As its name suggests, Southbank Centre is situated on the south bank of the River Thames, next to the London Eye and between the Golden Jubilee and Waterloo Bridges.

The Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall (containing the Purcell Room), the Hayward and the Saison Poetry Library make up this entertainment centre, as well as several evolving outdoor creative spaces.

Southbank Centre presents an annual programme of approximately 1,000 paid performances, as well as more than 300 free foyer events, which include classical and world music, rock and pop, jazz, dance, literature and the visual arts, and its audiences are the most diverse of any UK venue.

The history of Southbank Centre goes back to the Festival of Britain, which was held in 1951 and was aimed to demonstrate Britain's recovery from World War II by showcasing the best in arts, industrial design, science and technology.

The Royal Festival Hall is the only surviving building from this Festival and in recent years this Grade I listed building has been part of a refurbishment project, which has seen a major redevelopment of the Southbank Centre complex.