Make the most of South Bank in the sun this summer

Summer food market

Let’s face it, street food is best in summer. Whether it’s outdoors or not, the relaxed vibes are perfect for a quick lunch with friends or an after work aperitivo. The Southbank Centre summer Food Market offers some of the best street food in the capital.

From aromatic Indian curries and Korean BBQ to German Sausages and Sicilian arancini, the Southbank Centre Food Market is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavours to tantalize the tastebuds of even the most discerning foodie. If you're a seasoned Market goer, there's plenty of temporary summer foodie pop-ups to explore around the area, too.

Outdoor arts festival

Down by the river, on the banks of the Thames, South Bank's National Theatre spills out beyond the Olivier, Lyttleton and Dorfman auditoriums. For five weekends, from 13 July to 12 August, the outdoor River Stage comes to life with an eclectic programme of live music, guest DJs, dance and performances suitable for the whole family.

It combines the topnotch talent of the standard NT programming with a casual, turn-up-and find-a-perch or walk-past-and-end-up-losing-a-whole-afternoon kind of vibe. A pop up cocktail bar, retro ice-cream van and wood-fired pizza stall add to the festival atmosphere.

Dance fans mark your diaries for 27 – 29 July, when Sadler's Wells take over. We're also looking forward to an East London nightclub take on classical music with Non-Classical (3 – 5 August).

Boutique contemporary art gallery

gallery@oxo is an intimate and free riverside gallery space located at the foot of South Bank's celebrated Oxo Tower. Showcasing the best in photography, contemporary design and architecture, the boutique gallery welcomes and champions contemporary artists tackling thought-provoking global issues in their work.

With a frequently changing exhibition programme, there is always something new to discover here. After a browse, we recommend popping into neighboring Gabriel's Wharf, a bustling enclave of shops, restaurants and cafes, for a quick coffee break and a refuel.

Comedy, cabaret, circus & more

South Bank's Underbelly Festival is back for its 10th year. The festival, featuring comedy, cabaret, circus as well as family friendly shows, is now firmly established as one of the summer's most vibrant cultural celebrations, promoting the best new British performance art alongside seasoned world-class entertainers.

Check out the jam-packed summer programme here, or pop down to the outdoor bar area, complete with fairy lights and lanterns, for an al fresco after-work drink.

History off the beaten track

Escape the heatwave this summer and explore one of our favourite London museums. Housed within the walls of what used to be the Bedlam Hospital in the 18th century, the Imperial War Museum tells the intriguing and often heart-wrenching stories of British and Commonwealth soldiers affected by war.

Following a huge renovation project in 2014, the family-friendly IWM now hosts a broad range of interactive, sensitive and honest exhibitions exploring this nation's military history from the First World War right up to the modern day.

There are lots of child-friendly activities on offer, too, and the beautiful surrounding gardens of Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park are perfect for a post-exhibition picnic.

Immersive theatre

Sitting inside a cramped theatre may not be the most obvious way to spend a summer evening, but this hot new show merits an evening indoors.

You're invited into the courtroom, to witness the dramas of a murder trial as they unfold, in this immersive site-specific production of Agatha Christie's classic crime story, The Witness of the Prosecution.

With Jazz-era glamour, the shadow of the first world war, and an especially slippery key witness, the murder mystery offers plenty of intrigue and atmosphere.

See you in Court!

Zip across South Bank

Get a bird's eye view of London this summer as the world's biggest and fastest urban zip wire returns to South Bank for just 16 weeks.

This year, Zip Now London has three lines, so you can now experience the thrill of flying along with friends and family at the same time.

With breath-taking views of Big Ben and the London Eye, this is the alternative summer experience for Adrenalin junkies and thrill-seekers alike. And for the super intrepid, there's a new free-fall ‘Mega Drop’. This new experience offers riders a heart-in-the-mouth free-fall – comparable to a bungee jump – before being lowered safely down to earth.

Ages: Minimum age is 8 years, children age 8 - 15 years need to be supervised. One adult can accompany up to three children