Saved events

    Opening times

    An illustration to denote opening hours featuring a clock
    Southbank Centre

    Don't get caught waiting outside, here are the opening times for each of our Southbank Centre venues.

    INDIA ROPER-EVANS

    Holiday opening times

    Find out here when our buildings are open over Christmas and New Year. Our usual opening hours can be found below. 

    Royal Festival Hall:

    Sun 24 Dec, 10am – 6pm
    Mon 25 & Tue 26 Dec, all buildings closed
    Wed 27 – Sat 30 Dec, 10am – 11pm
    Sun 31 Dec, 10am – 3pm
    Mon 1 & Tue 2 Jan, 10am – 6pm

    National Poetry Library:

    Sun 24 – Tue 26 Dec, closed
    Wed 27 – Sat 30 Dec, 12 noon – 8pm
    Sun 31 Dec & Mon 1 Jan, closed
    Tue 2 Jan, 12 noon – 6pm

    Members' Lounge:

    Sun 24 Dec, 10am – 6pm
    Mon 25 & Tue 26 Dec, closed
    Wed 27 – Sat 30 Dec, 10am – 11pm
    Sun 31 Dec & Mon 1 Jan, closed
    Tue 2 Jan, 10am – 6pm

    Hayward Gallery:

    Sun 24 Dec, 10am – 4pm
    Mon 25 & Tue 26 Dec, closed
    Wed 27 – Fri 29 Dec, 10am – 6pm
    Sat 30 Dec, 10am – 8pm
    Sun 31 Dec, 10am – 4pm
    Mon 1 & Tue 2 Jan, closed

    The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room are open only on the days they host events as usual. 

    The Royal Festival Hall building viewed from Hungerford Bridge, the trees on the riverside are leafless and some people can be seen walking on Queen's Walk
    Royal Festival Hall by TwobyTwo Photography

    Royal Festival Hall

    Our Royal Festival Hall is open

    Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 6pm**
    Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm

    **On evenings where there are events taking place in the Royal Festival Hall the building remains open until the end of the event.

    Upcoming events in our Royal Festival Hall

    Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room

    The Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room are open only on the days they host events. The auditoriums, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, open from 90 minutes before events begin, staying open until they have finished.

    These spaces are closed at all other times.

    Upcoming events in our Queen Elizabeth Hall

    Upcoming events in our Purcell Room

    Hayward Gallery

    The Hayward Gallery is open 

    Wed – Fri, 10am – 6pm
    Sat, 10am – 8pm
    Sun, 10am – 6pm
    Closed Mon & Tue

    The gallery will close at 4pm on Sunday 24 Dec and Sunday 31 Dec.

    Book now for Hiroshi Sugimoto

    The interior of the National Poetry Library including a table, a bust of Dylan Thomas and several anthologies and collections on book shelves
    Southbank Centre / National Poetry Library

    National Poetry Library

    The National Poetry Library is located on Level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall. Step-free access is available via the JCB Glass Lift. The Library is closed on Mondays, but is open

    Tuesday, 12 noon – 6pm
    Wednesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 8pm

    Booking is optional, but if you wish to plan ahead please email

    Email the National Poetry Library

    More information about visiting the National Poetry Library

    The Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden in the summer with people sat around chatting, as seen from the Level 5 balcony of the Royal Festival Hall
    India Roper Evans

    Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

    Located, as its name suggest, on the roof of our Queen Elizabeth Hall, our garden is currently closed for the winter. It will reopen again in the spring.

    People enjoying the Southbank Centre Food Market

    Southbank Centre Food Market

    Located on the Belvedere Road side of our Royal Festival Hall, our food market is open

    Fridays, 12 noon – 9pm
    Saturdays, 11am – 9pm
    Sundays 12 noon – 6pm*
    Bank holiday Mondays, 12 noon – 6pm

    *On bank holiday weekends the market is open 11am – 9pm on Sundays

    People viewing the archive display at the Future Exhibition Makers on the Open Foyer Policy
    Pete Woodhead

    Archive Studio

    Our Archive Studio can be found on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall.

    The Archive Studio is closed currently, but research access is available, by appointment, on Wednesdays and Fridays. Access to the Studio is free.

    Email to arrange a visit to the Archive Studio