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.

Free South Bank events: Autumn 2025

Throughout the year South Bank's cultural institutions and venues present a variety of free events, ranging from free talks and concerts, film screenings and hands-on activities for kids.

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 concerts, parties & performances

Futuretense at Southbank Centre

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

In collaboration with BBC Introducing, the Southbank Centre's futuretense series showcases the best new British and international music, allowing you to discover artists on the up, and find your next musical obsession – for free! Gigs kick off from 6pm and the music is an eclectic mix of everything from punk to pop, rap and metal, with two different acts playing at each edition.

Acts on the upcoming schedule include:
THU 16 OCT | Up-and-coming R&B with pop artists Ashley Iman and Harrison Mayo.
THU 30 OCT | An all-women line-up with electro-pop by ALESSIA and all-female Arabic psychedelic rock band Seera.
THU 6 NOV | Danceable, off-kilter hyperpop club music from a DJ and producer duo on the rise Big Softy.
THU 4 DEC | Genre-blending rapper and producer JoeJas and immersive hip-hop and punk storyteller RetroPxssy.
THU 11 DEC Jazz, soul and alt-R&B from rising stars GESELLE and KeepVibesNear.

County Hall Arts presents Trio Jerez

WHEN & WHERE: Mon 13 Oct at 3pm & 7:30pm at the County Hall council chambers

Japanese flautist Mika Enjo combines forces with masterful Spanish flamenco guitarists Isaac Moreno and Davinia Ballesteros for these free concerts presented by County Hall Arts, taking place inside the grand Edwardian chambers of the historic County Hall (a space that is also the venue for the hit theatre production Witness for the Prosecution). On the programme, guests can look forward to a mix of works by Astor Piazolla, as well as Yuquijiro Yocoh's Sakura and Paco de Lucía's iconic Entre dos Aguas. Find out more and reserve a free ticket here.

Free talks, discussions & workshops

LFF For Free

WHEN & WHERE: 9-19 Oct at BFI Southbank

From illustrated talks to panel discussions, film screenings and DJ nights, LFF for Free is the London Film Festival’s programme of free events. There are free talks happening at the BFI Southbank on every day of the festival, as well as themed DJ nights on Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturdays there is a full lineup of several talks throughout the afternoon, covering a wide diversity of topics ranging from the depiction of poverty on screen to the work and worlds of David Lynch.

Other highlights include the daily lunchtime Lights, Camera, Genre! talk, an exhibition of props, costumes and behind-the-scenes photography from Jon M. Chu’s Wicked films, and the free LFF Expanded Games Lounge at BFI IMAX.

Happening at the BFI Southbank and open to all, every event is completely free of charge. Free tickets can be reserved online, although seating is unallocated and tickets don’t guarantee entry: admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those with tickets. Book your tickets online here.

Creative Encounters at Southbank Centre

WHEN & WHERE: Monthly 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 1 OCT | Collage in Motion | Capturing figures in motion, with illustrator and collage artist Beth Suzanna
WED 29 OCT | Poetry and Paint | Immersive poetry and painting with the Black Women Art Network
WED 12 NOV | Drawn Together | Finding beauty in the mundane with artist and facilitator Olivia Twist
WED 26 NOV | The Londoner's Printing Press | Typography and collaborative print-making
WED 10 DEC | Spice-Blending Stories | Festive winter chai making with artist and researcher Roo Dhissou
WED 17 DEC | Mingle & Mould | Pinch and coil pot making making workshop with Princess Fingall

Philharmonia debates... Music & Identity

WHEN & WHERE: Sun 5 Oct at 5.45pm, Level 5 at Royal Festival Hall

How much of a person’s outlook and position in the world makes its way into the music they write? Come along to hear thoughts from those with an insight in this opening debate in a new series marking the 80th anniversary of the Philharmonia orchestra.

DBF-KMB Lecture Series: Panel Discussions

WHEN & WHERE: Fri 17 Oct at 2pm, Purcell Room at Southbank Centre

Diverse voices come together to explore cultural, artistic and curatorial practices across South Asia and the diaspora. The second edition of the DBF-KMB lecture series features speakers including Abdul Halik Azeez, Hit Man Gurung, Jitish Kallat, Zahra Malkani, Pallavi Paul, Sheelasha Rajbhandari and Subash Thebe Limbu, moderated by Mario D’Souza and Shwetal Patel. The afternoon includes two panel discussions: Cartographies and Catastrophe: Landscapes in South Asia (2:14pm- 3.45pm) and The Artist-Curator in the South Asian Context (4pm – 5.30pm), followed by a talk by Nikhil Chopra on the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Space is limited, reserve tickets here.

Poetry Day!

WHEN & WHERE: Sat 25 Oct from 11am at Southbank Centre

The National Poetry Library’s annual poetry day features readings and a workshop, and shows off the collection’s hidden gems. Highlights of the day's free events programme include a performance at 1:30pm accompanied by spoken word visuals led by poets from the Poetic Unity community. Free event with no tickets required!

Free exhibitions

Many of South Bank's cultural venues, independent galleries and museums host free exhibitions throughout the year that are free to attend. Here's a look at the latest free exhibitions to explore in South Bank this season.

Collborative

WHEN & WHERE: Sat 13 Sep–Sun 9 Nov

The latest exhibition at the contemporary ceramics gallery County Hall Pottery is a cross-disciplinary show that brings together five leading ceramic artists, each paired with a creative practitioner from a different discipline. Spanning music, woodworking, architecture, and culinary arts, these partnerships reimagine ceramics as a shared language of innovation, functionality, and artistic dialogue.

The Greeks: Radical Intervention

WHEN & WHERE: Until Feb 2026 at National Theatre

Presented in the Wolfson Gallery at National Theatre (next to the Lasdun restaurant), this richly detailed exhibition highlights the imaginative and authentic ways that ancient Greek dramas have been presented at the National over the decades. The exhibition includes costume designs, rehearsal footage, model boxes, listening stations, and digital screens, while the stories behind these objects are brought to life through recitals of ancient Greek verse, and recordings of music, speeches and dances from these past productions.

Women By Women: Rooted in Resistance

WHEN & WHERE: 9-12 Oct at Oxo Gallery, Oxo Tower Wharf

Women By Women is a photography exhibition from ActionAid UK that celebrates women both in front of and behind the camera. Now in its fourth edition, this year's exhibition focuses on land rights and modern colonisation. Featuring the work of photographers from Brazil, Cambodia, Nepal and Nigeria, the exhibition spotlights the inspirational stories of women defending their land, communities and futures from destruction.

Sing Joyfully: Exploring music in the Lambeth Palace Library

WHEN & WHERE: Until 6 Nov. Open Mon-Fri and on first Sat of the month

2025 marks the 500th birthday of the beautifully illustrated ‘Arundel’ or ‘Lambeth’ Choirbook (Arundel, Sussex, c. 1525), one of only two surviving choirbooks from the reign of King Henry VIII. The Lambeth Palace Library marks the book’s quincentenary with this special exhibition that sees the historic Choirbook going on display alongside other interesting and unusual musical holdings from the library's incredible collection.

Free events for families

Bring your little ones along to South Bank to join in free storytelling sessions, creative workshops and interactive activities that will spark their imaginations.

WordPlay

WHEN & WHERE: Fortnightly on Friday mornings at the Clore Ballroom in Royal Festival Hall

Every fortnight, songwriter Emma Lee Moss performs a magical collection of songs for children at the Southbank Centre's free WordPlay sessions at the Clore Ballroom. Aimed at children aged 0-5 (and their families), WordPlay is all about the joy of words and communication, centred on sing-alongs and storytelling that let little imaginations grow.

There are two sessions: the 10:15am session is aimed at children aged 0–2 and the 11:30am session is for those aged 3–5. Upcoming sessions: Fri 19 Sep, 24 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec.

Saturday Sessions

WHEN & WHERE: Monthly Saturdays at 1:30pm at the Clore Ballroom in Royal Festival Hall

Aimed at young families (aged 5-11), the monthly Saturday Sessions provide a fun and energetic place for kids to come together and watch a performance, make something and play with other children and their families. These are free drop-in events and there's no need to book. Following the session, there's a ballroom boogie with DJs for the kids from 2:30pm.

SAT 4 OCT| Storytelling with Hannah Lee
SAT 8 NOV | Breakdancing with Rain Crew
SAT 6 DEC | Singing Together

Quirky attractions

In addition to world-famous attractions like the London Eye, South Bank has several smaller attractions that are free to visit including some fascinating cultural spaces where you can often catch pop-up exhibitions, talks, free workshops and other interesting events.

Go behind the scenes at Sherling High-Level Walkway

Described as central London's biggest factory, every aspect of the National Theatre's theatre production works - from metalwork, carpentry and painting to prop manufacture and rehearsals - takes place inside the theatre complex itself. You can view the theatre's workshops from the Sherling High-Level Walkway where informative exhibition boards outline the different production preparations taking place. Open 12pm-6pm on Wed and Sat, entrance via Dorfman Theatre.

Watch archive films at the BFI Mediatheque

Explore highlights from the world’s greatest film and TV archive in BFI Southbank’s free digital viewing space, the Mediatheque. Visitors can view over 95,000 titles from the BFI National Archive. The available film footage covers more than a century of film and TV material including news reels, feature films, TV shows and commercials. Simply choose a booth and touch the screen to start your viewing. Headphones are provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own. The Mediatheque is very popular, so we recommend arriving early to grab a space (they open from 11am Tue-Sun). Find out more here.

Poetry at The National Poetry Library

The National Poetry Library (located on the 5th floor of the Royal Festival Hall) is the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world. In addition to a massive selection of anthologies, magazines and journals, the library hosts free temporary exhibitions themed around poetry and poets.

Iconic sights

They say the best things in life are free and when it comes to iconic sightseeing opportunities that won't cost you a penny, you are spoiled for choice in South Bank! Take a stroll along the river and stop and sit for a while to soak up the views.

Sightseeing on the Queen’s Walk

Possibly London’s most famous riverside promenade, the Queen’s Walk is stacked with iconic views. Favourite photo opportunity stops include the world-famous views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the grandeur of the London Eye and the views of St Paul’s Cathedral as seen from Observation Point in front of Gabriel’s Wharf. Read our guide to what to see on your Queen's Walk stroll here.

Watch graffiti artists at work on Leake Street

This 300-metre-long tunnel runs all the way beneath Waterloo Station connecting South Bank with the Lower Marsh High Street in Waterloo. Leake Street is London’s longest graffiti wall and every inch of space is covered with an ever-changing collection of street art murals. Anybody is free to leave their mark and the graffiti changes daily. A great place to take some fun photos and to watch local graffiti artists at work!

A street acrobat performs in front of Jubilee Gardens

Watch the street performers

While strolling the Queen’s Walk take time out to watch the street performers. Every day brings a different collection of talented buskers, acrobats and other performers to the banks of the river. Performers can be found at the dedicated busking spots near the Southbank Centre in front of Jubilee Gardens, next to Hungerford Bridge and on the pedestrian crossings of the Golden Jubilee Bridges.

A view of the London Eye from Jubilee Gardens on a sunny day

A picnic in the park

Next to the London Eye, take time out from the crowds with a picnic on the lawns at Jubilee Gardens. Behind the iconic Oxo Tower is the pretty Bernie Spain Garden and its lush herbaceous borders. A little more off the beaten track, is Archbishop's Park (once part of the expansive Lambeth Palace Gardens), where you’ll find an excellent kid's playground and some ping pong tables. The small St Thomas Gardens next to the hospital have a handful of picnic tables and benches offering some of the best views of Big Ben.

More ways to save in South Bank

While the following activities aren't all free entry, here are some more top tips on how to make the most of South Bank on a budget.

NATIONAL THEATRE FRIDAY RUSH
Looking for bargain-priced tickets for the National Theatre's shows? A limited number of £20 tickets are available to purchase directly at the box office in South Bank on the day of a show from 10am. Even better yet, 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!

LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK RESIDENTS DISCOUNTS
If you are a resident of the Lambeth or Southwark boroughs you can become an OV Local member at the Old Vic, which entitles you to 20% off tickets, food and drinks at the Old Vic. Find out more here. Lambeth residents can also get £8 tickets to exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery Wed–Fri and after 5pm on Saturday, as can visitors aged under 30. Find out more and book online here.

Pagination