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Aerial Views of the Southbank Centre and Visitors

Royal Festival Hall

Welcome to one of the world’s leading performance venues

Situated in the heart of London, on the banks of the River Thames is the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, a beacon for arts and culture for over 70 years.

The 2,700 capacity Royal Festival Hall auditorium fast became one of the world’s landmark performance venues when it opened as part of the 1951 Festival of Britain. And since the introduction of the Greater London Council’s ‘Open Foyer’ policy in 1983, this Grade I listed building has been open daily, free for anyone to visit and enjoy its light spacious interior.

Find out the latest events happening in our Royal Festival Hall, and discover the best places to eat, drink and shop while you’re here.

What’s inside?

On now & coming up

More info for Test Harry Styles
Harry Styles leans back in a chair, wearing a navy blue suit jacket, white shirt, brown silk tie and yellow shorts.
Gigs

Test Harry Styles

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Royal Festival Hall
More info for Pulp
A group of men and women sat on amps and armchairs in a studio
Gigs

Pulp

Grab life by the lapels with the one and only Pulp, as they play their album More in full
More info for Kes: Live Soundtrack
A young boy with a bird perched on his hand, standing in a field
Gigs

Kes: Live Soundtrack

Ken Loach’s chronicle of boyhood soars with a live soundtrack and introduction by Jarvis Cocker
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
A wide shot of a full orchestra and choir performing on stage, led by a conductor in a tuxedo.
Classical music

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Feel the power of Beethoven’s monumental Choral Symphony with its climactic ‘Ode to Joy’
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Steel Pan Reimagined
Black and white image of two young men tuning steel pans on a staircase
Gigs

Steel Pan Reimagined

The incredible heritage of the steel pan meets bold new commissions for a mixed-instrument orchestra
Royal Festival Hall
More info for James Acaster
A blond man sips a martini behind a large ice cream sundae at an outdoor cafe overlooking a sunny waterway.
Comedy

James Acaster

A brand new show, full of everything you love about James Acaster and more!
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Chicane
A DJ with glasses and headphones around his neck performs behind Pioneer DJ decks under atmospheric purple stage lighting.
Gigs

Chicane

Go big and celebrate 30 years of Chicane with all the hits, a full orchestra and a live band
Royal Festival Hall
More info for The Rest Is Football: Bursting Onto the Stage
Three men, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, sitting and smiling on a sofa in a studio.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is Football: Bursting Onto the Stage

The popular pod goes live for the first time, with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards
Royal Festival Hall
More info for The Rest Is Politics: The Special Relationship
Hosts of The Rest is Politics US and UK sitting together on a green and brown bench.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is Politics: The Special Relationship

Goalhanger's top political voices unite for debate, analysis and disagreeing agreeably
Royal Festival Hall
More info for The Rest Is History: Live
A formal portrait of two men in suits and glasses standing in a museum, flanked by white marble Roman-style sculptures.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is History: Live

Hear the historical hits in person at this live show of the world’s most popular history podcast
Royal Festival Hall
More info for The Rest Is Entertainment: Live
Two presenters on a dark stage with Christmas lights: a blonde woman in a red dress and a man with a beard and glasses in a Fulham Football Club Christmas sweater.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is Entertainment: Live

Get gossiping with Richard Osman and Marina Hyde in this live show of their popular podcast
Royal Festival Hall
More info for The Rest Is Politics US: Trump on a Knife Edge
A smiling blonde woman in an orange patterned shirt poses next to a man in a blue suit and purple tie, who is holding up a peace sign with his right hand.
Literature & poetry

The Rest Is Politics US: Trump on a Knife Edge

Be a part of the discussion about the political future of the United States with the popular podcast
Royal Festival Hall

View more events in What’s on

For your visit

Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre

The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.

Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.

A Black man with long dark hair sits smiling among the seats of the Royal Festival Hall

Play a part in every performance

Name a seat in our Royal Festival Hall and help support the future of arts and music at the Southbank Centre.

Find out how to name a seat

While you’re with us

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