Quentin Blake’s free London art trail — catch it before it disappears

25th October 2026

A free London art trail is hiding in plain sight at the Southbank Centre, and there are only two weeks left to catch it. Quentin Blake’s The Southbank Parade remains on display until Sunday 8 November, offering a reason to look beyond the river views and explore the cultural complex itself. If your Sunday needs a little colour without another admission charge, this is a useful one to keep in your pocket.

The installation is spread through the site rather than presented as a single room to tick off. That changes the pace of a visit: you can look for a handful of figures, take a break and decide whether to continue. Our suggestion is to treat it as a gentle discovery walk, leaving time to notice the drawings instead of turning the afternoon into a race around a checklist.

Royal Festival Hall beside the Thames, photographed during its reopening celebrations in June 2007 — Royal Festival Hall in June 2007, not the current installation. Photograph: Sandpiper / Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

A parade of performers — and Londoners

Blake’s own announcement describes more than thirty figures, reproduced at life size, celebrating the Southbank Centre’s seventy-five years. The anniversary looks back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. His cast acknowledges people who have performed on the stages, while also recognising the many different Londoners who give the riverfront its everyday character.

Among the subjects are dancers, writers, skaters and musicians. The artist’s website describes work both outside the Royal Festival Hall and within the buildings. It is worth remembering that this is a visual installation, rather than a live parade with a start time. You are looking for illustrated characters, not waiting for a procession of performers to arrive.

Where to start looking

The organiser’s location list gives visitors some helpful starting points. Dancers and a parkour athlete appear in the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 1 foyer; opera singers and an actor are on Level 3’s Green Side. Poets can be found in the National Poetry Library on Level 5, while rock stars are listed outside the St Paul’s Roof Pavilion on Level 6.

Admission is free and no ticket is required. The listing gives Tuesday to Sunday opening hours of 10am–11pm, with Monday closed, and says children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Events or building closures can affect access to particular parts of the installation, so check the current listing before setting out. The closing date is 8 November, not the end of half-term.

Plan the route around your needs

For visitors who need step-free access, the centre describes an external lift near the Artists’ Entrance on Southbank Centre Square, Belvedere Road, connecting to Level 2 and the Mandela Walk doors. Its current accessibility information also warns that lift refurbishment means some Royal Festival Hall lifts may be temporarily unavailable. Ask staff about an alternative route rather than assuming every lift will be operating.

Accessible toilets are listed on every level of the Royal Festival Hall. The centre also publishes access maps and preparation guides, which are worth checking before a visit with someone who benefits from knowing the route in advance. You do not have to see every character for the outing to count; choose the areas that work comfortably for your group.

Getting there without overcomplicating Sunday

The address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Waterloo is the closest major rail and Underground arrival point; the centre lists it as around 200 metres away. Embankment offers an alternative approach from the opposite side of the Thames, across Hungerford Bridge. Check live transport information before travelling, particularly if you need a specific accessible connection.

The venue encourages public transport because local parking is restricted. If you add a café stop, remember that the Southbank Centre’s venues are cash-free; food and drinks are separate purchases, not part of the free installation. Keep those extras optional and this can stay a simple art outing: arrive, explore a few floors, pick your favourite character and enjoy a different view of a familiar London landmark.