From happy hours and bottomless bunches to cut-price theatre tickets and free events, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a big day out in South Bank without stretching your wallet.
Here's our round-up of all the best local Happy Hour deals and lunchtime specials to look out for in South Bank!
*Please note that offers are subject to change, be sure to check with your server before ordering that offers are still valid.
Forza Weekday Special: £15 for a plate and house wine or soda (Mon–Fri 12pm–4pm)
The National Theatre's hip wine bar-restaurant Forza has a brilliant lunchtime offer that's perfect for those looking for something a bit different on a weekday. For £15 you can get a glass of one of Forza's house wines (or a craft soda) plus their weekly dish of the day. The kind of 'plates' you can expect include tasty dishes like chicken leg, ‘nduja, fregola and rocket.
Lasdun Friday Lunch Special: Steak, hand-cut chips and a green salad for £20 (Fri 12pm-3pm)
Lasdun is the National Theatre's sleek and sophisticated brasserie that Guardian critic Grace Dent memorably proclaimed as "the best place to eat in the South Bank"! Known for its mouthwatering pies (made to share), luxurious crab dishes, oysters, English sparkling wines and other fine food and drinks that showcase the best of British produce, you can enjoy the refined setting and expert cooking on Fridays for just £20 with their excellent value steak frites lunch.
Understudy meal deals: £15 for burger, chips and a drink, or for two small plates and a drink (Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 12pm-4pm)
Run in collaboration with London street food incubators KERB, The Understudy is the National Theatre's lively all-day bar known for its great craft beers, huge riverside terrace and tasty street food options. If you're looking for a great weekday lunch pop in and enjoy one of their meal deals in collaboration with Meltdown Cheeseburgers and the Armenian street food purveyors Sireli. Drinks options to go with your lunch include a can of KERB lager, Nirvana Pils, soft drink or Hartridges juice/soda.
Happy Hour: 2-4-1 seasonal drinks (Mon–Fri 5pm–7pm)
A chic French brasserie and café in the heart of South Bank’s cultural district. Whatever your tipple, get two for the price of one across a range of different drinks, including wines, beers, seasonal cocktails and mocktails. > Find out more
* menu subject to change, please check with the restaurant for the latest offer details
Happy Hour: £6 for a cocktail of the day, Mon–Fri 5pm–7pm
Grab a seat at the friendly Italian bistro Locale on Belvedere Road behind County Hall, and indulge in a happy hour sundowner every Monday to Friday. The restaurant offers an extensive list of classic and house special cocktails (all of which have happy hour discounts on them), or for just £6 you can opt for their cocktail of the day.
Cocktail Hour: Classic cocktails £7.25, premium cocktails £9.25, Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm
One of South Bank's longest-running bars and restaurants, the Archduke and sister restaurant Black & Blue, are both located inside the atmospheric railway arches that run parallel to the Royal Festival Hall. A popular pre-concert destination, the Archduke is also a great spot for an after-work drink.
Don't Give a Shitake: 1/2 price dim sum and cocktails (Mon–Fri 3pm–6pm)
Lazy Sumday: All-you-can-eat Dim Sum for £29.95, kids under 12 £12.95 (all day Sunday)
Set over two floors at the Southbank Centre, this is one of the most popular branches of the dim sum restaurant brand Ping Pong. The menu lists dozens of different dim sum options with regular season specials and a buzzing cocktail bar further adds to the lively atmosphere.
Wing Wednesdays: £13 for all-you-can-eat chicken wings
Meat Free Mondays: 2-4-1 vegan and vegetarian mains
25% off food and drink for students (all day, every day).
U25 Sundays 50% off food and drink all day Sundays for those aged 18-25
The biggest bar in town, Brewdog Waterloo beneath Waterloo Station has a whopping 60 taps of draft beer, a micro-brewery, co-working spaces, a secret cocktail bar, podcast recording studio, duckpin bowling lanes and even an actual slide! There are always great seasonal deals and specials on offer that are worth looking for (such as kids eat free deals in the holidays), plus very competitive always-on offers for students. Take note that to take advantage of most offers you must book your table online in advance.
20% off food and drink
Art Yard is the classy bar and restaurant at the art-focused boutique hotel Bankside near Blackfriars Bridge. Their fantastic 'Culture Curious' offer gives guests 20% off food and drink, provided they can show themselves to have been using their day to be 'culture curious'. Simply show a ticket from your visit to any of South Bank or Bankside's galleries, theatres or other cultural landmarks to take advantage of the offer! Note you need to present your tickets before placing orders.
2-4-1 cocktails, mocktails and pitchers (Sun–Thu all day, Fri, Sat until 7pm, then 10pm until close)
Serving a mouth-watering mix of Latin American, Indian, Spanish, Portuguese and African-influenced dishes, Las Iguanas is a colourful South American-themed restaurant at Royal Festival Hall. In the summer time their large terrace overlooking the river is a popular stop for evening sundowners and it can be difficult to get a table on those most balmy evenings! Pro tip: Las Iguanas also has an app and you can score some great restaurant vouchers when you sign up for free.
2 cocktails for £15 (Mon-Fri 4pm–8pm)
Located just behind the National Theatre and the BFI, the Green Room is perfectly located for that pre-theatre drink and boasts a larger open-air garden terrace that surrounds an elegant timber-framed indoor dining room. Not just for summer, The Green Room gets a winter makeover complete with stretch tent covering, heaters and blankets. Head down on weekdays for their four-hour happy hour where you can enjoy a wide range of 2-4-1 cocktails.
Lunch Meal Deal: sandwich, side and soft drink for £14 (Mon–Fri 12pm–2pm)
Philly Happy Hour: Bottled beers £12 for 4, 50% off house wine, 2-4-1 on select cocktails (Mon–Fri 5pm–6pm)
Enjoy the relaxed vibe and frank and friendly service of this all-American Philly dive bar just off Leake Street. A popular venue for American expats to come and watch the biggest sports from the US, keeping things authentic there's also the best of Philly regional cuisine on offer.
3 for 2 vodka slushies and pints (Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm and all day Thu)
2 for 1 pierogis all day on Mon
Mama's Lunch Deal: main course £8, with soft drink £9, weekdays 12pm–4pm
Students and NHS staff receive a 20% discount all day every day
Located just off the graffiti-clad arches of Leake Street, Mamuśka! serves up traditional, hearty and delicious Polish food, beer and vodka. The staff are super friendly, portions generous and the atmosphere perfectly unpretentious, making it a great stop for a quick lunch or the starting point for a big night out with friends.
Early bird coffees: Any coffee for £2.50 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–9:30am)
If you're walking into South Bank from Blackfriars Bridge, the coffee window at the quirky Brand Academy store at Oxo Tower is the perfect pitstop to grab that early morning caffeine fix. On weekdays between 8:30am and 9:30am you can grab any coffee you like to go for just £2.50.
20% off tickets, food and drink for Lambeth and Southwark residents
PwC £10 tickets
If you are a Southwark or Lambeth resident you can register to become an OV Local Member for free. Your free membership then entitles you to 20% off tickets to shows (you can purchase up to four tickets per show) and 20% off all food and drinks. Sign up to become an OV Local Member here. The PwC £10 preview offer is available to everybody, although with deals this good you need to get in line! Sponsored by PwC £10 tickets are available for the first five preview performances of every production at The Old Vic. Join the mailing list to be the first to know when £10 tickets go on sale.
£10 ticket sales open on Fridays at 1pm
Looking for bargain-priced tickets for the National Theatre's shows? Every Friday at 1pm £10 Friday Rush tickets are released online for each of the following week’s performances. An incredible offer worth setting an alarm for! If you aren't lucky enough to reach the top of the Friday Rush queue, in the online booking portal you'll then be directed to the next cheapest tickets available, which usually start from £20 - incredible value for the opportunity to watch some of the best live theatre in the country.
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
