With the refurbishment and re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall in 2007, the largest Arts centre in Europe has been restored to us in time for a summer of culture by the river. Expect to see swarms of happy concert goers on the riverside terraces in this cultural beauty spot with a full programme of concerts scheduled in the new Hall which boasts an improved acoustic and almost 3,000 seats.

This beautiful modernist development is home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and hosts hundreds of classical and pop concerts throughout the year in its three chambers. Summertime is marked by outdoor performance and crowds of thousands sunning themselves son the beautiful modernist terraces, as well as the Meltdown Festival whose past curators include Lee Scratch Perry, Jarvis Cocker, Patti Smith and Morrissey.

Comprising the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room and The Hayward, the South Bank Centre is also right next to the National Theatre and the National Film Theatre and for many this area is simply culture central. There’s a row of slightly repellent new concession shops built into the front of the Festival Hall, thankfully counterbalanced by the shabby charm of the second hand book stalls under the Waterloo Bridge.

Everyone loves the South Bank and if you’ve never been inside the Halls you should make a point of it. The Centre is an asset to London and has a programme of music and art to match its splendid facilities.


Check out events at the Royal Festival Hall

Check out events at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

Check out events at the Purcell Room

Check out events at the Hayward Gallery