Free Things to do in South Bank

From hidden gardens to free exhibitions, pop-up festivals and unusual sightseeing attractions, South Bank has a wealth of different attractions that won't cost you a penny to enjoy. 

Note that for most free events you can just pitch up, although some events (particularly those aimed at families) tend to have more limited space and you may be required to register for your free tickets online beforehand.

Free talks, discussions & workshops

Get creative at a free arts and crafting workshop, explore the neighbourhood on a historical walking tour or join in the debate at a free lecture or discussion.

London Festival of Architecture

WHEN & WHERE: 1 to 30 June across the South Bank

Every June, the London Festival of Architecture presents a month of exhibitions, walks, talks, lectures and installations at neighbourhoods across London, exploring the role of city-making and architecture in a modern metropolis like London.

This year, South Bank is one of the festival's featured neighbourhoods, with a variety of events and activities taking place that explore South Bank's unique architectural history and heritage, particularly in the context of the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain that transformed the entire area in 1951. Note that while walks and talks are free, booking is essential.

Fri 5 June &  Fri 19 June   |  Unseen South Bank: Part One (free walking tour)

Fri 12 June & Fri 26 June  |  Unseen South Bank: Part Two (free walking tour)

Tue 16 June  |  Waterloo and South Bank Wayfinding ‘Walk & Talk’
Join Lambeth Council, 5th Studio and CarverHaggard for an informal ‘Walk & Talk’ to discuss shared aspirations and challenges in a placemaking context.

Thu 18 June  |  Panel Discussion: Community life after dark
Examining how social infrastructure and community spaces can reshape the night-time city into one where everyone feels connected and included.

Wed 24 June  |  South Bank and Waterloo’s next decade of growth
Led by Lambeth Council, this tour showcases the partnerships and investment reshaping one of London’s most distinctive, creative and future-focused neighbourhoods through inclusive growth.

Tue 2 June  |  Illuminating Safety
This Making Space for Women event explores how lighting can transform underused spaces, improving safety, visibility and night-time economies.

Wed 10 June  |  Southbank at 75 – Architecture walk
Explore the history of Southbank's architecture, from the Mid-Century Modern of Royal Festival Hall to the Brutalism of Hayward Gallery.

Sat 27 June  |  I Spy
A  family-friendly discovery trail linking four underpasses in Waterloo.

Open Studio & Talk: The Citizen Artist - Feliks Topolski RA & the Festival of Britain

WHEN & WHERE: Thu 4 June at 6pm at Studio Topolski

Topolski Studio, the historic artist studio in the arches beside Hungerford Bridge, brings together sociologist Professor Jo Littler and artist and architect Louis Pohl Koseda for an evening of conversation, exploring the legacy of the artist Feliks Topolski RA.

The open studio evening centres on a discussion of Topolski’s monumental Cavalcade of the Commonwealth, commissioned for the Festival of Britain in 1951, alongside his influential 1954 essay The Citizen Artist, which argued that artists should be treated like other publicly necessary professions, with ongoing responsibilities. Tickets are free and can be booked online here.

Creative Encounters at Southbank Centre

WHEN & WHERE: Monthly from 6pm at the Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall

Join Creative Encounters for a social evening of conversation, music, art and making. Each month a different artist leads an evening of playful creativity on a different theme. All events are free and there's no need to book. 

WED 10 JUN | Create with Courage  | Bring your stories, curiosity and courage for a special edition of Creative Encounters for Refugee Week 2026, in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts.

Free concerts, parties & performances

From live jazz performances, chamber music concerts and open-air DJ parties to traditional dance showcases and pop-up theatre stages, when it comes to live performance, there's always something happening in South bank that you can enjoy for free. Here's a look at what's coming up this season.

The Ruggeds Takeover

WHEN & WHERE: Sat 6 Jun from 1pm at Southbank Centre

One of the world’s leading breaking crews, The Ruggeds join forces with the best dancers and musicians in the game for a day of dance, music and good times.

Harry Styles' Meltdown free gigs & parties

WHEN & WHERE: 11–21 June at Southbank Centre

For this year's edition of Meltdown at Southbank Centre, the prince of pop Harry Styles has curated an incredible lineup of concerts taking place at venues across the Southbank Centre. Complimenting the busy concert programme, there's also a brilliant lineup of free events to look forward at Harry Styles' Meltdown, including:

FRI 12 JUNE  |  Simmer Down x Meltdown & Keep Hush
A special edition of the Southbank Centre’s regular reggae series with Resident Organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors in the Clore Ballroom. In the evening, the Riverside Terrace hosts global dance community Keep Hush, presenting Don’t Keep Hush, a five-hour programme of bass-driven music and collective energy centred around mental health awareness.

SAT 13 JUNE  |  Family Meltdown & Midnight Train
The Clore Ballroom presents a family-focused Meltdown edition of monthly arts workshop Saturday Sessions, themed 'Dad Dancing'. Outdoors on the Riverside Terrace, there's Riverside Boogie: Meltdown Edition, an open dancefloor for all ages, while Midnight Train delivers a full day into evening of disco, funk, soul and R&B, with DJs and dancefloor moments running into the night.

SUN 14 JUNE  | Steam Down 
South London's live improvised jazz club Steam Down presents a riverside takeover with live sets of diasporic music, ranging from jazz and funk, to grime and afrobeats.

WED 17 JUNE  |  Amex Unsigned
A selection of emerging artists from the Amex Unsigned programme perform al fresco on the Meltdown Riverside Terrace stage.

FRI 19 JUNE  |  Push The Button 
London pop club night institution Push The Button brings a high-energy, feel-good party soundtracking the evening. 

SAT 20 JUNE  |  Foundation FM
On the Riverside Terrace FOUNDATION FM Presents Movement, a full-day DJ takeover that focuses on artists with lived experience of displacement and asylum.

SUN 21 JUNE  |  Hourglass Disco
Cap off Meltdown with a free day party featuring a DJ lineup curated by Gideön (NYC Downlow) and Harry Styles. Featured DJs on the marathon set include Gayance, Louise Chen, Yazmin Lacey, Norman Jay and Gilles Peterson.

Futuretense

WHEN & WHERE: Monthly Thursdays at the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer, Southbank Centre

THU 11 JUNE futuretense
Southbank Centre’s free gig series, futuretense, makes a move onto the Riverside Terrace stage, spotlighting emerging artists and boundary-pushing sounds in an open-air setting.

THU 18 JUNE  futuretense
futuretense returns to the Riverside Terrace with Joviale and special guests, presenting an immersive, genre-blurring live set that foregrounds experimentation and multidisciplinary performance.

Our HeartBeats: Courage in Creativity

Sat 27 Jun from 2pm at Southbank Centre Riverside Terrace

Soak up the energy at a day-to-night celebration of global club sounds, community and music’s ability to unite, empower and challenge.

Poetry International festival

WHEN & WHERE: 10–12 July at Southbank Centre

As part of this year's Poetry International festival there's a wide range of free activities happening across the Southbank Centre, including live performances mixing poetry and music. Free events on the programme to look out for include:

Fri 10 Jul from 7pm  |  Poetic Unity + Live Band
Poetry meets music in a lyrical line-up of talent from the Poetic Unity community as they share their words accompanied by a live band in the Clore Ballroom.

Sat 11 Jul from 4.30pm  |  Apples and Snakes: Managers’ Match
Ninety minutes of fast-paced, thought-provoking poetry performances from top-of-the-table poets ready to leave it all on the pitch.

Sat 11 Jul from 8pm  |  From the Lips to the Moon 
Pouya Ehsaei and Tara Fatehi’s show mixes live electronic music with performative poetry for an otherworldly night of experimentation and unexpected encounters.

Sun 12 Jul at 1pm  |  Apples and Snakes Word Cup – Showcase Final
Seven teams of young poets go head-to-head to represent their hometowns in a high-energy poetic play-off.

Steel Pan Weekender

WHEN & WHERE: 24–26 July at Southbank Centre

Steel pan groups from across the UK descend on the South Bank this weekend for a huge celebration of the unique sound of the steel pan band. Throughout the weekend, there are free open-air steel pan performances taking place at Southbank Centre, including:

Fri 24 Jul from 5pm  |  Steel Rising
Youth ensembles capture the power of the steel pan as a community force at a day of free performances, each bringing a fresh perspective to pan.

Sat 25 Jul from 12pm  |  Steel Sounds with Just Vibez
A high-energy line-up of steel pan bands from across the UK take over the Riverside Terrace, with music from traditional calypso to modern-day arrangements.

Sun 26 Jul, from 12pm  |  Steel Legacies
In a full day of free performances on the new Jubilee Gardens stage, Southbank Centre's brings together an incredible selection of the UK’s finest steel bands.

Riverside Sessions

WHEN & WHERE: 16 July to 29 August at Southbank Centre Riverside Terrace

For this summer's Riverside Terrace takeover, the Southbank Centre has handed over the reigns to the city's youth, with a packed lineup of weekend parties, performances and gigs on the Riverside Stage that have been curated by different youth-led collectives from across London including: The SORI Collective (Speaking Out, Reimagining Institutions), Kinetika Bloco,  Tomorrow’s Warriors, Sounds Like Chaos, Raw Materials, Hekayyatna, Tracks on Tap, Boundless, ZooNation Youth Company, Arts Emergency, Raze Collective and Heart n Soul.

Look out for a packed lineup of free performances, music, dance, workshops, DJ parties and so much more on the Riverside Terrace every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.