Top 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: Spring / Summer 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. Summer is a particularly bountiful time for free events in the South Bank with temporary stages and DJ decks popping up in front of iconic venues like National Theatre and the Southbank Centre. 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.

Little Simz' Meltdown

WHEN & WHERE: 14–22 June at Southbank Centre

The eagerly anticipated 30th edition of Meltdown at Southbank Centre is led this year by the award-winning London rapper Little Simz. In addition to a packed programme of concerts across the Southbank Centre's biggest concert halls, Little Simz has curated a brilliant lineup of free events for the festival. Here's a look at the highlights from this year's free events programme:

SAT 14 JUN FROM 2PM | Bodied: Dance Battle
Compete or witness some of the best dancers from the UK scene go head-to-head for this year’s Meltdown dance battle, curated with Kloé Dean.

WED 18 JUN FROM 7PM | Ink Speaks: Writing & Poetry Workshop
Take part in a guided workshop in creative writing and poetry, focused on tapping into your inner voice.

THU 19 JUN FROM 7PM | Église: Unfolding Views
Come and marvel at the spectacle as live painting and musical soundscaping merge in a performance inspired by brotherhood, culture and community, conceptualised by brothers Loner Muaka, a musician, and Aziah Lusala, an artist/painter.

FRI 20 JUN FROM 5PM | Works in Progress: Speak Easy
Open mic, open floor, open door. Pop by for performances from fresh new talent, creative workshops and opportunities to connect with young creatives.

SAT 21 JUN FROM 2PM | At Your Own Pace
This event is produced entirely by a one-off cohort of young creatives from across London, stepping into the spotlight as producers, curators and cultural changemakers.

SAT 21 JUN FROM 3PM | DJ Takeover Curated by Little Simz
Handpicked by Little Simz herself, a line-up of DJs bring their own flavour to the decks, reflecting the sounds and the spirit of this year’s Meltdown.

SUN 22 JUN FROM 12PM | 101 FM Sound System
The last day of Little Simz’ Meltdown with a massive sound system celebration of London and the city's distinctive sound system culture.

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 and making. Each month a different artist leads an evening of playful creativity. Aiming to be a place where you can meet and socialise with new people while trying something different, there’s an emphasis on getting to know others through interacting with hands-on creative activities. All events are free, there's no need to book and each month there's a different theme and artist. The Creative Encounters sessions start from 5:30pm and last 3 hours.

WED 21 MAY | The Londoners' Printing Press
Try your hand at typography and collaborative print-making, and learn the art of letterpress with artist Theo Hersey and a DIY printing press.

WED 28 MAY | Found Sounds
Make noise, not waste! Start your evening with a performance from Yuko Tsubame, singing and playing the Sanshin – a traditional Japanese instrument from Okinawa. Let her sounds inspire you to create your own ‘Bin-struments’, musical instruments from recycled materials, with the Ura Matsuri collective.

WED 11 JUN | The Beautiful Everyday
Visual artist, writer and researcher Nathaniel Télémaque guides an evening of communal archiving and collaging alongside live music and poetry to help spark your creativity. Bring along bits and bobs like old photographs, tickets, receipts, newspapers, flyers and any other everyday ephemera to help with your own archiving and tell your own story of everyday London life.

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 is all about showcasing 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 new pop, rap, soul, alternative, jazz, folk, electronica and more with two different acts playing at each edition. Acts scheduled to perform at futuretense this season include:

THU 15 MAY | Two rising-star acts, Saloni + 916, bridge British and South-Asian cultures and music, from hip-hop to Bollywood

THU 19 JUN | Performances by two young musicians – Ben DSP and Nat Oaks – whose magnetic hip-hop, jazz and soul speak volumes

Sinfonia Smith Square Rush Hour concert

WHEN & WHERE: Monthly at 6pm at St John's Waterloo Church

While this concert series is not technically free - with your £2 ticket you also get a free glass of wine so it might as well be! For these early evening one-hour concerts at St John's Waterloo church (opposite Waterloo Station) Sinfonia Smith Square’s emerging professional musicians present their take on classical masterpieces.

WED 14 MAY AT 6PM | Rush Hour #5 Transformation
May's programme is inspired by artists who take one work and transform it into another, featuring John McCabe's Six Minute Symphony, Luciano Berio's Folksongs and Maurice Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin.

WED 11 JUNE AT 6PM | Rush Hour #6 Radiance
Between the restless 7th Symphony and beloved 9th sits Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, a work of sunny exuberance filled with Bohemian folk melodies, heartfelt nostalgia, trumpet fanfares, musical thunderstorms, and birdsong.

New Music Biennial

WHEN & WHERE: 4–6 July at Queen Elizabeth Hall, hourly performances throughout the weekend

Across three days, more than a dozen composers and musicians will share and discuss their newest works, featuring everything from folk to RnB, jazz, baroque electronica, chamber music, choral sounds and contemporary brass. Expect a truly eclectic and innovative lineup of projects reflecting the forefront of new, experimental music brought together with a variety of multimedia elements including poetry, storytelling, conceptual theatre and film.

All New Music Biennial events are free. Note that while free tickets can be reserved online these do not guarantee entry – seating is unallocated and admission is based on first-come, first-served for those with tickets. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Free South Bank exhibitions: Spring 2025

Many of South Bank's cultural venues, independent galleries, museums and events spaces 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.

Moomin 80

WHEN & WHERE: 27 May–1 Jun at Southbank Centre

To celebrate 80 years of the Moomins, Counterpoints Arts and Moomin Characters Ltd have joined forces to build a very special Moominhouse here in the South Bank. The Moominhouse is open for exploration between 2pm and 5pm each day (no ticket required) and you can also bring your kids along to chop wood, hammer nails and build in the mornings at the Play, Make, Dream sessions (book here, ages 4+). On the morning of Wed 28 May and Thu 29 May, in conjunction with the installation, there's also a special kids crafting workshop led by Afghan refugee artist Nabil Amini.

Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Calendar

WHEN & WHERE: 14 Feb–15 May at Lambeth Palace Library

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund this new exhibition at the Lambeth Palace Library’s state-of-the-art exhibition space reveals the intricate secrets of a remarkable collection of concertina-fold almanacs dating back hundreds of years. Described as a kind of ‘medieval smartphone’, concertina-fold almanacs helped their users keep track of time, look up information, and organise their lives. There are thought to be fewer than 30 of these curious medieval manuscripts in existence and they present a fascinating look back into how people in the Middle Ages organised their lives. Find out more.

Ground Works at County Hall Pottery

WHEN & WHERE: 12 May–29 Jun at County Hall Pottery (open 11am–6pm, closed Mon)

The latest exhibition at County Hall's contemporary ceramic arts gallery examines the fundamental relationship between raw materials and ceramic creation, presenting a wealth of insight into the chemistry and methodology behind glaze making and material experimentation. Featured works explore various approaches to material use, investigating everything from the potential of local clay bodies and ash glazes, to the manipulation of unconventional materials and processes.

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.

Free exhibitions at Lambeth Palace Library

One of the largest libraries of its kind in the world, the state-of-the-art Lambeth Palace Library is home to The National Library & Archive of the Church of England. The collection contains tens of thousands of books, maps, manuscripts, letters and other written materials, some of which are 1,000 years old! The library is free to visit and hosts free temporary exhibitions that highlight treasures from the library’s collection, as well as free evening lectures (space is limited so make sure to book). See what's on here.

Relax in the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof garden

This peaceful space on top of the iconic Queen Elizabeth Hall has become a much-loved feature of the Southbank Centre. Home to over 200 wild native plants, a luscious lawn and gorgeous views across the river, the garden is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the spring and summer. Entrance is free and there’s a café-bar on-site. The garden reopens for 2025 on 1 April.

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