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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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View Overview All Events Calendar

Wednesday 2 September

Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana
A simple floral arrangement in a light green vase sits against a wrinkled cream-colored fabric backdrop.

Creative Encounters: (Almost) Ikebana

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 18 September

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.

Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 23 September

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.

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

Courses & workshops
British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) - The performance includes a live interpreter who translates the show into British Sign Language.
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 2 October

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Simmer Down
Two women dancing together

Simmer Down

Gigs
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Saturday 3 October

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

Relaxed Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre
Two people outside, lifting another acrobat up above their heads by their ankle

Saturday Sessions: Acrobalance with Mimbre

Family
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL
Children enjoying an Imagine Festival dance event.

Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 21 October

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.

Creative Encounters: Poetry and Ink

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Thursday 22 October

Wavelengths: October
A smiling young woman with glasses waves to a group of people dancing under vibrant pink stage lights.

Wavelengths: October

Courses & workshops
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
Royal Festival Hall
Free

Friday 23 October

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.

Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Saturday 7 November

Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA
People participate in an interactive art workshop with papers under vibrant, colorful lighting.

Relaxed Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
Saturday Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA
A young girl in a red shirt peers through a cutout panel on an outdoor playground structure.

Saturday Sessions: Drawing Futures with MATT+FIONA

Family
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL
Children enjoying an Imagine Festival dance event.

Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL

Family
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 11 November

Creative Encounters: String Looping
Three pieces of fruit—a melon, a green apple, and a papaya—each sit inside a woven net produce bag on a plain beige surface.

Creative Encounters: String Looping

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 13 November

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Simmer Down
Two women dancing together

Simmer Down

Gigs
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 18 November

Creative Encounters: We Knead to Talk
A hand holds a dumpling keychain decorated with colorful gems alongside similar crafts on a striped cloth.

Creative Encounters: We Knead to Talk

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 20 November

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.

Mix & Move: Jazz and Funk

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Thursday 26 November

Wavelengths: November
A group of young people sit together under vibrant red lighting, focusing their attention on someone out of frame.

Wavelengths: November

Courses & workshops
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
Royal Festival Hall
Free

Friday 4 December

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Saturday 5 December

Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker
A young girl in a floral dress dances with other children under vibrant pink and purple lighting.

Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) - The performance includes a live interpreter who translates the show into British Sign Language.
The Clore Ballroom
Tickets Free
Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker
A crowd of children and adults dance with raised arms under vibrant pink stage lights and string lighting.

Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker

Family
British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) - The performance includes a live interpreter who translates the show into British Sign Language.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL
Children enjoying an Imagine Festival dance event.

Ballroom Boogie x Toasty Tots XL

Family
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 9 December

Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing
Three embossed metal ornaments—two golden fish flanking a central silver woman—hang against a white background.

Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing

Courses & workshops
British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) - The performance includes a live interpreter who translates the show into British Sign Language.
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 11 December

Simmer Down
Two women dancing together

Simmer Down

Gigs
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Wednesday 16 December

Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases
A decorated matchbox open to reveal toy gems and coins sits among colorful paper cutouts and markers.

Creative Encounters: Matchbox Canvases

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
Free

Friday 18 December

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

WordPlay: Ages 0 – 2

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5
A group of children raise their hands while following along with a performer on a brightly lit stage.

WordPlay: Ages 3 – 5

Family
A Relaxed Performance - A show adapted to be more comfortable and accessible for everyone.
The Clore Ballroom
Free
Mix & Move: Winter Special
Two older women joyfully dance together in the center of a crowded room illuminated by vibrant pink stage lights.

Mix & Move: Winter Special

Courses & workshops
The Clore Ballroom
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.