The Southbank Centre, London: All year

The Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues which form the largest single arts centre in the world. It is made up of The Royal Festival Hall, The Hayward Gallery, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Purcell Room and The Saison Poetry Library, totaling over eight hectares of creative arts.

A brainchild of Herbert Morrison, the centre was inaugurated at The Festival of Britain, with the objective of celebrating the recovery from World War II and showing off the very best in British science, technology, arts and industrial design. This first exhibition ran from May to September in 1951 and The Royal Festival Hall is the only building that remains of it today. Every year more than 1,000 musicians and artists perform at the Southbank Centre, and 22 million visitors pass through its doors. It plays host to the best in classical & world music, rock & pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts.

At present the centre has 14 resident artists, four resident orchestras, and over 100 other artistic organisations, as well as managing the Arts Council Collection and organising the Hayward Touring Exhibition programme in venues throughout the UK. But it is so much more than just a music venue. Aside from the choice (where else would you find two or three top class performances taking place at the same time?), it also offers something for everybody: there is a cinema, a theatre complex, an art gallery, exhibitions, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and book and music shops. Or if you just want somewhere to relax, it's open all day, and there is free wifi to boot.

The Southbank Centre

Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

Opening Times

Every day, 10.00-23.00.