on a summer's evening for stunning sundown views over the ... More
London > Nightlife > Bars
Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place, Westminster, London SW1A | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
The cocktails in the Bassoon Bar are very good, expensive, yes, but very, very good. Not only that but the bar has a piano which is ... More
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
47 Villiers Street, Covent Garden, London WC2N | 6 minutes from Southbank Centre
Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon’s is now home to a regular, thriving crowd of drinkers of all ages and all ... More
Meeting venue hire near Southbank Centre
London > Business > Venue Hire
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall's refurbishment has done away with 'The People's Palace', the marvellously 1950s restaurant that used to occupy this space, and replaced it with ... More
London > Business > Venue Hire
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 | Same location as Southbank Centre
Located by the River Thames, with sweeping views of the capital from the London Eye to St Paul's Cathedral, the Southbank Centre is a unique metropolitan ... More
London > Business > Venue Hire
South Bank, South Bank, London SE1 | 3 minutes from Southbank Centre
The Deck is a modern roof-top venue with stunning views over the Thames, available for hire at the National Theatre, part of the Southbank Centre which ... More
Also in Belvedere Road
Our recommendations in the same street as Southbank Centre
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Hotels Near Southbank Centre What's On Today Near Southbank Centre  Space Shifters Exhibitions | Until 6th January 2019 The Hayward Gallery 1 minute walk from Southbank Centre Thousands of litres of recycled oil form a waist-high horizon that surrounds you as you walk down a gangway through ...More  Antony and Cleopatra Theatre | Until 19th January 2019 National Theatre: Olivier Theatre 2 minutes walk from Southbank Centre Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play lovers Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre as Simon Godwin follows the success ...More  I'm Not Running Theatre | Until 31st January 2019 National Theatre: Lyttelton Theatre 3 minutes walk from Southbank Centre The world premiere of David Hare's new play I'm Not Running stars a strong cast which includes Doctor Foster actress ...More  Screamfest Seasonal | Until 31st October 2018 London Dungeon 4 minutes walk from Southbank Centre This Halloween, The London Dungeon is hosting Screamfest, its scariest event in 40 years. Billed as the ultimate Halloween event, ...More  Rainforest Adventure: SEA LIFE London Exhibitions | Until 24th March 2019 Sea Life London Aquarium 4 minutes walk from Southbank Centre Opening to the public on 24th March 2018, just in time for the Easter holidays, Rainforest Adventure brings the UK's ...More  Divine Proportions Theatre | Until 12th January 2019 The Vaults 5 minutes walk from Southbank Centre Renowned for hosting quirky and immersive events, the Vaults keep up the tradition with Divine Proportions, a unique dining experience ...More  The Jungle Theatre | Until 3rd November 2018 Playhouse Theatre 6 minutes walk from Southbank Centre It won five star reviews during its Young Vic run and now The Jungle, an immersive play from Good Chance ...More  Hannah Perry: Gush Exhibitions | Until 4th November 2018 Somerset House 7 minutes walk from Southbank Centre This October, Somerset House hosts a major UK solo exhibition by British artist Hannah Perry. Titled Gush, the new exhibition ...More Proud Big Top Theatre | Until 27th December 2018 One Embankment 7 minutes walk from Southbank Centre Theatre, Burlesque....More Porn Idol Clubbing and Nightlife | Until 25th October 2018 Heaven 7 minutes walk from Southbank Centre Resident DJs and guests supply burlesque glamour and party tunes....More New on LondonTown  Summer and Smoke Theatre | From 10th November Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at the Almeida Theatre, Rebecca Frecknall's "shiveringly beautiful production" ...More  Russia: Royalty & the Romanovs Exhibitions | From 9th November The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace Exploring 300 years of history between Russia and ...More Imperial War Museums Marks 100 Years Of Remembrance Tours | On 11th November IWM London (Imperial War Museums) The Imperial War Museummarks 100 Years of Remembrance on Sunday 11th November with a two minute silence followed by Breaking the Silence - with performances from young musicians ...More Remembrance Lecture Exhibitions | On 6th November IWM London (Imperial War Museums) Asking "Why are we silent when conflict is loud?", this year's Remembrance Lecture questions the power and purpose of two minute silences. In 1919, the first national silence was observed to commemorate the end of ...More  Discount Suit Company Drinking In a former suit tailor's storeroom on Wentworth Street near Petticoat Lane you'll find the ...More  The Snowman Theatre | From 22nd November Bill Alexander directs Birmingham Repertory Theatre's musical adaptation of Raymond Briggs' children's story about the ...More December in London 2018 Article Christmas favourites like The Nutcracker, Carols at The Royal Albert Hall and the Santa Dash return along with a Festive Feast at Hampton Court Palace and a new puppet show from the puppeteers behind ...More  December in London 2018 Article Christmas favourites like The Nutcracker, Carols at The Royal Albert Hall and the Santa ...More  Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams Exhibitions | From 2nd February Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum The largest and most comprehensive exhibition ever staged ...More  Carols for Shelter Concerts | On 28th November Join celebrity readers Simon Callow and Brenda Blethyn, special guests, choirs and hundreds of fellow ...More Choral Scholars Of St Martin-In-The-Fields Concerts | On 12th November Andrew Earis conducts a programme of Baroque works for solo and ensemble....More  Ideal Home Show Christmas Exhibitions | From 21st November From fairy lights to food, gifts to winter garden advice, the Ideal Home Show Christmas ...More The Lore of the Land Exhibitions | From 20th October An immersive, multi-sensory installation is the first exhibition in the Horniman's new arts space. Opening The Studio, a space for showcasing social arts projects, the inaugural exhibition, The Lore of the Land features new work ...More  Redchurch Townhouse Hotels A new addition to Soho House with 37 stylish bedrooms and a Cecconi's Italian restaurant....More  De Vere Selsdon Estate Hotels Part of Principal Hotel Company's De Vere portfolio, De Vere Selsdon Estate is a historic, ...More MEATliquor KX Dining In an old tram shed on St. Chad's Place, MEATliquor KX is (as the name suggests) mad about two things: burgers and booze....More  EartH Kitchen Dining Housed in an old art deco cinema in Dalston, EartH Kitchen is a sunny, 150-seat ...More EartH Entertainment Multi-arts space in what was once the derelict Savoy Cinema on Dalston's bustling Stoke Newington Road....More  Due East Dining Due East, the all-day restaurant and bar The East London Hotel, has partnered with local ...More  The East London Hotel Hotels An affordable, stylish place to stay, The East London Hotel has an informal bar and ...More  Best Events in London for October Half Term Article From Storystock at Battersea Power Station to The ...More 
Hotels near Southbank Centre
From cheap budget accommodation to luxury 5 star suites see our deals for Southbank Centre hotels, including Park Plaza County Hall Hotel London from 97% off. |
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