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Queen Elizabeth Hall London

About the Queen Elizabeth Hall

One of three performance spaces in the famous Southbank Centre - alongside Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room - Queen Elizabeth Hall first opened in 1967 with a concert hosted by Benjamin Britten. In the years since, the mid-size venue has become a world-class hub for London culture, arts and tourism. It is known for welcoming a variety of performance and live events, including classical music, avant-garde work, conferences and theatre.

The venue's exterior shares the Brutalist design of the Southbank Centre at large, along with its neighbours, the National Theatre and BFI. In keeping with the area's artistic and youthful atmosphere, Queen Elizabeth Hall has even become an unlikely hit for skateboarders; the foyer's undercroft has been a popular outdoor spot for skaters, graffiti artists and street photographers since the 1970s.

In 2018, Queen Elizabeth Hall re-opened after three years of redevelopment under the "Let the Light In" campaign, overseen by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and with funding from Arts Council England. Visitors to the Hall are able to enjoy a wide range of on-site bars, cafes, restaurants, and seasonal markets across the wider Southbank Centre complex.

Plan Your Visit

The Southbank Centre is open daily from 12 noon. Areas open to all include the level 2 toilets, National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre Shop and Riverside Terrace Cafe. Other areas, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, are open to ticket holders 90 minutes before a performance starts. The Box Office opens from 10am on performance days.
Queen Elizabeth Hall does not have a dress code for performances unless specifically stated. Visitors should wear clothing that they feel is comfortable and suitable for the event.
There is an air conditioning system in Queen Elizabeth Hall.
A cloakroom is available for ticket holders to store larger items during the show. There is a charge of £1 per item stored and access is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Upon entry to the Southbank Centre and across the site, security staff will undertake ticket checks and random bag checks. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early to allow plenty of time.
There are a range of bars and eateries across the Southbank Centre, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available to purchase. The venue states that you are able to bring your own refreshments into the building, but alcoholic beverages must be purchased on-site.
Queen Elizabeth Hall is part of the larger Southbank Centre complex and South Bank creative district, which hosts a wide range of cafes, restaurants and street food markets to suit all tastes. On-site, seasonal pop-ups including Oh My Dog! and Applebees Fish are fantastic for the summer months. Other options include exploring the various street food vendors across the South Bank, or family-friendly chain restaurants such as Giraffe.
The 5-star rated Hoxton Southwark boasts excellent panoramic views of the city from rooftop restaurant Seabird and complements the South Bank's artistic atmosphere. For visitors wanting a family or budget-friendly option, Novotel Blackfriars and Holiday Inn Express Southwark are both within walking distance of Queen Elizabeth Hall.
The Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall was opened in 1967 by Her Majesty the Queen. A refurbishment led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios was completed in April 2018, when the venue re-opened with improvements to ventilation and lighting systems, accessibility, and production infrastructure.

Help Booking Tickets

Ticket collection is available at the box office, which is located inside the venue. You may be asked to show ID as well as the payment card used to purchase the tickets.
The Box Office opening hours are 10am – 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Ticket collection is available at the Box Office until the performance opens.
The Southbank Centre box office can be contacted directly on 020 3879 9555 or by emailing customer@southbankcentre.co.uk.
STAR (Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers) are the industry body that regulates the sale of London theatre tickets. When booking from a company you can check their ticket seller database to see if they are registered and conforming to STAR practices. When buying online, you should also check for the padlock in your browser URL bar to ensure the connection is secure.
Queen Elizabeth Hall and other Southbank Centre spaces can be hired for private and corporate events. For full details of pricing and what the venue can offer, please email events@southbankcentre.co.uk.
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