South Bank London

Top 10 events coming up in South Bank this June!


30 th May 2025

South Bank’s summer festival season kicks into gear in June, and with a jam-packed sporting calendar this summer too, it’s a bumper month for fantastic events!

From art to music, theatre, film, and free parties, here's a look at ten of the biggest must-visit events to look out for this month. 

BRITISH FLOWERS WEEK

WHEN & WHERE: 4–8 June at Garden Museum

Always a special highlight of the Garden Museum’s summer programme of events, the annual British Flowers Week celebration sees the museum filled with a variety of gorgeous floral displays. Celebrating seasonal, British-grown flowers, the event champions sustainability and seasonality in flower growing and floristry. Look out for British Flowers Week Late on Thu 5 June where the exhibition stays open late for drinks and music.

British Flowers Week

Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK
View British Flowers Week

London Road

WHEN & WHERE: 5–21 June at National Theatre

First staged at the National in 2011, this critically acclaimed verbatim work is based on the story of how the London Road community in Ipswich grappled with the discovery and subsequent trial of a serial murderer living on their street. Directed by the outgoing NT Creative Director Rufus Norris, this is an exciting opportunity to catch (for a very limited run) a remarkable, award-winning verbatim musical that was showered with 5-star reviews when it was first staged here 14 years ago.

London Road

National Theatre, London, UK
View London Road

Finish Line Festival

WHEN & WHERE: Sat 7 June at 26 Leake Street

26 Leake Street hosts the finish line festival for the North-South Edinburgh to London relay race. An epic 950km relay run from Edinburgh to Cardiff to London raising money for three mental health charities (Maggie's, Two Pints Deep and Ted Senior Foundation), 200 runners from Team North and Team South will coss the finish line in South Bank at Leake Street the epic Finish Line Festival will kick off the post-run celebrations. DJs performing at the party include: Mas Que Nada Brothers, Late Night Disco, NAOMI, Edward Sounds and Builder Painter Decorator.

Finish Line Festival

26 Leake Street, London, UK
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Yoshitomo Nara

WHEN & WHERE: 10 Jun–31 Aug at Hayward Gallery

Dive into the captivating, creative world of the iconic Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara at the Hayward Gallery's new exhibition. Featuring more than 150 works in drawing, printmaking, painting, sculpture, installation and ceramics, this comprehensive exhibition offers audiences the opportunity to immerse themselves in Nara’s personal and creative worlds.

Yoshitomo Nara

Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Road, London, UK
View Yoshitomo Nara

LITTLE SIMZ’ MELTDOWN

WHEN & WHERE: 14–23 June at Southbank Centre

The London rapper curates the 30th edition of the Meltdown music festival, one of Southbank Centre's biggest annual events. In addition to two concerts by the iconic singer herself, major acts on the lineup include The Streets, Lola Young, Ghetts, James Blake and Jon Baptiste to name just a few. The extensive programme also includes the Meltdown Lates club night parties on Fridays and Saturdays, plus loads of free events on the Riverside Terrace stage.

Little Simz' Meltdown

Southbank Centre, London, UK
View Little Simz' Meltdown

BFI Film on Film Festival

WHEN & WHERE: 12–15 June at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX

Spanning film formats including 16mm, 28mm, 35mm, 70mm and nitrate, this festival delves deep into the BFI’s priceless archives to present rare prints of films, screening across the world-renowned BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX cinemas. A celebration of the medium of ‘film’ itself, where every film, without exception, is projected from a print, there's an incredible array of screenings packed into the four-day programme as well as talks led by the BFI National Archive and the BFI’s projectionist teams.

BFI Film on Film Festival

BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London, UK
View BFI Film on Film Festival

Big Belly's Big Fat Festival

WHEN & WHERE: 20–22 June at venues across South Bank

Big Belly, based at Southbank Central behind the Sea Containers building, is South Bank’s very own comedy club, playing host to comedy gigs 52 weeks a year. This June, the club is hosting its own festival, taking comedy beyond the club stage to quirky venues across the neighbourhood. Confirmed acts on the lineup include Sara Pascoe, Jamali Maddix, Jamie Hutchinson, Red Richardson, Chloe Petts, Laura Smith and Jeff Innocent, plus there's a host of secret gigs lined up too. Find out more here.

Big Belly’s Big Fat Festival

Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club London, The Gallery, Upper Ground, London, UK
View Big Belly’s Big Fat Festival

Summer Solstice at The Understudy

WHEN & WHERE: Sat 21 June at The Understudy at National Theatre

The summer solstice falls on a weekend this year, and The Understudy at National Theatre is celebrating with a free all-day party on the terrace. Soak up the height of summer with a choice of craft beers, cocktails and tasty street food from this year’s summer pop-ups while enjoying live entertainment throughout the day, starting with live acoustic acts from 2pm, then at 4pm a live band turns up the volume, followed by DJs spinning on the decks to take you into the golden hour and beyond.

Summer Solstice at The Understudy

The Understudy, London, UK
View Summer Solstice at The Understudy

Connections

WHEN & WHERE: 24–28 June at National Theatre

National Theatre's annual youth theatre festival returns. Championing young theatre talent from across the country, every year the National Theatre commissions ten new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Taking place on the Dorfman stage tickets cost just £5 per show or £8 for two shows. A superb opportunity to support young theatre talent in a most iconic location.

Connections

National Theatre, London, UK
View Connections

Lambeth Palace Open Day

WHEN & WHERE: Fri 27 June at Lambeth Palace (next to Lambeth Bridge)

Following extensive renovation works, this summer Lambeth Palace, the historic home of the Archbishops of Canterbury, is opening its doors to the public for three special Heritage Open Palace Experience (HOPE) days. At these monthly open afternoons, visitors can enjoy guided tours of the Palace’s most historic and significant spaces. Highlights include the chance to explore the State Rooms, the stunning 14th Century Guard Room halls, the sacred Crypt Chapel and the Great Hall that was built in 1663 by Archbishop William Juxon. Tickets cost £10 and all money goes to charity. Booking is essential!

Lambeth Palace Open Days

Lambeth Palace, London, UK
View Lambeth Palace Open Days

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