The Royal Festival Hall opened in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain and is at the heart of the Southbank Centre. The RFH welcomes orchestras, operas and contemporary music from around the world. Enjoy free events, festivals and performance series. The building is also home to the Clore Ballroom, Saison Poetry Library and the Southbank Centre Shop. Eat and drink al fresco on the riverside terraces. From April - September 2011, the Southbank Centre site will be transformed for the Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary celebrations, celebrating British talent and creativity with the biggest cross-arts festival South Bank has seen since the original festival in 1951.
Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX
0844 875 0073
![[Image] Classical Music Season 2011/12](/images/event/classica.jpg)
6 Oct 11 - 1 Apr 12
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre's Classica Season guide
Find out more about Southbank Centre's Classical Music Season for 2011/12 with their online guide. Search concerts, watch trailers and read updates about resident artisits.
Find out more about Southbank Centre's Classical Music Season for 2011/12 with their online guide. Search concerts, watch trailers and read updates about resident artisits.
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![[Image] Real Food Markets](/images/event/131972188556.jpg)
25 Oct 11 - 31 Mar 12
Royal Festival Hall
Weekly food market at Southbank Centre
The Real Food Market runs Friday to Sunday every week bringing the best food and drink producers together at Southbank Centre Square. FREE
The Real Food Market runs Friday to Sunday every week bringing the best food and drink producers together at Southbank Centre Square. FREE
![[Image] A Celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee](/images/event/Diamonds.jpg)
5 Feb 12
Royal Festival Hall
Jennie Bond hosts Happy and Glorious at Southbank Centre
To celebrate the year of Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, royal correspondent and broadcaster Jennie Bond hosts Happy and Glorious, a performance of much-loved pieces and songs that unite a nation
To celebrate the year of Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, royal correspondent and broadcaster Jennie Bond hosts Happy and Glorious, a performance of much-loved pieces and songs that unite a nation
![[Image] Imagine Children's Festival](/images/event/132431010246.jpg)
10 - 26 Feb 12
Royal Festival Hall
festival of literature, music, comedy and performance at Southbank Centre
A festival of literature, music, comedy and performance for the young. Children run the festival as part of Kids Takeover and will feature in performances.
A festival of literature, music, comedy and performance for the young. Children run the festival as part of Kids Takeover and will feature in performances.
![[Image] The Incredible Book Eating Boy](/images/event/Incredib.jpg)
11 - 19 Feb 12
Royal Festival Hall
The story of a boy with a voracious appetite for books at Southbank Centre
This exciting adaptation by Bootworks Theatre of Oliver Jeffers' award-winning children's book follows the story of a boy with a voracious appetite for books - in fact, he eats them!
This exciting adaptation by Bootworks Theatre of Oliver Jeffers' award-winning children's book follows the story of a boy with a voracious appetite for books - in fact, he eats them!
![[Image] London Children's Book Swap](/images/event/Children.jpg)
25 Feb 12
Royal Festival Hall
Get new stories to share at Southbank Centre
Southbank Centre are teaming up with Discover Children's Story Centre, V&A Museum of Childhood, Polka Theatre and arts and literature organisations across London, to celebrate reading and make this a giant book swap. FREE
Southbank Centre are teaming up with Discover Children's Story Centre, V&A Museum of Childhood, Polka Theatre and arts and literature organisations across London, to celebrate reading and make this a giant book swap. FREE
![[Image] WOW - Women of the World Festival](/images/event/wow.jpg)
9 - 11 Mar 12
Royal Festival Hall
Women of the World at Southbank Centre
This groundbreaking annual festival presents, celebrates and recognises women from all walks of life, acting as a conversation space for issues of all kinds.
This groundbreaking annual festival presents, celebrates and recognises women from all walks of life, acting as a conversation space for issues of all kinds.
![[Image] Food and wine Festival](/images/event/foodandw.jpg)
1 - 5 Jun 12
Royal Festival Hall
The World Food and Wine Festival at Southbank Centre
The World Food and Wine Festival will be a fantastic celebration of gastronomic and cultural diversity, incorporating international street food, live demos and a high profile speaker programme during a weekend
The World Food and Wine Festival will be a fantastic celebration of gastronomic and cultural diversity, incorporating international street food, live demos and a high profile speaker programme during a weekend
![[Image] Festival of the World](/images/event/Festival.jpg)
1 Jun - 9 Sep 12
Royal Festival Hall
Summer festival at Southbank Centre
An urban beach with a twist, the largest ever UK poetry festival and the chance to work with and learn from the world’s leading artists – this festival has it all.
An urban beach with a twist, the largest ever UK poetry festival and the chance to work with and learn from the world’s leading artists – this festival has it all.
![[Image] Poetry Parnassus](/images/event/132006395943.jpg)
26 Jun - 1 Jul 12
Royal Festival Hall
Celebration of poetry at Southbank Centre
This week-long celebratory gathering will see poets being invited from each of the 204 competing Olympic nations.
This week-long celebratory gathering will see poets being invited from each of the 204 competing Olympic nations.
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