Hayward Gallery

The story

Part of the sprawling concrete maze of the Southbank Centre, London's biggest arts centre, the Hayward is one of the city's best-known pieces of brutalism. Its large galleries give installations and monumental works room to breathe, and curators sometimes use the striking staircases as hanging space. Past shows have included Gilbert & George, Yin Xiuzhen's Heart to Heart and Chiharu Shiota's Threads of Life, with entire rooms strung floor to ceiling in red, black and white thread. A major Cao Fei exhibition is planned for spring 2027. Outside, the sculpture court holds free public works, including Ian Walters' large bust of Nelson Mandela, Jeppe Hein's bright park benches and Bronislaw Kubica's abstract statue of Chopin. The building also houses the HENI Project Space, a café looking out towards Waterloo Bridge and a small gift shop by the exit.