Reviews of Royal Festival Hall. (Night Club) in London (London).
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom
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Information of Royal Festival Hall, Night club in London (London)
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Reviews of Royal Festival Hall
C. H.Security on the door could have been a bit more friendly but other than that this place is gorgeous! Having been several times the beauty never ceases and the music hall is spectacular! Decent vegan food options too which is nice and great sweeping views. Highly recommend
A. E.Negatives :
Flaw in the design, seats are directly in front of each other - they did not need to be. Should someone of standard height sit in front of you then your visibility would be severely restricted
Positives :
Good layout overall, ample legroom, steps are wide and shallow, aisle space is very generous and you can move around the venue with ease. Lift access to all levels with the addition of a terrace on level 5
S. D. A.We watched the TS Elliot Prize readings here and it was amazing. The space was large enough for the event. Acoustics were great. Seats were comfortable enough. Toilets were clean and there was enough space to lounge outside while waiting for the show or in between shows. I'd come back to watch another event in the future. Book tickets ahead online for any event.
J. R.Maurizio Pollini 80th Birthday Recital - Schumann & Chopin: We had a great time! We love Chopin and when it is played by Maurizio Pollini, it is a delight! 😊😊
The Royal Festival Hall has such a good acoustics and so comfortable seats.
This is our favorite concert hall in London! 😊😊
Y.A lovely concert venue in the centre of London. A vibrant active open public space - includes indoor seating, outdoor balcony seating on the 5th floor, toilet facilities on each floor, disabled access, family friendly. Indoor bar, dance floor, music room and the entrance to Skylon restaurant.
Large auditorium/concert theatre. Great acoustics.
D. G.I really enjoyed being in the Purcell rooms.
It was spacious, yet also intimate. It was my first time seeing Jordon Mackampa. He delivered an exemplary show.
A. D.Went to see Chineke Orchestra play, absolutely superb, the building itself is a beautifully maintained mid-century piece of post-war architecture that is actually better than one might imagine. Good bar and facilities, easy to get into and out of, great transport connections and a nice little market outside too.
D. W.Our first visit to the Royal Festival Hall, and it couldn't have been better. The staff were nothing less than excellent. We were shown to our floor by Julie(hope we remembered correctly). The seating for wheelchair bound folk was fabulous. We had a great (if not direct) view from the left side of the stage which afforded me a good view of everything except the extreme left of the stage. I was still happy with this. Drinks were permitted to be taken into the auditorium in plastic glasses(if that makes sense).
We saw a performance of Mike Oldfields Tubular Bells, which was accompanied by a troupe of acrbatic gymnasts who put on a spellbinding show of acrobatics/throws/balancing etc. They got a standing ovation at the end of the performance, as did the musicians, who were superb. Just to finish the show off there was a video of our sun, recorded live and played back to great effect, to the back of the stage. I was well impressed.
Thank you for a wonderful evenings entertainment at the Royal Festival Hall. I will not forget that night for many years.
M. U.I love this place. You can attend many events here. I think people should come to such places to rest their souls. I also think this is one of the most beautiful places in London. Next to the London Eye, on the banks of the river Thames. If you go there, you will notice the energy in people.😍😍😍
M. S.My favourite London concert hall. The acoustics are great, and seating arrangements well laid out. Always a good experience.
A. C.Season 6 of Outlander Premiered to the sound of a full philharmonic orchestra and choir - truly mind - blowing auditory experience!
C. A.It was a very special visit.
I came to know this place because of my youngest daughter's graduation
S. B.Went here to see The French Dispatch at the London Film festival. The whole venue was lovely, the staff were friendly and helpful with finding seats and the correct entrances. The bar has a nice range of drinks and food however they are quite expensive. The seats in the venue are relativity close together but the leg room was still good. Overall it's a nice viewing experience.
G.The Southbank Centre had a Koestler Art Exhibition on and I was pleasantly surprised at how much talent there is within the prison population. It was busy but not too crowded. You can take your time and view the various arts and crafts that are on display. Though I was very partial to the matching models. The Rollercoaster was rather impressive and the range of art styles varied a lot. I filled out a good few feedback forms, not required but I believe that a good positive response will encourage anyone to develop there skills further. I would highly recommend taking a visit to the Southbank Centre and it's free to enter. 👍👍
A. K.Incredible venue with a great range of shows, concerts and events. If you book far enough in advance you can get tickets for very good prices. All the staff are very enthusiastic and happy to help
M. M.Great place all around.The balcony on the top level is a great place to meet and talk. The street food market at the back with lots of food and beer options. Designated area for Skate boarders . National Film theatre is the next building and at the back of national film theatre there is the world sinema shop and great bar and cafe.
R. V.Lovely venue, amazing location. Great for music performances, graduations, etc
G. L.EFG London Jazz Festival event here last night, attended with the incredible Shayne (jazz connisuer and fellow reviewer). We were treated to the 16 piece Mande-Jazz band who got the house rocking in no time who put on an incredible show. Buy the album!
M. A.Beautiful venue with outstanding events held here.
A. B.A great musical experience! It was good to be able to attend live music at a concert again. Comfortable seats, a clear view, excellent acoustics. Support the arts - attend a concert!
A. H.Beautiful venue to watch concerts. We went to watch the London Philharmonic orchestra with Julie Fischer directing. A fantastic performance. The views from the balcony are great. Plenty of legroom on offer.
T.Great venue especially for the Circus 1903 show. Views and seating are great!
Toilets need some love though and a more sensible area to place ice cream stations
J. B.Great family show, ringmaster was fantastic. Am really sorry for the show, they deserved a full house which I think they would have got if not for COVID. If you get a chance, and now tickets are cheaper, go. Find some kids to take if you don't have kids of your own!
N. A.Watched Circus 1903 which was great, sadly spoilt by a large family in the same row as us. Luckily we managed to move to other seats. The Festival Hall is large and airy but not enough toilets for the theatre goers and they were not kept clean. Other than that a good venue.
R. S.A little dated in the hall but comfortable. Lots of levels and circulation space can make it a little difficult to find your way round although staff s are plenty and helpful. Not busy when we were there.
A. S.Royal Festival Hall is a classic venue in Southbank Centre whose stage has hosted many musical greats. I saw Paul McCartney speak about his new book, “The Lyrics”.
J. H.Went with my sister in law to the members area. Very nice and peaceful with lovely views.
T. P.Nice place easy to get to from charring Cross (embankment.. Through glass corridor onto foot Bridge and your there 7 minutes). Had a lovely show ticket's from letsallgo.co.uk.. Group booked..
Y. W.Lovely setting for hosting graduate commencement ceremony. But only hate is the constant stairs climbing
P. w.Had visited for a childrens 'book festival' previously, but we were actually on the Southbank for something else when we "happened upon' the end of the Southbanks Summer festival . .
Baby ( from X factor) was playing, amongst many moore very current musicians.....there was a fantastic atmosphere, all the staff were really helpful. Lots of seats, easy access to the convenience.
Just a great vibe.
Love it here.
K. G.Beautiful hall for graduation, very elegant. Amazing views of the Thames. Plenty of facilities including a prayer room for both males and females!
S. G.Great evening out at The Royal Festival Hall watching Grayson Perry.
We sat in one of the boxes. Loads of room felt really safe considering the current climate.
M. C.A really fantastic concert Hall with a great sound. The location on the south bank just melts all your worries away.
The seating is well arranged and nicely tiered so you don't have to worry about seeing the stage or being sat behind someone really tall.
One of my favourite places.
P. S.Always enjoy a trip to the Festival Hall: it manages to feel modern, despite its age. The management and staffing is the same as anywhere else, but it doesn't matter: there is a feeling of hope about the place that can't be easily dispelled.
I think of my parents, who went to the Festival of Britain the year they were married. So, I guess, it was a kind of date. Without which, who knows, would I even be here? Its presence also recalls Winston Churchill, who wanted to pull it down (and managed to destroy the rest of the Festival site) because it was 'too socialist'; promised the people a better future than was wise. I guess perhaps the 'Royal' part of RFH's moniker may have saved it from Churchill's wrecking ball. Anyway, he was right: it is socialist - in a Fabian, slightly do-goody way - and that's it's beauty: it is utopian and plebian and democratic.
Now, here's the heresy... Last time we went I got a box. A box - the most undemocratic form of seating: a throwback to royalty and dukery and going to the theatre to be seen, rather than to be part of the crowd!
At the Festival Hall, the boxes range geometrically, high above the rest of the seating. Because the hall is so wide, you still have an excellent view. Better, for most purposes. And - this isn't why we got the box - you'll feel insulated from coronavirus and the other infections, rustlings, small shoves and seat shuffling of the main part of the auditorium. No one can see if you are wearing a mask and, honestly, it won't matter if you slip it off to indulge yourself at leisure in, say, a slice of polenta cake and a glass of something bought from the bar.
So, go to the Festival Hall; go early to enjoy the atmosphere at the People's Palace and get your slice of cake. And, if the idea doesn't upset you, think about getting a box - for not many quid more - to have your cake and eat it in. Quietly lord it over the mob at the Royal festival hall. The bit of socialist London that even Churchill didn't ruin.
PS - my other half adds she loved the box and that points out that she performed 'Hi, Said the Little Leather-Winged Bat' on the RFH stage in a year.... well, some time ago. I should imagine her parents were as proud as anything.
A. A.Lovely, really quiet at the moment well managed. The organ was loud though. Went to a recital. It was great
H. I.Went for a concert by the LPO. Loved the atmosphere.
You can’t bring your drinks inside.
J. R.Been twice recently to see Grayson Perry and then Tim Peake. Great auditorium and acoustics. Friendly staff.
N. O.I read once that £93 million was spent on the refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall. I always think its worth it. Beautiful, comfortable, lots of toilets. Go and get your money's worth.
A. B.Nice spacious place, excellent for concerts and events.
C. M.Amazing place, enjoyed Circus with my family
P. M.Saw 6 outstanding films here as part of the London Film Festival. The building is beautiful in that 50's post colonial (well, there were a few years left - Good Friday Agreement 1999) optimism that lasted a couple of years. It's like an ocean liner. Good clean lines, great acoustic and open and light. The staff were brilliant, even to the courtesy challenged, and the whole week was a triumph.
J. M.Fortunate to attend Wes Anderson premiere. Staff we great and cinema experience was actually very impressive
G. O.Great place to hang around, wide range of restaurants selction here, beautiful riverside view!
Z. B.Went to see Woodkid. The sound was amazing. Really nice intimate venue.
I. G.Ugly outside but interesting inside. Good Frank Sinatra tribute concert. Bit disappointed not to be able to get coffee in Green Bar .... and only one member of bar staff
L. T.Bring It On was an absolutely brilliant musical! Would highly recommend to anyone!!
A. M.Delightful evening. Beautiful performance. Nice to see this venue back to pre-Covid 19 glorious time.
J. F. V.Wonderful place all areas very clean and tidy.
M. M.Just had our uni graduation at the hall and the place was impeccable considering its age. The main auditorium was stunning with fantastic acoustics and the whole facility immaculately clean.
D. S.Here to see Woodkid as part of the Jazz Festival last week. Loved it!
S. O.LPO brightsparks concert for schools. Definitely recommend as they cater for primary age by having a presenter story, short pieces and visual images. Info pack provided in advance to introduce children to the music
M. O.The concert we attended was great, no issues whatever. The RFH itself is disappointing. The untrained bar staff are trying their best, but there is clearly a major problem in staffing levels.
Additionally unlike any other similar venue I can think of, drinks not permitted in the auditorium itself is bizarre. Ice cream yes, drinks no, makes no sense on any level.
B. P.Beautiful building well organised. Great show. Loved it!
e. n.Stand-out venue with impressive stature and sense of occasion. Good for all live performances. Excellent views from all seating price points. Skylon is standout bar, although other in-house options have river views and kinder pricing. Good Covid protocols. x
K. S.This venue has always held a place in my heart. From the fountains out the front in the summer to the food market at the back there is always something going on around the Festival Hall. They have the most wonderful events, they are all so diverse there is always something for everyone. I highly recommend looking over the schedule, it’s a delight.
B. D.This was a great venue, lovely size (not too big). Seating was good and comfortable, staff were really helpful and friendly. The show itself was fantastic!!! Best birthday gift ever!
A. J.Large concert hall. I saw a couple of films here for the London Film Festival. The screen and sound system is very good, but the incline of the seats is a little too shallow for films such that someone sitting in front can easily block your view.
M. A.Was invited her for Graduation ceremony. Extremely well organised and great to be part of many people who have graduated at a difficult time. Many respectable people here and very many people are happy. Staff at this place are very helpful making visitors life a lot easier. Overall a great time with no issues whatsoever.
J. H.Super venue for classical concerts in an iconic 1950s modernist building
b. s.Always a special place to visit, not quite back to its full opening hours (in December 2021) but from Wednesday to Saturday the building is open all day and in the evening again, and until 6pm on other days. Wonderful music, welcoming public spaces, a cafe and bar etc.
M. A.Saw Tubular Bells here, efficient staff, no long bar queues, comfy seats and a good view of the stage.
e. h.Absolutely stunning performance of "Messiah". Huge chorus really enhanced the performance, especially "Hallelujah".
Soprano superb. The RFH with its 1950s design details still catches the eye, so stylish.
A. W.One of the most creative and eclectic buildings in London with all forms of art and architecture crashing together to form an amazing space. Perfect location for a coffee, beer or glass of wine overlooking the Thames.
w. t.Brilliant place with all its facilities. Concert hall is awesome. Whenever I tried to go there for music concert, its always give me awesome vibes. Superb atmosphere, full of city views at top of it’s balcony. Nice bars n cafes all around of it. There’s a lot of events which u can enjoy free of cost music, art, books etc etc. Helpdesk for ur help n many booklets for full month free or paid plans. There’s something interesting for everyone. Situated at the edge of river Thames gives u more eye catching views of BigBen, Londoneye, River Thames n more in day or night lights. Been there many times just for enjoying sunset view of this beautiful city.
A. G.London Film Festival was held here in 2021.
S. T.Saw Ron goes wrong… so great to be finally be watching a film! Really had a nice time. Place was clean, well organised and run on time. Some staff weren’t that friendly but maybe because it was so busy.
M.Nice show, amazing atmosphere 👏 👌
J. H.Stunning performance of Mozarts Requiem and LPOs piece by Schubert. Venue is fantastic and alive with emotion! Love coming here.
S. B. (.Last night we saw Dave Gorman's "with great PowerPoint comes great ResponsibilityPoint". The show itself was excellent, however the royal festival hall, despite being obviously an old building it is very clearly laid out, easy to navigate, and if you have any problems the were plenty of staff on hand to help out.
The seating was very comfortable, the bars well stocked, and the toilets in good repair and clean. A good experience last night, well definitely go back for another show (baby sitters permitting)
E. F.Loved Lord of the Rings and Beyond! Great to hear a fab live orchestra and choir. Seats were comfy too!
A. S.Only 10 minutes from Waterloo Station the festival hall is a great place to meet friends and has large open spaces for kids to run around in. The terrace bar is bustling on a sunny day with it's great views over the Thames. There are numerous food and drinks options inside and out and the food market at the back. As is typical for central London, things aren't cheap though. I also recommend you bring swimwear and towels for kids during the summer, as the water feature gets a lot of action on a hot sunny day but the kids absolutely love it!
J. G.Great concert, good venue, seats on the balcony weren't great but sound was good
S. C.First time I came here was in 1974 to see Rick Wakemans' first ever performance of his "Journey to the Centre of the Earth", and some 45 years later I'm back to see the final performances. Great venue, great staff, and a great time.
A. N.Got to watch Kings of Convenience perform here. Indeed a great venue to watch a live performance!
D. N. T.An excellent experience. The Members Lounge on Level 6 is a haven of calm, respectful, civilised existence. Long may it be the case. Very happy meeting friends and willing away the time in such a congenial environment. Thank you ALL.
Dr Noël Tredinnick
j. e.One of the best intimate venues I've been to. Show started on time with an alert starting about 5 mins before showtime.
Seats were amazing and the sound was very good as well.
Lots of things to do and see before and after any show.
D. F.What a fab fab experience we had here. The whole thing was superb, from the venue, its location, right by the River Thames bank, very close to the tube, only a short walk from the embankment station, the organisation of the event, admissions seating etc, to the actual concert, just wow!
A. A.Great place for concerts. Find one, book one then go to one!
D. L. M.Very close to Waterloo Station and surrounding restaurants. We went to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and I found the acoustics to be excellent. I did however find the seats to be a little uncomfortable and I thought the interval refreshment selection was a bit underwhelming.
R. S.It's now a buzzing place and home to all sorts of arts, classical to modern, plus it's a convenient place to meet for a drink and plenty of places nearby for a meal too. Best for concert goers.
D. I.Over the last few decades the riverside development was far more exciting urban spaceflight. Understandably, we started getting more open air spaces, outside tables, gardens. Perhaps the south Bank will be even more transformed in just a few years. Note the informal skateboard park, and skating as an Olympic sport.
d. g.Great theatre with excellent seating. Good variety of acts. Lovely setting on the thames.
Easy to get to.
M.Such a great venue! Just recently went to see John Williams' music concert there and it was fantastic! The leg space and visibility are great too!
K. D.Classic modernist architecture, an icon of the South Bank. Built for the Festival of Britain in 1951, it featured some of the first experiments in acoustic design, sadly with quite poor results. Attempts at improvement in the '60s were also unsuccessful but additional work in 2007 did bring significantly better sound in the auditorium.
s. v.Great experience, great film at the NFT ( Wes Anderson's the French Dispatch at the London film festival. Only thing: the auditorium is less of a cinema and more for live events- so comparatively less comfortable.
G. N.Great venue. Staff were helpful and in abundance! Prices are steep but that's expected.
R.This place are erected in central London with River Thames view. A suitable place for doing events. There are many shops and restaurant near the hall.
S.Saw Ben Howard 18/9/21. Great place, location & music venue. 1 star dropped due to the bar being left open during the concert. It left an almost constant stream of people walking past for drinks!🤦♂️
D. B.Great venue, shame seats are not offset. Had to look round someone's head all performance!! Didn't consider than in the 40s when designing.
k. g.Mulled wine and lots of festive fun on the south bank..
M. W.Great for the concerts. Avoid sitting under the balcony, those should be described as "reduced sound perception seat rows"
J. L.World class place to listen to music. We learnt a lot from the architectural tour of the southbank center. The inside of the hall is impressive and acoustics are top notch. I particularly like the boxes which look like a chest of ransacked drawers. Great views from the balcony as well
k.I love the Southbank centre as a venue and have seen many shows, and am also a member, but I am really frustrated that the box office phone lines have now been cut off and there is an answer phone message directing us to email instead. The audio message and your website says lines are open between 9am to 6pm. Just to tell us to email in? Does the recording need a rest after 6pm?
J. R.A great place for live music. This visit was to hear the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Plenty of seats in the auditorium at various prices. A reasonable number of seats available whilst waiting to actually go into the auditorium and places for drinks and snacks. It has 6 floors so there are alot of steps but there are a few lifts which help.
M. L.Being here twice for two book events and loved it, both times. Very friendly staff and helpful with finding your seating area. Events started on time. Clean.
H.Yesterday I attended a great party, but unfortunately I poisoned with water free outside the lounge. Please watch out.
C. C.Nice place for concerts. The acoustic is very good and the seats spacious and comfortable. The building is located in a wonderful area plenty of restaurants.
Toilets are available. Disable accessible.
S. M.Wonderful venue and fabulous performances by incredibly talented musicians. However, the crowd is a mixed bag of pedantic cronies and young inquisitors. The old guard seem intent on preventing access to a beautiful genre - despite being a concert musician myself with the utmost respect for the performers, I ducked my head and quietly asked my partner to resolve some confusion during a performance, this somehow resulted in the patrons in row EE chiding me like I was a five year old child. This ruined my entire experience. Music is something to be enjoyed by all regardleas of age or class. Gatekeeping is detrimental to the art. I will be back, but if I experience this again I'm not sure it will be worth it.
M. B.It's was hell finding somewhere in with a buggy otherwise it's was good although cafe was really slow at making coffee
R. C.Nice venue but not more than 3 stars for the horrible 3-day stale sandwiches sold at the cafe.
S. C.Brilliant portrayal of my home town, Belfast. Excellent performance from the director, actors and superb cinematography not forgetting the brilliant musical arrangement.
M. S.This beautiful performance space is known for its excellent classical repertoire with 4 resident orchestras, but there are contemporary concerts here too. The Meltdown Festival this year was curated by Robert Smith of the Cure and saw many stadium bands, such as Manic Street Preachers, Nine Inch Nails and My Bloody Valentine perform in its 2,500 seater auditorium. The Southbank Centre is a fantastic venue hosting many festivals throughout the year, with a gold standard for accessibility, a great cafe, Skylon restaurant, bars overlooking the River and a huge Ballroom which holds many free events. A great meeting place with free music on Fridays. It is London's Lounge.
A. S.Great location, acoustics and music.
B. P.Visited the Royal Festival Hall for my daughter’s graduation day, she did me proud, the Hall is very popular and organised, there was also a restaurant called Skylon attached to the hall, the meals was great.
A. H.Much more than just an excellent concert hall, the RFH has an open foyer policy and the cafes and bars are open to all.
G. L.The nearest underground is Waterloo station.
Also you can bring some food and drink. There is a terrace with great view. You can take it there :)
Also don't take a video.. :( Please enjoy the moment.
A. A.Excellent venue for concerts The Meltdown Curætor25 by Robert Smith was great! Even though the tickets were sold out for the NIN or The Cure shows, The ticket office told us to wait in line for the tickets from people who couldn’t make it. We bought tickets at original price. Stop resellers speculation.
A. C.Hugely recommended for an evening out with friends or a special someone. Always an amazing experience and a relaxing day/night out.
Check out the shows on their website! There's always something on and it will most definitely be a fantastic show!
Highly reccomended terrace stop before the show starts - great river views!
M. T.Circus we went to see was okish but the RFH was amazing. Good, comfy seats, covid hygiene, plush.... Will definitely go there again.
R. G.The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I listed building, the first post-war building to become so protected.
R. P.Poetry library is amazing and while not easy to find well worth it.
T. H.Great venue with a big diversity of events at very reasonable prices. Also just a nice place to chill out.
c. l.Tony Allen tribute in this wonderful space. Damon Albern, Ezra collective, Joan as Police woman to name a few. Superb Ethiopian street food from a stall outside and a couple of red wines on the balcony. Got a double decker home. Suberb evening.
D. A.The queues for the ladies toilets at the interval were ridiculous. But Grayson Perry was fabulous. Can't wait for the release of the album of the show songs!😂
M. N.Brilliant place. Lots of seats inside at various sections and floors to meet friends and hang out. You can bring own snack and soft drinks. Riverside cafe on lower floor also has outside seating overlooking riverside walk.. great in warm or summer days. I've been using it as a social meeting venue (free) for many years.
A. C.Wonderful to be back experiencing live orchestral music post Covid. Let's all hope the arts recover quickly from the Pandemic. It now feels like the worst is behind us.
M. B.Always fantastic coming here 🥰 Great venue with wonderful performances all the time.
J. W.The cafe is a tad expensive but this makes a good meeting place suitably located near Waterloo Stn and Embankment Stn. Superb concert hall with quality performances and free music. Check out their events page.
T. E.Well organised , very clean , really spacious esp chairs and knee room. Where ever you sit you can see the stage clearly
J. D.Went to see Tubular Bells. The 'Hall' itself was spacious and obviously clean etc. Not so crowded as they worked a good 'shift pattern' for entry (depending what area you were seated gave you your time for entry into the building). Polite staff to help you with all your enquiries/problems. Good clean toilets and refreshments on all levels. An enjoyable afternoon. Thank you.
A. S.Festival as well as the first time in the hall for a few hours and then the next round of my chest was a bit more relaxed when I felt a bit like a mother of dream song for her
A. D.The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,500-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I listed building, the first post-war building to become so protected (in 1981). The London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are resident in the hall.
K. S.Amazing venue. Great sound. Lots to see. Saw kings of convenience matinee show. Absolutely fantastic
D. D. R.Grand venue for drinks, view of London, music, arts and more. Tip: Get a drink at the downstairs bar and then take it up to the 5th floor balcony away from the usual tourist masses and watch the London world go by.
F. S.A must if you want the best concerts of classical music in London. Very affordable, too.
J. F.Went to see Circus 1903 which was great.
Venue very accessible via public transport and the facilities are of good standard and plentiful.
E.Went to watch a show, throughly enjoy it.
P. T.Allways amazing performances by Philharmonic Orchestra.
"The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I listed building, the first post-war building to become so protected (in 1981).
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment are resident in the hall.
D. O.Great concert this evening. You can't beat great classical music - Mozart is the best.
A. A.It's a huge place, must go there!
A. A.Such an amazing venue and lovely view from inside. I have visited this venue quite few times and enjoyed my time here. Very spacious and lovely place to be. Venue itself is well equipped and great. Small cafe bars and other facilities are also available. Car parking is an issue however Waterloo station is on walking distance. #westminster #graduation2019
J. D.Good show, will book another.
N. V.Brilliant night. Went far too fast
T. M.Nice organised lovely reception presentation very tops and they keep
The time.
E. M.The venue is amazing ❤️ We went there for a Philharmonia concert and we had an amazing experience. The staff members are great and helpful.
G. W.Overpriced cafe with snooty staff, very poor coffee and plastic and paper cups for the price was appalling. The best part was the view.
C. S.Great concert as usual!
C. K.6 floors of seating. No restriction of the stage plus sound system works. Checks for covid rules. Little food market behind it. Plus free entertainment on the river side.
S. J.Great lines of sight and good acoustics, seats less cramped than usual too.
J. W.Love it, would say the only prob was speed of getting a drink, think a new system needs to found. But venue great, staff friendly
J. B.A bit worn in some areas and the cafe is a bit institutional, but a great venue.
j. c.The best place in London..free gigs, great music..Variety of sounds..literally something for everyone...They even have a singing lift! Do yourself a favour a just go hang out there.
S. M.Fabulous service on telephone by customer services ." Carlos " went above & beyond my expectations .he deserves recognition alone. !
b. d.A classic place to go and see shows. Went to see Paul Weller on his true meanings London shows. It's got great views in the auditorium wherever you sit.
J. S.Great theatre. Clean and friendly staff. Great views of South Bank when in the cafe.
B. S.Lovely Views of the river
N. C.I went to see Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the royal festival hall! This was my first time attending a classical concert. The acoustics of the hall were pretty good especially as my family and I sat at the back of the hall due to the seat availability. Very calm and relaxed atmosphere as well. I would definitely be returning. Maybe a chance of student discount next time?
B. I.Weird toilet smell as you go in and could do with a bit more leg room. Lovely venue apart from that.
K. C.Seats available in the hall. Free to sit. Buy a drink there and chat with friends.
Nice place.
R. S.I always enjoy myself here. One of my favourite venues
G. H.Have always loved this venue - there is always a large variety of performances to see throughout the year and it always feels like a special occasion to see an event here.
Although at times one has to queue, the many food and drink options are welcome, but the reason to come to the South Bank Centre is of course to see shows in the magnificent Royal Festival Hall itself, well deserving of its refurbishment between 2005-2007.
g. n.Very impressed with the place is the first time i've been there and I have
lived in london for over 50 years
C. L. O.A classic building form the 70s with 5 floors and bars in each one. The main hall has the main bar and can be accessed by indoor stairs or indoor lifts.
O. T.Nice to have a wonder around the south bank where the festival hall is. Plenty of activities and restaurants. Just soak in the atmosphere
M. R.It was great to be back in a concert hall with an audience. The live "Music for 18 Musicians " was fantastic. Colin Currie and his group played a superb rendition. An extended standing ovation brought the group back on stage for more bows. Excellent night.
r. l.Splendid concert #TheTigerLillies Christmas Carol
J.Took my children to see Circus 1903. The venue is conveniently located around 6-7 minutes walk from Waterloo station and has plenty of dining options near by.
A. N.Wonderful place to listen to concerts. The acoustics are decent.
D. C.My first time , apart from the none stop gasing behind me, a most enjoyable afternoon 😎😎
Very entertaining
T. A. S.Acoustically magnificent even though the area feels like a rough neighbourhood. Stay on the lit areas of the street
T.Great but for movie showings they really need to upgrade their sound system! Saw two films for LFF here and the sound wasn't good
K.Watched the Neil Gaiman talk the other night! It was an absolutr delight. Never been in the actual hall before and it's such nice airy space compared to theatres.
C. B.Great facilities all round. Pricing on tickets was reasonable, program wasn't priced at an extortionate figure as I expected - £4, perfectly acceptable.
Main auditorium is fantastic for Orchestral. We were right at the back, top tier, but close enough to see everything on stage, only real gripe was a little bit lower in volume than I would expect and the seats back there are definitely the cheap seats. I'd hope for a touch more leg room normally!
Aside from this recent trip, there's always Lots of things going on here, with many spaces open. There's a café and food available.
J. M.Lovely experience,great venue,staff were friendly and helpful
e.Really nice venue, can't be a seat with a bad view
A. P.The Circus 1903 style was in town. Great show and very entertaining.
C. D.Lovely location sore circus there new year helpful staff great venue
T. 4.Great place to learn about the arts and culture. Friendly staff and lots to see with nearby food court you’ll have a fab day.
A. B.Excellent view of stage from most seats. Seen various acts here from bands like They Might Be Giants to Dave Gorman, venue works well for both bands and comedian/talk acts. Good atmosphere, excellent bars, good air con, clean toilets.
A. G.We have spent the best New year because there are more english people from every age and lot of differents music, singing and happiness. . But food and drinks aren't included. And the view just from second floor,because the other was reserved just for members. This has been sad.
M. J. H.An excellent venue, that has a polite and welcoming staff.
P. V.Great location hor concert going. Good views and lovely sound
C. O. r.Lovely little place, we saw circus 1903 and loved it. No parking. Use national theatre parking
S. H.Really nice performance/arts venue, enjoyed the time there on a short visit.
B. B.A beautiful airy and modern venue with excellent accoustics. À convenient location. Superb choice by UCL to host this year's graduates awards
S. F.I enjoyed my last visit a lot. We heard a marvelous programme of music brilliantly played.
S. W.Fantastic!! First time seeing an orchestra and what a wonderful experience!! If you haven't been yet I'd highly recommend going. The passion and skill displayed by these wonderful people was awesome and made for a great mesmerising experience.
O. A.I went to see the band New, the staff were great, the venue very good and the sound amazing (the lights during the concert were a little blinding though)
An unforgettable experience!
M. M.Amazing venue for music of all sorts.
Kudos to the venue for organising culture of all sorts ... I saw Booka Shade here (electronic music).
And close the the fun on Southbank!
K. J. R.Skylon restaurant amazing experience! Recommend it to everybody 👌
D. A.One of the best days of my life was spent at this amazing location
L. L.Lovely hall. Went for granddaughters graduation had a great day
P. A. P. C.Saw Ben Howard here. Sat in row BB. Seats were great, drinks not too pricey and could see perfectly from our seats.
J. B.Beautiful, as always! Lovely location, gluten free snacks available. Auditorium sound quality was great. And the Philharmonic orchestra was once again stunning.
J. P.A good meeting place Located on the South Bank of the River Thames and quite easily reachable from North, South, East or West of London it is well worth a trip, a great concert hall with many activities for all ages and something for everyone.
C. F.They always have free fun activities for children during half term period. We meet 2 illustrators today!!
S. H.Fantastic. Love the place.
As soon as you walk in the vast size of the hall hits you, it’s mesmerising. The people are lovely and service in shops and the restaurant is relatively quick
P. L.Brutal concrete architecture but superb acoustics if you're going to a concert
H. H.Great venue although if you're sat in the cheap seats it can be very hard to see. Drinks aren't all that expensive, they add up to around a 5er a pint. Still less than most bars.
I did go to one gig there once where they had terrible speakers though. Hopefully that was a one off.
Get there early because it is a bit of a maze.
J. K.An amazing night out with wonderful music. Drinks are a fair price and so are the event programmes.
R. M.A huge stage with really comfy seats and pretty stunning views of the London at night from the balcony
M. Y.I went on a half term. Kid events were very taken seriously. Nice food market there.
F. F.I quite liked it but as you can see my daughter didn't... so we came to a compromise and she agreed to give it a joint 3 stars but stated she felt the brutalist architecture was oppressive to her 3 year old sense of self. Kids eh...
N. B.Very positive experience. Staff wonderfully helpful and enhanced our evening. Would visit again in a heartbeat.
S. E.A great evening at Meltdown. Well organised but being halfway back it felt as though I wasn't a part ofthe show. The music didn't seem to travel.
J. C.The Peppa Concert was extremely well done and enjoyed by all.
I. S.Stunning concert hall with good acoustics and comfortable seats.
Very well organised performances. Staff were helpful, knowledgeable and efficient.
There are a few bars on various levels for pre-performance and interval drinks and nibbles, with decent selection of drinks and snacks which were reasonably priced.
Plenty of toiles on various levels.
Excellent location with amazing views right by the river Thames.
R. S.Enjoyed the RPO performances both this year and last which are great value and thoroughly enjoyable.
L.This is a lovely hall for big events. It was a really nice location for my graduation. It was such a lovely day so managed to get a view overlooking the Thames.
R. P.Great venue. But allowing audience to buy alcohol during performance a bad idea!
S. T.A evening for lover rock fans, hosted by the brilliant Dennis Bovell - this guy has an amazing catalogue of music. The queens and king of lover rock, Janet Kay, Carol Thompson & Victor Romero thrilled the crowd. Amazing!!!
y. t.Excellent location, nice hall. Acoustic was not bad and seats with nice space.
The bathroom facilities were ok, not the cleanest I've seen
J. B.Not sure if this venue is open for business at the moment. Lots of events in and around the area .Be sure to check out their website for details of any shows and screenings.
B.Had a lovely time with my granddaughter at the Peppa pig show.
l. a.Great day had
Reggae choir and Dennis Bovell were fantastic. Was not as impressed with the DJ set in the evening, playing tunes noone knows.
J. E.Such a good audience experience. Enough room around the seats to avoid the dreaded theatre cramp.
M. A.Excellent facilities very pleasant and friendly staff. Thoroughly enjoyed the music of Mike Oldfield concert.
S. H.Nice venue, easy to get to, nearby parking available via third party, loads of places to eat! Recommended
R. A.It's a fantastic concert venue - at least the acoustic is great from the audience side - but every time I play here it feels like I am a soloist positioned miles away from other performers on the stage ( even when I am playing in a full symphony orchestra!) So quite nerve racking. Seems to be very well managed though:) let's hope it opens up again soon.It's a shame that concerts are currently cancelled because of the pandemic:(
T. C.Fantastic venue, very modern, beautiful place to see performances.
J. H.Love the concert!
One of must visit place in London.
I know concerts and performances are expensive here. Bit its worth it.
J. M.Built in 1951 and still looks good as well as being functional.
A. J.Brutalist architecture, interesting interiors. All seats have good views of the stage and fantastic acoustics. The range of what you can enjoy here is phenomenal. From Ghostface Killah, to Brahms.
M. G.The Denis Bovell, lover rock experience is just magic, pure indulges of reggae music, bringing back memories of a time when we l was young free and happy 😊 Janet Kay, Carol, Victor, brilliant show please give me more, plus a hot 🔥 day.
D. L.The coffee needed coffee in it it was very weak. But at least we got a table.
G. S.This place is situated on the Southbank and is a gem of a place for Londoners, being that it has a vast space to enjoy, plug sockets, wifi, coffee at a reasonable price, and water on tap on the bars.
It is an amazing space - offering concerts and music, seasonally, often free for the public.
It was built and left to us in 1951, to commemorate the festival of exactly 100 years before - organised and helped by Albert, consort to Victoria. It is holding up really well, as is the carpet, which is vast, used considerably, and without signs of the abuse received.
The only thing wrong with this place is how it is used by a lot of people. Like The British Library, there are facilities as mentioned. But this means that there are a sector that use it as second home without ever putting money over the counter. This needs addressing, but otherwise, this is such a gem. May it last another couple of hundred years.
L. O.Came here for the BFI LFF, beautiful venue, very well organised and plenty of friendly staff around.
R. C.Great venue. Comfortable seating. Nice range of eateries etc around the venue. Street Food market was good.
O. O.Nice experience, great shows. Loved it
X. I.Place was nice and clean, great performance as well, the only reason I'm deducting a star is that we were rudely ushered out (along with some ten other people) down a dirty exit staircase marked 'EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY' by an older woman wearing a staff shirt.
R. R.The accoustics are second to none. The best place to listen to a full orchestra. Pity the lifts where out of as ction.
J. R.I have never been to an event here I haven't ADORED! The staff are all lovely and events are absolutely mint!
I.Very nice got some good pics and they sell a lot of nice things and clothes also has some good bars.
A. B. B. S. P.Abba exhibition was great. Hall itself huge and clean and nice shops. A graduation was there when we were there.
L. S.Great place for concert.
It has a terrace with amazing views of the river, worth to pop in if you are near by
J. T.For the last 2 years I've visited here for the Christmas shows and have been completely blown away. Both shows have been unlike what I've ever seen before and would highly recommend seeing these types of performances as they are well worth the money!
L. L.Great place to enjoy a concert or a drink. Bar has some great views of London
A. D.The view from the top is amazing
A. B.Yesterday 's performance of Prokofiev' s "Romeo and Juliet" was spectacular! I really enjoyed it! The audience was enthralled, captivated by the magic of music!
M. P.Great place for concertar. Fantastic acoustics
J. C.If you find a concert to go to at this venue, you won't be disappointed. Great acustics, great views no matter where you sit. Easily accessible and Inna great location next to the Themes.
R. E.A great esperance plight and helpful staff at a nice venue
p. h.Enjoyed the show. Staff helpful with directions & bar area clean & tidy Not too keen on the idea of unisex toilets !
L. M.I attended a free event, at the Clore Ballroom, by Streetwise Opera, which was hugely uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable. I became a member of the South Bank Centre the same day, prompted by my enjoyment of this event, coupled with my love of classical music.
A. T.Smashing venue, however, the person talking was a little muffled. Not sure if it was me or the acoustics
B.Nice open space with book shop and Cafe for catching up with friends or hanging out alone
L. S.Really nice place to visit.
Clean and well organised.
Need to have more signs though as once we were inside we couldn't find our way to the theatre hall.
I. A.One of the iconic places in London, there is always something going on their, in any season , lots of joy and also a good space for setting and enjoy relaxing time
Good place for drink , coffee , also there is a food market at the weekend
A. E.Lovely place .specifically when is hot weather .very busy with nice crowds
I love the place
T. S.Beautiful open modern venue. Seating excellent, stunning auditorium.
L. M.Brilliant concert of John Williams film scores. Such a fun evening.
D. P.Great venue for a graduation! Nice balcony on floor 5!
S. G.Excellent time seeing Budapest Symphony Orchestra at Festival Hall
T. C.Great sound, comfy seats, recommend it!
P. R.Beautiful place to see the live performance
A. T.Nice place to visit.
W. M.Looks stunning! The stage is amazing and the surrounding area is great for taking pictures along the river bank.
J. B.One word to describe the venue - Amazing!
A. K.Superb venue, shame about the poor air conditioning on hot days!
J. C.Great Venue, it's large but still manages to feel intimate
T. D.Brilliant, Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast is excellent, and is a must-see when it is released.
J. H.Fantastic venue, great to see it buzzing again.
J. R.The South Bank commissioned Dennis Bovell, reggae producer, artist and song writer to host 3 events highlighting Lovers Rock. Friday 16 July's session was brilliant. Well done to Dennis and all the artists who performed
R. F.Excellent venue, no queues at the bar. Easy to get in.
Quality sound system and good seating.
Press ‘like’ if review is of benefit.
T. Y.Excellent facilities and the show was great too.
F. M.Nice venue. Good toilets
A. N.Managed a full house well. Bar service just about quick enough to allow time to drink in the interval
O. R.Great performance of Music for 18 musicians. Plenty of space for viewers and a shorter programme (1h, no interval)
j. m.Fantastic venue excellent performance of Circus 1903
R. B.We were at the world premiere of Ron's gone wrong. It was an amazing fun event and film.
B. M.Great atmosphere, people being respectful, great chilled out vibe!
D. H.Good venue. Clear sound. Comfy seats. Unfortunately the bar ran out of decent beer before the concert had even started and the wine cost £7 or £8 for a very ordinary glass! Other than that we had a great evening.
J. F.First time here. Great view of stage and lifts to get you to the top of the complex
N. T.Lovely venue and convenient location. Went there for my graduation ceremony.
S. E. -. c. &. s.Not only a perfect concert hall, very helpful staff even in a tricky ticket situation. Many thanks for your support.
H. L.Fab experience, went to watch Hanson which might not be for everyone but the venue was great, the staff were really helpful and I loved the general atmosphere
S. W.Tubular Bells experience. Well managed entry, never overcrowded if you knew to move to a different toilet.
G. B.Nice venue, not the most comfortable seats in the world but great show and friendly staff in a lovely venue.
C. B.A great venue for our graduation.
M. K.Wow absolutely amazing space, attending daughters Graduation
S. R.It's a great concert space in London, with loads to do around it. I love it- think Daniel Barenboim is completely right in everything he said about!
L. S.It's a amazing venue, the acoustic is perfect. I'm trying different seats each time.
r.An amazing experience watching the Circus 1903 with the family 👪
G. P.Really good venue, staff are very helpful and friendly
P. K.Very impressive architecture great views of the Thames.
A. P.Wonderful place to relax, enjoy music and art
J. T.Superb venue for any musical performance!
R. T.Great place to hang out, have coffee and walk about
R. D.Was great sitting outside in the sunshine watching the world go by. Could do with menus to order from or let us order through the app like it said on the table.
E. H.Big thank you to the kind docent on the top level who gave me the row E upgrade before the show started! This was so memorable and meaningful to me!
T. M.Awesome venue, great staff, great sound. Great night out!
J. S.There's loads of things to do there.
On a nice evening, listening to live music and getting drunk by the river is the best thing to do.
D. T.I went to see Dame Julie Andrews in conversation.
It’s been awesome!
But I do wish somebody at Southbank would have taped it. 🙁
C. T.Spacious, wonderful balcony view of the south bank and a comfortable experience for audience seating. Great performance too.
L. C.Been here many times and love the venue
D. K.Fantastic venue in a lovely location!
My first visit here was to watch the live concert of Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone and it was magical!
This venue is great! Very nice acoustic, comfy chairs and even if you have a "bad seat" you can still enjoy the show.
This venue also has to offer a lovely view of the Thames River, Southbank and the Embankment area (on the 5th floor).
You can also grab a snack on the coffee shop before, during or after your show.
Getting here is really easy. 5min walk from Waterloo Station or you can also walk to Westminster Station 15min walk.
If you decide to come to Southbank definitely check the Royal Festival Hall out!
N.The venue is fantastic - great location, world class events and lots of good facilities including areas open to the public and free WiFi.
It loses a star because of some individuals amongst the event staff who come across like they don't want to be there; a few unfriendly individuals treating event attendees like cattle. Disappointing behaviour.
Otherwise, recommended.
G. L.I love this place. The concert hall is superb and all the facilities are easy to get to. I enjoyed a wee drink and stood on the balcony watching the Thames going past. The evening was lovely I spent there. Every time I come here it's a lovely experience.
N. M.Great views and a good place to stop on a day out with the family. Tea, coffee and cake quite expensive however.
P. M.Beautiful venue.Attended my daughter's graduation ceremony. Views from the bridge were beautiful.
G. M.Good venue .bar priced well
M. H.Phwoah
J.A lovely venue! And as always, a great experience. We saw the Royal Philharmonic orchestra and it was beautiful. No queues, well organised, good seating and the sound was amazing! Bar was not too busy, even at the interval. Gluten free cake available and delicious. All in all a great evening out.
T. D.Excellent place to visit for concerts or just to purchase a coffee.
S. R.This was my first visit to the Royal Festival Hall I found it to be very comfortable and enjoyed the comedy show which was the purpose of my visit. If I have complaints it's has to be about the bar which insufficiently staffed causing very long queues during the interval.
In addition to the queues the prices were quite high one lemonade a packet of crisps and a glass of coke was £8.
We was able to get parking in a local car park it was not overly priced from a 4 hours we paid £7 which is good going considering where the Royal Festival Hall is situated.
Yes I would go again.
p. w.Went here for Xmas Singalong carol concert .Had box seats for 4 people . Great view . Great theatre.
R. H.Great music venue, good sound quality and good unrestricted views.
T. H.Great place for a group get together though you may need to wait for chairs to become free if you are a big group. Limited but decent food selection at slightly high prices, though average for the area. They also have free music concerts some lunchtimes (I've happened upon it on a Friday and Sunday). Great if that's what you're after, however, they are quite loud. The Friday we went with babies and it was so loud we had to move to the other side.
Still, a regular place to visit as it's so handy.
F. A. (. O.Excellent location for many different types of event.
Very accessible and inclusive
J. B.The staff were really helpful both to me and my partner. Having booked a wheelchair space, the staff were incredibly eager to help us both in the run up to and on the day of the event. Everyone we encountered was supportive and enthusiastic without ever coming across as patronising.
The toilets were both accessible and open to all genders and none. I've never felt so safe being able to use the toilet facilities at a venue.
For the whole evening, we were treated in a way that was without a single fault. I just wish that every venue in London could be given a tour to help them improve their inclusion policies. I honestly think that the policies for disability and LGBTQAI+ inclusion in this space should be a model used in training.
(Also, the concert we attended was brilliant - The Transatlantic Sessions Live - but that goes without saying.)
P.Film festival is on. Great venue for big screen experience
B. S.Great concert.. despite some of the Covid restrictions being lifted I felt very safe.
C. L.Wonderful place and kids event
R. W.Fantastic place.. Went to Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary concert with amazing gymnasts... reccomended
D. W.Wonderful venue, a must to visit if only for the atmosphere. I took my son to the space spectacular and he loved it. The stalls to the sides are the best seats in my opinion and I've been many times.
E.I love this place great for just relaxing, watching a show or even performing music in the ballroom. I don't know why I love this place so much but I've been going here for years.
On the upper floors it is more calm with a balcony on the 5th floor looking over the river.
Great food options around and even a bookshop.
Singing lift is a must (the one near the gift shop) .
J. S. G. w. a. M.Great venue with reasonable price and an excellent location close to the river at southbank
M. T.Fantastic. It reminds me of the Barbican Centre. Classy
G. W.Here on a warm might and the entrance ways and bars are very warm. Thankfully the auditorium is cooler so it's quite pleasant. Worth delaying your arrival until doors open if you don't want to overheat!
C. K.Polite, efficient, friendly service. Wonderful decor and all-one-wall of windows facing the Thames with an amazing view! Drinks work out to about £10 each which is quite a lot for most people but, they are impeccably presented and if you want space, calm and style with a little slice of attainable exclusivity... it's definitely worth it x
J. S.Great venue with a wide range of artists
K. L.Very good staff friendly and helpful, only minor gripe, we were sitting on the side and view was a bit obscured by rail.
K. W.Great venue, food and drink prices not too bad considering location.
K. B. L.Always has amazing events like the Bloom dance group in past years as well as orchestras and other events.
There are plenty of seats with tables on the ground floor by the bar which looks onto the stage where many performances are held throughout the year.
Each floor (approx. 6 floors) have seating areas to do work on laptops and which are spacious and quiet with mobile phone charging points.
Entrance is wheelchair accessible and lifts are available on each floor.
The ticket office for performances at the Southbank us on the ground floor near the cafe which looks onto the River Thames, where the River Thames riverboat stops not far away.
Very good for working on laptops and restaurants and usually the food market are open throughout the daytime.
Overall 100++ for performances, and for working on laptops with staff available for further assistance.
A. U.Nice spacious venue with its own cafe. Outside space could do with umbrellas in the summer and maybe some greenery to make it more appealing as it’s otherwise just a slab of concrete which isn’t nice on its own. With a bit of investment to the outside space it could look a lot nicer for guests and visitors to dine there especially when you’ve got so much competition below it. As it is, it mainly attracts smokers rather than diners
P. U.Excellent concert venue, amazing location on the South Bank. Great facilities, friendly staff. Great acoustics in the halls, comfy seating, great views from all seats. Definitely recommend. Nice bar, with snacks available, reasonably priced. Enjoy!
A. K.Would have loved it more if there was more leg space ...
R. B.Spacious and airy. Has never seemed too crowded. The kind of space it's nice to wander into even when not seeing a concert (unlike most venues).
D. T.Excellent place to watch a musical performance. The acoustics in the hall were very good. Seating was relatively comfortable, and the auditorium pitch allowed everybody to get a good view. Outside the hall were plenty of places to eat/drink, and plenty of space. A very good experience.
D. A.Brilliant venue to visit and enjoy a show!
A. L.The stage itself is grand! and the acoustics are near perfect. I've heard talent with no microphones from all the way to the back seating can be tight depending where you sit, but comfortable otherwise.
Staff are really friendly at the bar. venue is always in pristine condition considering how busy and the location it's in. try see the terraces on the top floor, great view of the south bank.
S. F.The great thing about RFH is it's fantastic community feel, they welcome families and allow you to bring your own food and drink to eat in one of their many spaces. They have regular themed events (Festival of Love for the Summer - too lovely to miss!!) and these include a great schedule of free or ticketed events from music, dancing, theatre, poetry and just about everything else you could wish for!
K. F.Half term activities for the kids. Staff were brilliant. We had fun.
T.Fabulous concerts here. The energy of this place is inexplicable. Beautifully situated along Southbank, stunning views.
Great to grab a drink and chill outside weather permitting.
There are always different types of functions to be enjoyed here, great venue for young and elderly and something in between.
A. M.Good views of the stage, and well furbished. The layout is a little confusing. The location is perhaps a quite easy to get to, and at a lovely spot on the riverfront. Don't go for the sake of it, but if there's a good concert on, the it's a lovely venue.
L. B.Fantastic acoustic in the hall, perfect for large scale performances. Lovely ambience around the building with cafes, bars and plenty of seating. Outside is the great terrace with bars, restaurants and the view of the river! Very busy place.
P. B.Awesome building, surrounded by plenty of places to eat.
My advice: get a seat in near the aisle, so you can be out and at the bar early during the interval. Toilets on the floor below will be quieter with less queues.
Staff pleasant, seats fairly comfortable.
s. m.Did a volunteer gig here, 5th floor function room and stunning views. Can't complain really!!
S. P.Great venue, very comfortable and accessible
A. S.A wonderful art and cultural complex built after the second world war. It has undergone major improvements both within and outside in recent years. A real place to visit weekdays and or weekends. A rich collection of musical performances throughout the year.
Plus occasional free live music and dances in the foyer.
My children spent many weekends there in early years
Plenty of outdoor spaces for kids and adults with wonderful views of the River!
T. B.We just popped in for drinks in the roof bar. Really great views of The London Eye and Millennium Bridge, didn't see any death eaters thank goodness! Its just a small bar for theatre intervals so not much choice and bit pricey
S. M.Love this place. Even the architecture has grown on me over the years. The shadows and polish of the concrete are really aging well. It's such an egalitarian public space with great spots to lounge around and chat, decent food and drink and diverting Thames views.
T. S.Saw 1903 circus. Simply put the best
n. b.Brilliant concert, great venue, nice staff 🙂👍
R. B.Had a great time singing Christmas songs
V. N.Always an amazing venue with incredible acoustics for music. I have been her to see instrumental concerts, live shows and also ballet and theatrical productions. The venue has a vast array of bars and restaurants so you can have anything from drinks to pizzas to a full 3 course dinner before you watch the show.
k. d.Love this venue. Always a huge number of events and exhibits going on, some free. Kids love it. We sometimes grab a drink and go and sit upstairs in one of the rooms and look out across London. Great concert hall, have been pop and classical here. Skylon is great restaurant overlooking the Thames. Sometimes I just sign and people watch. One if the best venues in London
L. D.Great experience, excellent set up.
C. H.Amazing venue for 2021 London Jazz Festival.
P. Y.I love going to classical music concert here.
Y. P.We mainly spend time in the many foyer levels here. Went for the concerts a couple of times, but the indoor public space is what’s most attractive to me about the RFH! Especially with kids and if the weather is not great.
On Fridays there is a free jazz in the main lobby, children’s poetry library offers great storytelling events, the cafes are very children friendly, singing lift is a must
K.Southbank Centre is my second home ... It’s a relaxing refuge from the grind and bustle of every day London life. It’s not only great place to work, relax, and meet friends for a chat or drink, but there’s always something exciting on in the events hall - it’s a great place for all ages. Not to mention the members bar has some of the most spectacular views in London. I am grateful to the city for community spaces like these.
N. K.Fabulous Hall. Highly impressed. Sitting in Gallery experience was superb.
d. h.Free Jazz concert was awesome. Great street food stalls.
R. L.I love coming to skylon here, it's one of the best views in London and never too crowded. The cafe's however are also very nice, they're very similar in style, offering and price to museum cafes. The food os good but it is not cheap, it has a lot of seating though and I would often come here for a study group catch up - it's really brilliant for this purpose and I'd highly recommend it. Plus there's often some quite entertaining stuff going on in the lobby area. The shows are a little hit and miss, I've been to two but the auditorium in huge - you get a decent amount of leg room.
V. P.The seats didn't have much leg room and the band wasn't as good as I was hoping but acoustics were amazing
M. P.I went to the opening night of the London Jazz Festival. Not really my type of music but nice ambiance, and it brought back memories from my youth when I used to visit with my school...to sing! I was lucky to have a box, which admittedly could have been a spot cleaner but overall a great venue.
D. P.Great auditorium, good accoustics, good views from all seats. Obviously seats further back reduce the size of everything but performance area in complete view. Front three or four rows of stalls can have limited visibility of rear of 'stage'. Even though not in front of performers sound is good at sides and boxes and views are brilliant!
Lift access to all floors, with amusing lift 'sounds'.
M. C.One of the better London venues, good seating and leg room. Only down side are the lifts, long wait for people that cannot use stairs. Drinks are expensive and soft drinks menu is very limited. Great air conditioning!
M. K.This is a really great place. Good food and drinks and what makes it a good place for a family dinner is the view. You see the river and how it lives. From th perspective of a person who lives in the cute where the river is integral part of the city this is the selling point. The only inconvenience are the rest rooms located outside of the restaurant.
J. R.Great concert hall offering great music with the greatest singers
M. S.Fantastic place to relax after a hard day. My job is really stressful and I enjoy coming here. What a fantastic venue, and an almost overwhelming choice of music - orchestras and instrumentalists from all over the world.
R. R.Really nice networking place.
M. L.The Festival Hall is easy to get to from London Waterloo station. About a 10min walk. The staff were friendly and helpful and the building has a welcoming atmosphere about it. The acoustics in the hall are great. Even though we were sitting quiet far back we could still hear the music clearly. They also have microphones and transmitting devices should you want to get a head set.
A. O.We got married here, I've worked at events here, my child learned to walk and master stairs here and my parents had an early date here over 55 years ago! For central London, with views of the Thames, it's wonderful that this has retained its community feel and great ethos. Library is great and I love that you can take your own food and drinks and enjoy the place.
P. A.This place is amazing ,its a must visit any time u are in London
S. G.Kings of Convenience matinee marvellousness
C. F.This building was my No1 building in London. Having spent many hours here watching concerts and enjoying the various bars and restaurants here.
As a public space it is unbeatable, however I have noticed that it is starting to look a little tired around the edges. The toilets show signs of graffiti and the bar is perhaps not as well stocked or exquisite as it once was.
That said, having frequented the Festival Hall since it opened after renovations many years ago, it is still my favourite place in London and you’d go a long way to find such a versatile public place in the City.
J. B.A wonderful concert. Thanks to staff for showing us to our seats. Much appreciated as I am sight impaired.
Are the gents toilets really devoid if cubicles? Please fix the locks on disabled toilets
F. K. (. M.What's not to luv?
Brilliant Centre in one of the most accessible places in London.
Very welcoming. Family-friendly place bustling with acrivity. Never a dull moment. Food and drinks are a tad on the expensive side but it is comparable to the restaurants that are close by.
Great for shows, concerts and other artistic "stuff".
r. l.First time at the venue to see an amazing concert by Rik Wakeman. The staff were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. We had to change our seating due to transport problems out of Kings Cross late evening. No problem quick and easy.
P. T.Always love the RFH. Amazing architecture and yesterday full of children for the Imagine Festival. The Soundpit was super cool and we enjoyed chalking and running around outside. Good food. Lots to see and do.
J.Once I would have given this place 5 stars but it is not as laid back as it was. You used to be able to find groups of people sat across all the levels, meeting, studying, doing dance rehearsals, script readings... But the powers that be closed it down a bit and made it more straight laced. However still good as a base and the free events and festivals are brilliant.
G. E.Always love the RFH. Amazing architecture and yesterday full of children for the Imagine Festival. The Soundpit was super cool and we enjoyed chalking and running around outside. Good food. Lots to see and do.
S. L.I came here on Valentine's Day for the screening of Beauty and the Beast with a live orchestra and it was awesome!! We had a lovely time. It can get pretty crowded on the stairs but a lovely venue.
M. B.Love love love festival hall. Such a pleasant atmosphere I always feel happy when I'm there. Can't believe such a wonderful place is free to visit even when entertainment is provided. Then of course there are the evening events for a reasonable fee which are not to be missed.
S. D.Great venue to hang out even when there's no events. Ample seating, great views of the Thames River, and generous selection of restaurants, coffee shops and other eateries in close proximity to the London Eye.
B. B.Great place to experience a variety of entertainment . I was at the ABBA exhibition which was unique in the way it was presented. Lots of fun, discussion and fond memories of this ' never will forget" fantastic group. This venue is a fantastic place to soak up the lively London atmosphere.
R. B.The venue is a short walk from Waterloo station. The show was excellent. Christy Moore. There's no interval, at least the show I attended. No drinks allowed in the auditorium though there are bars. The prices are steep! I paid £4.50 for 330ml beer. I felt the auditorium was very nice with helpful staff. I'd have given it five stars only for the price of the beer and the tiny mens loo.
T. D.When we arrived, signage was good and it was clear where we needed to go for our show. Toilets are on every floor so don't go to the first ones you see unless you want to queue. We were sat in row XX which is right at the back - easy to get to seats and surprisingly good views and sound. They were comfortable and very cheap. It did get quite warm so be prepared to remove jumpers, even in the winter.
L.We were there for the new years eve spectacular, lots to do ,dancing,music,ice cream and if course amazing views of the fireworks-so close you could feel the vibrations in your chest! But there was room to just sit and relax, have a drink and chat, really enjoyed it and would go again next year if it's on!
N. b. T.Don't miss out on the next performance. Show was amazing!! Definatly a Family and friends event!!!
S. M.This place has been a huge part of my life. Have attended many events here from music, dance and art events.
One of my most fabulous memories of being here was seeing the legendary Peggy Spencer leading a dance.
This is the heart of the South Bank.
u. b.One of my fav spots in London. Beautiful building offering a very democratic space. Nice place to just hang out - plenty of little nooks to sit with a book or laptop. Also good for indoor picnics, especially when the street food market is on. Most importantly, it has a gorgeous concert hall - great place to see live music.
J. S.Not able to comment on the performance content, as we've only visited here for a drink.
Nice Hall, with a view of Thames, and open doors on a sunny day, good for a refreshing momebt of rest.
Drink choice was not really varied, but as it isn't really ab independent bar/restaurant I would deem it satisfactory.
D. W.Great place to visit. Always something going on. Might not be your cup of tea but it's entertainment, often for free. This IS London and RFH has an amazing passenger lift. If you don't try the lift, you'll be missing a treat.
J. H. U.You don't go to listen to a performance by the LPO, you go to experience it. Even the less expensive seats are worth it.
Well, maybe not the choir benches - 2 hours on those could be less than comfortable.
If you want a coffee, or something more substantial, before a performance then get there early. The tables are very quickly all taken.
P. S.Great venue with a large variety of different concerts and live music. It's in a fantastic location on the Southbank of the Thames, with lots of excellent restaurants and food trucks nearby. On the eastern side is a musical elevator - well worth a walk to take a trip in if you are nearby.
L. V.One of my favourite venues in London. Amazing atmosphere, always good concerts/gigs going on and everything is just spot on: from the coffee shop to the wide option food & drink places in the complex. Bear in mind that you're Southbank, one of the most amazing places in London! Just by the river!
G. M.The Hall is Easy to get to. 5min walk from Waterloo tube station. It has state of the art audio and visual systems. Air conditioned! Food market with a wide variety of foods, including vegan and vegetarian. Wheelchair friendly. All toilet facilities are clean but could do with paper towels instead of low powered hand dryers.
S.Fantastic acoustics and a massive hall. If you happen to have a seat in one of the top levels, remember to get to the venue early as the lifts are heavily used and there are only a few of them and it can be really crowded to get into one.
G. m.Was there for uni graduation good place
V. D.The movie that I saw here, Memoria, was amazing.
G. F.A great place open to everyone. A fantastic balcony overlooking the Thames which is breathtaking especially when the sun sets. The bars are well placed and it is an artistic hub which makes the atmosphere more relaxed and stimulating. Wish there were more plug sockets so you can work on your laptops in such a wonderful environment
D. N.Great venue in a fantastic location
P.Lovely building and venue. Not the best place for watching rock concerts as it is seated. Becoming a touch commercial with all its 'shopping opportunities' but still offers a nice place to spend some time.
E. P.A great open space. Lots of people using it for a wide variety of reasons including working, practicing their dancing, reading, having a coffee, or just a space to let the children run around. Despite all of that it was quiet and calming, a great place to go.
P. R.A bit dated these days but it is still one of the best concert halls in the UK, with good acoustics (for the listener at least) from just about anywhere. Avoid the back of the stalls under the balcony though as sound can be a bit muffled. Easy access in and out via Waterloo, embankment and Charing cross
T. M. (.Awesome concert. Beverley Knight was amazing!
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