Best seats in Royal Festival Hall
An editorial starting point. Check the event-specific seating plan and access information with the venue before booking.
Talk through your seating options →Compiled from publicly available information (the venue's website and published seating plans) with AI-assisted writing, not from a visit. It may be out of date or wrong: check seating and access with the venue or its official ticket seller before you buy.
Southbank Centre's 2,780-seat concert hall, home to orchestral concerts, contemporary music and talks.
Quick Tip
Most of the hall's seats are in the Stalls (about 1,800 across Front, Rear and Side). The Choir seats sit behind the stage and are usually held off sale at amplified concerts.
Best Sections
- +Front and Rear Stalls centre, facing the stage
- +Balcony centre, for a view of the whole platform
Sections to Avoid
- -Choir seats if you want to face the performers
- -Seats held for speaker sightlines at amplified concerts (some boxes and Side Stalls)
Introduction
The Royal Festival Hall is the Southbank Centre's largest auditorium. Its own figures give 2,780 seats in total, or 2,745 with the extended stage in place, of which 234 are Choir seats behind the stage.
It hosts orchestras, contemporary music, comedy and talks, so the best seat depends on what you are seeing.
Quick Reference
Largest blocks: Rear Stalls (993) and Front Stalls (663)
Elevated view: Balcony (616)
Behind the performers: Choir (234)
Amplified concerts: some boxes and Side Stalls are held for speaker sightlines
How the Hall Is Laid Out
The Southbank Centre's seating plan gives these blocks, including wheelchair spaces and companion seats:
Front Stalls: 663
Rear Stalls: 993
Side Stalls: 154
Boxes: 120, plus 8 in the Goodman boxes
Balcony: 616
Choir: 234
The Stalls
The Front and Rear Stalls hold well over half the hall. Seats on the centre line face the platform squarely, which matters most for amplified shows where the sound is aimed at the main auditorium.
Best for: most concerts. Centre seats in either block are the safe choice.
Side Stalls and Boxes
The Side Stalls and boxes run along the walls, so you look across at the stage rather than straight on.
At amplified concerts: the promoter guide lists seats held off sale for speaker sightlines. That includes boxes 1, 2, 7, 8, 25, 26, 34 and 35 where speakers are flown, and parts of Side Stalls rows W-Z where speakers are stacked on the ground.
The Balcony
The Balcony sits above and behind the Stalls and gives a view of the whole platform. Its centre rows face the stage directly.
Best for: seeing the full orchestra or the whole of a staging.
The Choir Seats
The Choir seats are behind the stage, so you face the performers' backs and the conductor's face.
Bear in mind: the Southbank Centre's promoter guide says the majority of amplified concerts require the Choir seats to be held off sale, because the speakers point at the main auditorium.
The Bottom Line
For most events, choose the centre of the Front or Rear Stalls.
The Balcony centre is the alternative for a view of the whole platform.
At amplified concerts, avoid the Choir and any seat the plan marks as held or restricted.
Where These Facts Come From
The Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall seating plan with capacities and its Arts Rentals Promoter Guide (2024-25), read on 24 October 2026. Check the plan for your event before booking.