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 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.
WHEN & WHERE: Monthly Thursdays at the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer, Southbank Centre
WED 9 Sep, 6pm | Teshay Makeda + NEONE The Wonderer Teshay Makeda’s intoxicating blend of reggae, soul, R&B and spirituality meets NEONE The Wonderer’s electric alt hip-hop genre fusions.
FRI 18 SEP, 6pm | futuretense x Letters to the Future: BUKKY + MA.MOYO A concert with two artists striking gold and cutting through the noise: sound artist and poet MA.MOYO and alternative R&B producer and songwriter BUKKY.
FRI 2 OCT, 9.30pm | futuretense x DOTWAVNOTWAVE UK hip-hop takes over as the London music platform presents 0RACL3 live with her band
WHEN & WHERE: Sat 5 and Sat 19 Sep from 12pm-6pm at Gabriel's Wharf
On Saturday 5 and 19 September get down to Gabriel's Wharf, where visitors can enjoy a packed programme of live music, swing dance, family-friendly activities, shopping, plus food and drink, with something for all ages to discover and enjoy. Families can get creative together with free drop-in art and craft workshops plus an all-ages painting session, with plenty of opportunities to make and take home something special.
Free pop-ups, markets and activations
From boutique craft markets where you can shop for the very best locally-made artisanal gifts to colourful interactive pop-ups and brand activations, there's always something different to look out for.
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.
WHEN & WHERE: 25 Aug to 18 Sep at HENI Project Space, Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery's HENI Project Space presents a free multimedia exhibition from the Taiwanese artist Musquiqui Chihying. Serving up both humour and societal critique to explore themes of urban life and technological advancement, the exhibition brings together four works by Musquiqui Chihying, showcasing his imaginative, idiosyncratic and quietly provocative practice.
WHEN & WHERE: From 20 July until end of September at Bankside Hotel
The latest exhibition at Bankside Hotel's White Box gallery space explores the relationship between fine art, textiles, craft and design. Bringing together five contemporary artists, including three former Bankside Hotel Artists in Residence, the exhibition celebrates material as both medium and message, featuring layered surfaces, sculptural textiles, hand-finished details and experimental techniques. Note that the gallery is located inside the hotel and exhibition times can vary, so it is worth calling ahead to confirm times at: 020 3319 5988.
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.
WHEN & WHERE: Sun 13 Sep from 2pm at St John's Waterloo
Themed around circularity, recycling, reuse and mindful consumption, this free community festival organised by South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us, a local programme working to shape a fairer and greener neighbourhood, brings people together to celebrate local action for a more sustainable future. Celebrating the many everyday and inventive ways that we can create a more circular South Bank and Waterloo, expect fun and hands-on activities for all ages, inspiring stalls, live performances and plenty of ways to swap, share, upcycle and repair!
WHEN & WHERE: Fri 11 Sep – Sun 13 Sep at Southbank Centre
Explore how artists, digital innovation and AI are reshaping the world we live in at this new festival at Southbank Centre that promises to be a celebration of art, imagination and performance, and how this creative spirit comes together with technology.
The three-day festival is packed with free, hands-on activities including a variety of interactive and immersive digital art installations and exhibitions, mixed-reality games and virtual orchestra 'play-alongs ', a busy talks and lectures programme on Saturday and Sunday, the 'Get Your Hands-Dirty with Creative Tech' drop-in workshops series led by Peckham Digital, plus an 'AlgoRave' hosted by the UK group AlgoRhythms and Peckham Digital's MUSICxCODE.
WHEN & WHERE: Monthly from 6pm at the Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall
Mould the Moment - Sip Sculpt. Photo by Pete Woodhead
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 23 Sep, 6pm | 2B or not 2B's Life Drawing Switch off from the world and tune into the form, movement and language of the body with 2B or not 2B Collective’s fresh, welcoming take on life drawing.
Wed 21 Oct, 6pm | Inky Poems Play with words and stamp-making to help create a giant, collaborative visual poem in this London Literature Festival edition of Creative Encounters.
WHEN & WHERE: First Fri of the month. Entrance at corner Belvedere Rd and Concert Hall Approach (beneath Hungerford Bridge)
Known for his reportage work, for most of his career the late British-Polish artist Feliks Topolski created from a studio inside one of the arches underneath Hungerford Bridge next to the Southbank Centre. The studio is now part of a charity run by his family and hosts a monthly 'Friday Salon' bringing people together to explore art, archives and conversation with the studio's resident artist and the studio's archivist. Reserve your free ticket here.
Quirky free 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, a collection which 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.
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.
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.
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!
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 picnic in the park
Next to the London Eye, take time out from the crowds with a picnic on the lawns atJubilee Gardens. Behind the iconic Oxo Tower is the pretty Bernie Spain Gardenand 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.
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