Southbank Centre

Moss Project

Categories, Jazz and experimental

• Critics' choice
• Free

Exciting Berklee-trained guitarist Moss Freed leads his Radiohead-tinged outfit through moody, cinematic compositions that blur the line between folk, rock and jazz. They're playing from their second album, 'What Do You See When You Close Your Eyes',...

London Literature Festival 2013

Festivals, Things to do

• Critics' choice

This annual festival brings together international, world class poets, authors and speakers representing the spectrum of creative disciplines for more than a week of talks and events. For 2013, celebrated biographer Claire Tomalin presents five lectures...

World Street Food Festival

Festivals, Food and drink, Things to do

• Free

Last bank holiday, the Real Food Festival drew thousands to the Southbank Centre’s Thames-side Queens Walk, with of dozens of vendors selling some of London’s best al fresco grub to the hungry, queued-up masses. This bank holiday, the World Street Food...

London Literature Festival 2013: The Poetry Takeaway

Festivals, Things to do

• Critics' choice
• Free

Sure, you could rock up to a mobile food truck and tuck into some tasty street food, but when it's gone, it's gone. Not so with chef Tim Clare Poetry Takeaway, served up from the world's first mobile poetry emporium, at Queen's Walk on the South Bank....

London Literature Festival 2013: Southbank Centre's Fairy-Tale Walk

Categories, Walks and tours

Storyteller and spoken word artist Rachel Rose Reid takes young visitors on a tour around the Southbank Centre, pointing out where monsters play, where the friendly giant lives and where the talking potatoes are kept. Part of London Literature Festival....

London Literature Festival 2013: Wordkeys: A Translation Game

Books and poetry, Things to do, Families

Exploring the ways in which translating language can connect people across cultures and geography, literary translator Rosalind Harvey will lead this interactive event in and around Southbank’s public spaces. Part walk, part talk, part puzzle-solving...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Beanotown

Things to do, Classes, Kids' activities

• Free

In celebration of 75 years of The Beano, the Southbank Centre is creating Beanotown – a Beano neighbourhood decked out with related memorabilia and featuring a Beano museum and social club. Housed in the Festival Village – a spacious venue under the Queen...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Wheelbarrow Gardens

Festivals, Things to do

• Free

Encouraging a community spirit through volunteer gardening, the Festival of Neighbourhood is transforming the Southbank Centre into a blooming marvel by installing a series of green and floral installations. The Wheelbarrow Gardens is one of the best,...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Grow Your Own Ideas

Art, Things to do

• Free

This installation by typography-loving Bob and Roberta Smith is intended to nudge passers-by into thinking about ideas of neighbourhood and community. Visible flags will each sport a thought-provoking question. For more information about the Festival...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms Fountain

Art, Things to do, Kids' activities

• Free

After taking a hiatus last year due to drought, Danish artist Jeppe Hein's interactive fountain is back outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The installation, which debuted at the centre in 2007 and has returned annually, sees walls of water rise and fall...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Queen's Walk Window Gardens

Things to do

• Free

Nothing says 'neighbourhood' like allotments. With that in mind, the Southbank Centre, together with community organisation Wayward Plants, has installed a series of volunteer-run allotments along the riverside Queen's Walk alongside the Royal Festival...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Look Mum No Hands Café

Food and drink, Things to do

• Free

Nestled underneath the Hungerford Bridge (that's the bridge sandwiched between the Southbank Centre and the London Eye), this pop-up is an offshoot of Old Street's popular cycle café Look Mum No Hands. Far smaller than its parent branch, the café will...

Festival of Neighbourhood: Sandy Neighbourhood Beach

Things to do

• Free

Londoners in hopeful possession of a bucket and spade can finally satisfy their castle-building urges with a trip to the Southbank Centre's urban beach. Installed along the Queen's Walk adjacent to the centre, the sandy stretch is designed for lounging,...

London Literature Festival 2013: Superhero Run with Charlie Dark

Things to do

• Free

If you've ever fancied testing your superhero mettle, now's your chance. Start at the Clore Ballroom where you can make your very own superhero mask, then join Charlie Dark and the Run Dem Crew for a mission-impossible superhero run around Southbank Centre....

London Literature Festival: Point Blank Poets

Books and poetry

The Point Blank Poets – comprising Dean Atta, Deanna Rodger, Hollie McNish, Sabrina Mahfouz, Chimene Suleyman and Bridget Minamore – deliver some 'poetry with purpose', as well as discussing their diverse heritages and relationships with London.

Festival of Neighbourhood: A Taste of Your Neighbourhood

Food and drink, Things to do

• Free

The Festival of Neighbourhood's focus on localism and sustainability turns to food in this evening of demonstrations, talks and tastings at the Foyer Spaces withing the Royal Festival Hall. Southbank Centre's resident beekeeper, Barnaby Shaw will be on-hand...

Meltdown

Classical & Opera, Pop and rock, Dance, Music festivals

Yoko Ono curates, honouring the twentieth year of the festival and the eightieth year of Ono.

MELTDOWN: Baltic Fleet

Electronica

• Critics' choice

Baltic Fleet is the rather great one-man-and-his-Korg project by Paul Fleming, Echo And The Bunnymen's touring keyboardist. Fleming's electronic post-rock just won him the 2013 GIT Award, known as the 'Merseyside Mercury Prize', which not only came with...

MELTDOWN: Peaches

• Critics' choice

Thrillingly vulgar Canadian Merrill Nisker (aka Peaches) delivers her notoriously provocative brand of porno-rap, coupled with jerky, cheapo groovebox beats, for Yoko Ono's Meltdown festival. Audience members should be prepared for simulated self-stimulation,...