Winter Festival
The annual winter season transforms the Southbank Centre with outdoor pop-ups, luminous art, and festive market stalls. Visitors can enjoy street food, hot drinks, and views of the Thames from the balcony bar. The programme spans multiple venues with cabaret, acrobatic circus performances, puppetry, and immersive music.
What to Expect
Festive season featuring luminous art, winter markets, cabaret, and circus performances.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
South Bank
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Southbank Centre
Food & Drink
The Winter Market serves street food and indulgent drinks, winter pop-ups offer a place to warm up, and Seventy5th Balcony Bar serves drinks with views.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and festive arts fans
Vibe
Festive and artsy
Energy Level
Moderate
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Accessibility: Four free Blue Badge parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road.
Tips & Advice
- Visit the Winter Market, which opens Monday 2 November, for drinks and street food before or after a show.
- Book ahead for the free sessions such as A Festive Cracker and Mix & Move, because they're still ticketed even though they cost nothing.
- Dress warmly if you plan to spend time at the outdoor market and pop-ups, especially in the evening.
- Families with young children can pair There's a Bear on My Chair with one of the free Festive Cracker sessions in The Clore Ballroom.
- Look at the multi-buy offer if you're booking Playing with Fire, Yuja Wang's concert that combines VR with live piano.
Special Events & Promotions
- Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker, a free relaxed family special with games, dances and crafts, on Sat 5 Dec in The Clore Ballroom.
- Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker, with free family games, dances and crafts, on Sat 5 Dec in The Clore Ballroom.
- Creative Encounters: Tin Embossing, a free workshop for making hanging decorations, on Wed 9 Dec.
- Mix & Move: Winter Special, a free festive social dance, on Fri 18 Dec in The Clore Ballroom.
- Playing with Fire, Yuja Wang's concert combining VR with live piano, has a multi-buy offer.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see and do during Winter?
The season spreads across the Southbank Centre, with art that lights up, festive markets, puppetry, circus, cabaret and immersive music. Shows include Cirque Alice, an acrobatic take on Lewis Carroll's story, and the cabaret Thick & Tight: Camp as Christmas.
Where can we eat and drink?
The Winter Market has drinks and street food, and the winter pop-ups are good for warming up. The Seventy5th Balcony Bar serves drinks with views.
Is there anything for families?
Yes. There's a Bear on My Chair is a stage version of Ross Collins' books. The free Festive Cracker sessions in The Clore Ballroom have family games, dances and crafts.
Are there free things to do?
Yes. Free exhibitions include Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors and Andrius Arutiunian: They Tried to Count Us. Free sessions include the Festive Cracker family days, a tin-embossing decoration workshop and the Mix & Move: Winter Special social dance.
Is there a relaxed session?
Yes. Relaxed Sessions: A Festive Cracker is a free relaxed festive special for families, with games, dances and crafts.
More Christmas Events Near London
More Christmas Events near London
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.