The Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyer spaces are currently being refurbished, as we work to bring you a brand new cafe, bar, shop and Ticket Office. Find out more

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Everything you need to know about visiting the Southbank Centre in one place.

The Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyers are getting a refresh. From Tuesday 20 February 2024, we’re making improvements to the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2 foyer spaces, as we work to bring you a brand new cafe, bar, shop and Ticket Office. Thanks for your patience during the upgrades.

Throughout the refurbishment, the Queen Elizabeth Hall’s Concrete Cafe and Ticket Office are open daily from 10am. The Level 4 and Level 5 bars of the Royal Festival Hall are also offering drinks and snacks from 60 minutes before an event. The National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge and Mandela Walk shop are open as usual.

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While you're visiting the Southbank Centre

So that everyone can enjoy our spaces, we politely ask you to follow our house rules and any requests from our Visitor Experience team.

Please keep your personal belongings with you at all times. Security will be called if you leave your items unattended.

Multiple bags or very large luggage items encroach on the space available to other visitors. Please be considerate to others and avoid taking up more space than you need.

You are welcome to bring your own food and soft drinks to the Royal Festival Hall foyers. However, please note that only alcoholic drinks purchased at the Southbank Centre can be consumed here.

Our Queen Elizabeth Hall cafe/bar is for visitors who are purchasing food and beverages from the venue. No food and beverages bought outside can be consumed in this area.

You may find some of our foyer spaces closed off and only accessible to people with tickets. This is to provide space for audiences as they arrive for performances.

Please look out for signs and listen to announcements; these give you more information about closure times and where else you’re welcome to sit.

All visitors are asked to sit on a seat. Sitting on the floor is not permitted. We have increased the amount of furniture in the building, and there are plenty of seats for all.

Shoes must also be worn at all times while inside our buildings, and please don’t put your feet on our new furniture, so that it stays clean and undamaged for everyone.

Sleeping is not permitted in our foyer spaces.

Smoking of e-cigarettes or other products that produce a vapour or smoke are not allowed inside our buildings.