CULTURE
Gift to the Future at Southbank Centre: free London guide
More than 90 lines of poetry created with school pupils appear across the Southbank Centre from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 27 September. The installation is free and needs no ticket.
The essentials, in one place
Choose your date, check your ticket and plan the journey.
- Date
- 9 Sept 2026 – 27 Sept 2026
- Venue
- Southbank Centre site and Riverside Terrace South Bank
- What time does it start?
- Start time not confirmed here London local time. A door opening time is not a stage time.
- Tickets
- Free; no ticket required Availability and prices can change.
Access, line-up and the journey home
- Access
- Suitable for all ages; check Southbank Centre access guidance Venue access information ↗
- Finish and running time
- A finish time has not been confirmed here. Check the venue programme before arranging your journey home.
- Return journey
- Use your actual departure date and time in the journey planner, especially if you expect to leave after midnight.
- Dates
- 9–27 September
- Price
- Free
- Booking
- No ticket required
- Age
- Suitable for all ages
What it is
Lines created by primary-school pupils are enlarged across the Southbank Centre’s brutalist buildings. The route connects poetry, public space and the site’s Festival of Britain history rather than placing everything in one gallery.
Dates and entry
The official programme lists 9–27 September 2026 and free entry with no ticket required. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult on the Southbank Centre site.
Plan the route
Begin at Royal Festival Hall and treat the work as a thread through the wider complex. Add one nearby installation or a riverside walk instead of crossing London between short stops.
Access and weather
The work spans indoor and exposed public spaces. Southbank Centre publishes current lift, step-free, seating and assistance information; check it when access determines whether the visit works.
Last checked
LONNOW rechecked the dedicated event page on 9 September 2026 and corrected the start date to 9 September. The organiser remains the final source for temporary closures or operational changes.
