Search for a Story
See our giant storytelling bed, help the Story-collector with their mission and celebrate the magic of stories with these drop-in activities.
Stories are everywhere, just waiting to be told. Scattered around a giant storytelling bed, are fragments of stories. Can you piece them together to discover well-loved tales, or unleash your imagination to invent new adventures of your own?
Listen out for the Story-collector, popping up throughout the day looking for all the stories they can find. The search is on! With your help, the Story-collector will find everything they need to tell their tales.
This is a drop-in activity celebrating the magic of stories and storytelling.
On the storytelling bed, take a look at our newly commissioned quilt made by the hands of many families in community quilting sessions this Spring. Inspired by the Southbank Centre’s 75th Anniversary this collective artwork was designed by textile artist Natasha Shah.
Created by Robin Belfield. Commissioned by the Southbank Centre.
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
Thu 29 Oct 2026, 11am
Fri 30 Oct 2026, 1pm
Sat 31 Oct 2026, 11am
Sun 1 Nov 2026, 11am
Run time
4 hours (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
Free – no ticket required
Concessions
Learn more about concession discounts
Refunds and exchanges
Find out more about our refund and exchange policy
Make a donation
Help us open up the arts to everyone by making a one-off or a recurring donation.
For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
There is step-free access to The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, via a ramp.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.