South Bank is a bustling stretch of the river Thames that’s home to an incredibly high concentration of arts and cultural venues, places to eat and drink and iconic London landmarks.
About South Bank
Served by multiple major rail and Underground stations - including Waterloo, Westminster and Blackfriars - and easily accessible by bike, bus and even boat, South Bank is one of London’s most well-connected cultural centres.
Once there, you can enjoy exploring this predominantly pedestrianised area on foot. Within a short riverside stroll you’ll discover arts and cultural venues like Southbank Centre and BFI IMAX, bucket list attractions like the London Dungeon and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium and iconic landmarks like the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
If you’re hosting an event, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Many of the above venues, including the London Eye and the London Dungeon, have spaces for hire that make for a truly unique event.
Flagship venue at Southbank Centre offering large-scale event spaces, rooftop pavilions and a 2,500-seat auditorium.
Unique rooftop venue within Sea Containers Hotel offering six stylish event spaces with city views.
Versatile business event venue with boardrooms and exhibition halls overlooking the River Thames and Big Ben.
Modern rooftop venue with 9 stylish spaces for meetings and events, offering views across London.
Corporate venue ideal for conferences, seminars and team away days with tech support and flexible layouts.
London’s iconic observation wheel with private capsules and full-hire options for unforgettable events.
Immersive and theatrical attraction with live actors portraying London’s gruesome history across 13 shows.
Aquarium housing over 500 marine species including sharks and penguins across 14 themed zones.
Sightseeing and dining cruises on the Thames with departures from London Eye Pier.
Family-friendly Horrible Histories river cruise exploring London’s gruesome past.
World-class museum showcasing 20th and 21st-century art in the iconic Bankside Power Station.
Stylish modern British restaurant in Royal Festival Hall offering pre-theatre menus and riverside views.
Refined dining destination with panoramic city views and seasonal British cuisine.
Vibrant restaurant serving dim sum, cocktails and group menus perfect for lively gatherings.
British gastropub at Shakespeare’s Globe offering hearty seasonal dishes and riverside dining.
Casual food market with diverse world cuisine from Ethiopian to Vietnamese and Italian.
Modern hotel offering convenience, comfortable rooms and quick access to central attractions.
Contemporary hotel with spa, pool and gym, perfect for business stays in central London.
Upscale lifestyle hotel offering stylish rooms, dining, events and leisure in Bankside.
Luxury hotel inspired by 1920s cruise ships with rooftop bar, cinema and river views.
Things to do in South Bank
Whatever your budget or preferences, you’ll find something that suits in South Bank. From live music, art and theatre (all at the Southbank Centre) to family-friendly attractions and diverse dining options.
Event venues
Whether you just need to host a meeting or a networking evening, there are loads of versatile event venues in South Bank, many with spectacular views over the Thames and the city.
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre is one of the best equipped events venues around, with rooftop pavilions and function rooms that can accommodate hundreds of guests, and an auditorium that seats 2,500.
Sea Containers Events
Sea Containers Events has six spaces available to rent at the top of the glamorous and unique Sea Containers Hotel, which was designed to look like a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner. That includes everything from a private dining room that seats 40 to an entire level of the building that has capacity for 600 guests.
etc.venues County Hall
Whether you need a boardroom for a meeting or to host an event for up to 400 people in its exhibition space, etc.venues County Hall has something to suit your needs, as well as spectacular views of London landmarks.
Green & Fortune Rose Court Events
Occupying the whole top three floors of the venue, Green & Fortune Rose Court Events has nine event spaces to choose from, including meeting rooms, restaurants and a roof terrace with capacities ranging from 14 to 700.
Experiences
Culture and activities are in abundance in South Bank. Step back into London’s history, take a trip on the Thames or discover the latest in contemporary art.
The London Dungeon
Immerse yourself in London’s dark past at the London Dungeon, where live actors take you through more than 1,000 years of history across 13 different interactive shows, in which you’ll learn about the Gunpowder Plot, plagues, executions and witches. It’s great for group experiences, where guests can take part in a variety of activities and then unwind at the 18th century themed Tavern.
The London Eye
For a truly memorable event, hire the whole London Eye (800-person capacity), or just a single capsule for a more intimate affair, and thrill your guests with spectacular views of the London skyline.
SEA LIFE Centre
Visit sharks, penguins, and seahorses in central London At the SEA LIFE Centre Aquarium. You’ll have the chance to marvel at 500 other marine species across 14 themed zones. The SEA LIFE Centre is one of the most unique locations for private events, where guests can enjoy the Shark Walk, a glass floor with views to the shark tank, or go for welcome drinks in the Coral Kingdom.
River cruises
For a different perspective on London, book one of the many cruise services available. City Cruises has regular daily departures from with sightseeing trips, dining and entertainment options. The London Eye offers its own river cruise, a 40-minute circular sightseeing tour with expert guides that takes you past iconic landmarks. For a more unique experience, try the Terrible Thames tour, hosted by Horrible Histories, which takes you on a trip up the river “with the nasty bits left in”.
Restaurants
From treating corporate guests to tucking into delicious street food, South Bank has a full menu of dining options.
Skylon
Skylon serves fantastic British food with views over London on the third floor of the Royal Festival Hall. Cream tea is available in the afternoon and there’s a pre-theatre dining menu if you need to fit dinner in before a show . It can be hired for events of up to 300.
OXO Tower Restaurant
This restaurant on the top floor of the iconic tower can be hired for events of up to 250, and offers a menu of refined British classics with beautiful views over St Paul’s and the river. The restaurant is great for impressing, while the brasserie is the perfect spot for a casual lunch.
Ping Pong
If you can’t think of a better combination than dim sum and cocktails, Ping Pong is the place to go. It’s great for groups of up to 180, with happy hours, bottomless brunches and other promotions that will keep everyone well fed and watered.
The Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe
Located at the famous theatre, the Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe serves hearty meals consisting of only the finest British produce and seasonal ingredients. It can be hired for dinners and events of up to 120 guests.
Hotels
You’ll find plenty of four and five-star establishments around South Bank, ensuring your attendees can stay in both comfort and style right in the heart of the action.
Park Plaza hotels
Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge, Park Plaza County Hall London, Park Plaza London Waterloo and Park Plaza London Riverbank are all in the neighbourhood. They each offer comfort and convenience for business travellers and corporate guests. With a combined offering of 2,557 rooms and many events spaces, they are excellent for groups and events.
Accor hotels
With a combined total of 869 across four properties, Accor offers a range of accommodation and spaces for events. Novotel London Waterloo is perfectly situated for travellers who want to make the most of the local and national transport connections from Waterloo. Novotel Blackfriars has modern and well-equipped rooms, a heated swimming pool, as well as a sauna and fitness centre.
Hilton London Bankside
If you or your event attendees want to go even more upscale, there’s the five-star Hilton London Bankside. Purpose-built as a modern lifestyle hotel, it has stylish rooms and suites, and state-of-the-art business and leisure facilities.
Sea Containers London
Combining both glamourous and brutalist aesthetics, Sea Containers London features award-winning and food and drink outlets, a cinema and leisure facilities within its 1920 cruise liner-style walls. It offers a range of event spaces for up to 300 guests, including the cinema, Studio Foyer, the Gallery and the Lyaness cocktail bar.
London Marriott Hotel County Hall
A five-star experience with stunning views of the river Thames and nearby landmarks, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall is a modern, elegant choice for business and leisure trips. There are 12 event spaces and the highlight is the historic King George V room, with a capacity for up to 100 guests.
How to get to South Bank
Thanks to its central London location, South Bank is accessible by multiple rail, Underground and bus routes, as well as by bike and boat.
By Tube
Waterloo is a major Underground hub and is served by the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines. Embankment (District and Circle) and Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee) are also nearby.
By rail
Waterloo is the endpoint for many train lines coming in from the south-west of England, while nearby Blackfriars sits on the mainline Thameslink route, with trains from Cambridge and Bedford to the north of London, and Brighton to the south. St Pancras International Railway Station is also on the line, with regular trains to and from Europe.
By bus
Dozens of London bus routes from all parts of the city stop on Waterloo bridge or near to South Bank.
By boat
You can access South Bank on an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which stops at 24 piers along the Thames between Barking and Putney. The River Bus and Circular Cruise also offer river transport.
Travel times to and from South Bank
Heathrow: 50 minutes, Elizabeth Line with one change onto Northern or Jubilee.
London Stansted Airport: 1 hour 10 minutes (two changes).
London Gatwick Airport: 45 minutes (one change).
City of London: 10 minutes (direct).
Canary Wharf: 20 minutes (direct).
West End: 15 minutes (direct).
You can find more information about how to get around London as a business traveller in our business travel in London guide.
How we can help
As London’s official convention bureau, we help event professionals, meeting organisers and incentive planners unlock the city and create events to remember.
We can help you by providing:
- Free assistance: as a not-for-profit company, we don't charge for our services. Our experts share their entire wealth of knowledge and contacts with you for free.
- Impartial advice: we are independent and know London inside out. Our experts can help you discover venues, event agencies, unique experiences and activities for your event.
- Expert knowledge: we've supported thousands of delegates and helped them build world-class events. We've supported international congresses, conventions and conference teams to deliver inspiring events at scale.
