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A group of people is smiling and laughing together, with one woman in a red top and white trousers at the centre of the scene.

Open Doors

Our regular free events are open to all, and bursting with creativity

 

Come and take part in our series of regular free events, offering creative activities, workshops, performances and family fun to inspire everyone.

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Creative Encounters

Making and conversation for a global London.

View all Creative Encounters events
More info for Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana
A simple floral arrangement in a light green vase sits against a wrinkled cream-colored fabric backdrop.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana

A restorative workshop bringing together the Japanese art of flower arranging, drawing and painting
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing
A group of seven people recreate Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper in front of a large reproduction of the painting.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing

Capture the form, movement and language of the body at a welcoming drawing session
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink
Hands with long nails use a tool to carve a butterfly design into a dark block on a wooden table.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink

Play with words and stamp-making to help create a giant, collaborative visual poem
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing
Three embossed metal ornaments—two golden fish flanking a central silver woman—hang against a white background.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing

Create your own delicate hanging decorations inspired by the Southbank Centre’s iconic architecture
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases
A decorated matchbox open to reveal toy gems and coins sits among colorful paper cutouts and markers.
Courses & workshops

Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases

Design and make your own beautiful keepsake inspired by vintage South Asian matchboxes
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free

WordPlay

Get those little feet tapping with words and music perfect for early years.

More info for WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2
An audience of parents and babies watch a stage performance, with a mother holding her baby up in the foreground.
Family

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Enjoy songs and live music for ages 0 – 2 and their grown-ups, within a playful, squishy space
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.
Family

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Wriggle on down for live music and songs for ages 3 – 5 and their grown-ups, set in a playful space
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free

Saturday Sessions

Performances, workshops and fun for children aged 5 to 11, including a relaxed offering.

More info for Relaxed Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre
A crowd of people outside watching acrobats perform on a street
Family

Relaxed Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Unlock your acroskills at an inclusive workshop with Mimbre’s professional acrobats
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre
Two people outside, lifting another acrobat up above their heads by their ankle
Family

Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Drop in to unleash your own acrobatic skills with help from Mimbre’s professional acrobats
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA
People participate in an interactive art workshop with papers under vibrant, colorful lighting.
Family

Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA

An adapted family workshop with games and activities for designing architecture-inspired 3D drawings
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Saturday Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA
A young girl in a red shirt peers through a cutout panel on an outdoor playground structure.
Family

Saturday Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA

Reimagine the world through imaginative design exercises and 3D drawing designed for children
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker
A young girl in a floral dress dances with other children under vibrant pink and purple lighting.
Family

Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker

Join us for a Relaxed festive special with games, dances and crafty activities for families
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker
A crowd of children and adults dance with raised arms under vibrant pink stage lights and string lighting.
Family

Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker

Celebrate the magic of being yourself with family games, dances and crafty activities
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free

Wavelengths

A creative space for ages 16 – 25.

More info for Wavelengths: October
A smiling young woman with glasses waves to a group of people dancing under vibrant pink stage lights.
Courses & workshops

Wavelengths: October

A creative remedy for the world via live performance, workshops and more at a new night for under-25s
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free
More info for Wavelengths: November
A group of young people sit together under vibrant red lighting, focusing their attention on someone out of frame.
Courses & workshops

Wavelengths: November

Step in and find your wavelength at a new night of live performances and workshops for under-25s
Royal Festival Hall
Tickets Free

Simmer Down and Mix & Move

Sociable music and dance for older adults.

More info for Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.
Courses & workshops

Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk

Join Grounded Movement to dance your way through the worlds of jazz and funk
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Simmer Down
Two women dancing together
Gigs

Simmer Down

Get ready to feel the reggae rhythm at this free monthly meet-up and daytime dance
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
More info for Mix & Move: Winter Special
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.
Courses & workshops

Mix & Move: Winter Special

Put on your dancing shoes and feel the festive cheer at this friendly social dance
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free

While you’re with us

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.