We tell you the seats to buy, which to avoid, and how to get them at the best prices

 

Queen Elizabeth Hall

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX 020 3879 9555

  • Where to buy tickets
  • Best seat advice
  • Seating plan/s
  • Getting to the theatre

Buying tickets online

www.southbankcentre.co.uk the venue's own website provide the service.
This venue allows individual seat selection for most events.

Booking fees per transaction:
A £3 per transaction (not per ticket) fee is made.

 

Other Online Choices (with genuine S.T.A.R ticket agencies): 
Independent S.T.A.R. ticket agencies may also offer an alternative choice of seats for some events. Details will appear below if appropriate.

Ticket agencies offer an alternative way to buy tickets, with booking fees differing from those charged by the theatre box office itself. They may have seats available or special offers when theatres do not.

Ticket agency prices vary in response to theatres implementing “dynamic pricing”  - which alters prices according to demand for a particular performance. Current prices are advised at time of enquiry.

Box office information

Telephone: 020 3879 9555 
Operated by the venue itself.

Booking fees per transaction for telephone bookings:
A fee of £3.50 per booking, is added to the total cost of tickets for telephone bookings. Cheaper to book online.

For personal callers or by post:
South Bank Centre Ticket Office, London, SE1 8XX
No booking fee for personal callers.

Special Access Needs Customers: 
Wheelchair users and other registered disabled theatregoers can book their seats and enquire about concessionary prices that may be available to them on 020 3879 9555.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk is the official venue website.

Please remember that cheaper seats often do not offer the same view / location quality as top price ones, and that ticket prices are designed to reflect this difference.

 

  • Choir
  • Stalls
  • Rear Stalls

Choir

Layout

These seats face the rest of the auditorium, behind the orchestra.

Divided into centre and two side blocks, all seats offer excellent sound and a good view of the conductor, but the backs of the heads of his orchestra.

Rows are stepped.

Seats here are sold only if choir or stage performers do not need the space.

Legroom

Good in all seats for all but the tallest.

Row A usually has most space, as it is on stage level with nothing in front of it.

Choosing seats in general

Sit here for a cheap and good value concert experience - front and centre first.

General hazard notes

The rest of the audience is facing you.

You may see only the backs of the performers.

Changes for the current production

None.

Readers comments

None.

Stalls

Layout

Divided into a central and two side blocks by aisles.

The front section has a gentle rake (seats on steps to help see over rows in front) between each row.

Legroom

Good in all seats for all but the tallest. Most in central row B (for non wheelchair users) and side row A when there is nothing in front of it.

Choosing seats in general

All seats offer a good view of the stage and good sound.

Choose seats in the centre block, numbered 14 to 26, before the side blocks when all seats in a row are the same price this maximises value for money.

Wheelchair users get prime room at the front of the stalls.

General hazard notes

None.

Changes for the current production

None.

Readers comments

None.

Rear Stalls

Layout

Divided into a central and two side blocks by aisles.

Steep rake, with steps between each row.

Legroom

Good in all seats, best in rows A and AA.

Choosing seats in general

Rows BB to DD offer the best value. 

Rear rows LL to RR are some distance from the stage and are better value for orchestral concerts than ballet or other visual events. For the latter, pay the extra for the best view.

General hazard notes

None.

Changes for the current production

None.

Readers comments

None.

Notes best seat advice

Total 880 seats approx.

Air-conditioned auditorium.

Guide dogs welcome, hearing loop, all documents available in large print. Wheelchair access via stage door to decent seats in auditorium. Bring your violin and steal the show. Users get free car parking in centre car park. Unisex disabled toilet and two cubicles with handrails in the ladies too. Fuller details call the venue on 020 3879 9555, and an "access list" can also be joined on this number, which helps members gain concession priced tickets for visits.

Café, Bars and toilets shared with the Purcell Room

General price band information

Theatres use "dynamic pricing." Seat prices change according to demand for a particular performance. Prices below were compiled as booking originally opened. Current prices are advised at time of enquiry.

Based on paying FULL PRICE (no discount!) for tickets, site writers and contributing guests have ALSO created the colour-coded plans for "value for money," considering factors like views, comfort and value-for-money compared with other same-priced seats available.

For a full discussion, opinions, reviews, notes, tips, hints and advice on all the seats in this theatre, click on "BEST SEAT ADVICE" (on the left of your screen).

On the plans below:
Seats in GREEN many feel may offer either noticeable value, or something to compensate for a problem; for example, being a well-priced restricted view ticket. Any seats coloured LIGHT GREEN are sold at "premium" prices because the show producer thinks they are the best. The monkey says "you are only getting what you pay for" but uses this colour to highlight the ones it feels best at the price, and help everybody else find equally good seats nearby at lower prices.

Seats in WHITE, many feel, provided about what they pay for. Generally unremarkable.

Seats in RED are coloured to draw attention. Not necessarily to be avoided - maybe nothing specific is wrong with them, other than opinions that there are better seats at the same price. Other times there may be something to consider before buying – perhaps overpricing, obstructed views, less comfort etc.

Please remember that cheaper seats often do not offer the same view / location quality as top price ones, and that ticket prices are designed to reflect this difference.

By value for money:

Queen Elizabeth Hall value seating plan
Notes

Please note: The seating plans are not accurate representations of the auditorium. While we try to ensure they are as close to the actual venue plan as possible we cannot guarantee they are a true representation. Customers with specific requirements are advised to discuss these with the theatre prior to booking to avoid any confusion.

-0.1183676, 51.5067192

Nearest underground station

Waterloo - Bakerloo Line (brown), Jubilee Line (silver gray), Northern Line (black). Also a main line station.

This station has multiple exits, not clearly marked, so be careful! The best route is as follows:

Turn left and head for the main exit - a grand archway with steps down to street level.

At street level, turn to your left, and walk towards the main road. Ahead to your left is a huge silver steel rectangle. No, the monkey does not know what it is either. To the left of it, and behind, is a pedestrian passageway called "Sutton Walk"; which goes under a bridge. Take it, at the end is a fountain ahead of you. 

You are now on "Concert Road Approach". Turn to your left. The Royal Festival Hall is ahead of you. Walk towards it. Go to the right hand side of it.

You are now in an area of grey concrete.

 The Festival Hall is to your left, a mass of balconies with open space below them to your right. On one of the balconies, words spell out the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room.

Look to the left below them. Amongst the pillars are a pair of grey doors. Cross the area to them and go in. Up the stairs is the foyer of the venue.
____________

If you have the misfortune to leave the station by the "Waterloo Road" exit, fear not. You can either walk through Waterloo Station to the York road exit, or take this alternative route - CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY if you do so.

On leaving the glass doors, turn left. Walk to the corner, and turn left into "Mepham Street". Walk all the way to the end of it, avoiding the temptation to go under any bridges.

At the end of the street is York Road. Cross it. Ahead of you, to the left, is "Sutton Walk", the pedestrian road under the bridge. Take it.

At the end is a fountain ahead of you. You are now on "Concert Road Approach". Turn to your left. The Royal Festival Hall is ahead of you. Walk towards it. Go to the right hand side of it.

You are now in an area of grey concrete. The Festival Hall is to your left, a mass of balconies with open space below them to your right. On one of the balconies, words spell out the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room.

Look to the left below them. Amongst the pillars are a pair of grey doors. Cross the area to them and go in. Up the stairs is the foyer of the venue.

_____________

Another visitor suggest this route: Take the tube to the Embankment station and walk across the Hungerford  footbridge to the south bank, then walk  past the Festival Hall complex. Take the next staircase leading up. The foyer entrance is at the top, to your right.

Noted are the "Gorgeous views both up and down river on a good day or evening.". The monkey endorses this comment, especially at twilight!

Buses

1, 4, 68, X68, 168, 171, 176, 188, 501, 502, 513 to Waterloo Bridge.

Get off on the Bridge and look for the triangular neon sculpture on the roof of the Hayward Gallery, and the glass front of the Festival Hall. Take the stairs on this side of the bridge down to the first level, not the ground. A safe crossing of this bridge can be made by taking the stairs down to first level and walking under it on a walkway linking the staircases either side of the bridge.

On the correct side staircase, leave it, turn to your left and left again for the combined entrance of the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room just along the walkway.

Taxi

A rank for Black taxis is at Waterloo Station - a fair distance from the venue. Best chance of hailing one in the street is on Waterloo Bridge.

Car park

Belvedere Road or The Hayward, both just next to the Festival Hall. Follow signs to the left as you leave the car park. Take the stairs to the left up to the first level, turn left at the top, you will be facing the side of the Festival Hall. Follow the walkway around the side of the building. The Hayward Gallery is ahead of you. If you see a railway bridge with pathways leading under it, wrong way.

Remember to get your ticket validated at the venue box office for a discounted parking rate in these car parks.

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