About Us | Southbank Centre

Southbank Centre is one of the largest arts centres in the world, occupying a 21-acre site in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site consists of the Royal Festival Hall (reopened in 2007 after its two-year transformation), the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall (containing the Purcell Room), and the Saison Poetry Library.
Southbank Centre offers a wide-ranging artistic programme including classical & world music, rock & pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts. Every year more than 1,000 musicians and artists perform at Southbank Centre, and 22 million visitors come to site, making it one of the most popular cultural destinations in the country.
We are committed to working in collaboration with young, emerging and established talent across the artistic community. We currently support 14 artists in residence, 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.
Read more about the history of Southbank Centre in Charlotte Mullins' book A Festival on the River: The Story of Southbank Centre. This fascinating and informative book charts the extraordinary history of Southbank Centre, from the South Bank's agricultural past, through the 1951 Festival of Britain, to the present day.
Read an extract from the book
The book is available from both Southbank Centre Shop - Festival Terrace and Southbank Centre Shop - Hayward Gallery
Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
Switchboard: +44 (0)20 7960 4200
Ticket Office: 0844 875 0073
Southbank Centre is a Charity Registered in England and Wales number 298909. Its trustee is Southbank Centre Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales number 2238415.VAT Registration Number 905 0284 52. Registered office: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
Coming soon
Fri 18 May 12 - Sun 20 May 12
Packed full of delicious treats, unique gift ideas and fresh seasonal produce from across .. More info
Fri 18 May 12
Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin are two musicians with a fast-growing following on the fol.. More info
Fri 18 May 12
Gochaq Askarov is Azerbaijan's finest exponent of the mugham vocal style, the traditi.. More info
Fri 18 May 12
Orff's masterpiece crowns an evening of great classics and monumental harmony with th.. More info
Fri 18 May 12
Hilary Mantel discusses her new novel 'Bring up the Bodies', the sequel to her M.. More info