Southbank Skate Space — Attraction in London

Southbank Skate Space

Southbank Skate Space is located in the Undercroft beneath the Queen Elizabeth Hall building at London's Southbank Centre, serving as the heart of London's skateboarding culture for 50 years and earning legendary status in the skateboarding world.

History and Origins

Accidental Beginning The Undercroft was never originally designed as a skate park. When the Queen Elizabeth Hall was constructed in the 1960s, architects left this concrete space open to the public. The space consisted of concrete ledges, pillars, and stairs, and from 1973, London skateboarders began claiming this area as their own.

World's First Continuously Used Skate Spot Southbank Skate Space currently holds the title of being the world's oldest continuously used skate spot. It has been considered the home of British skateboarding culture for over 40 years, with local skaters practicing their skills here daily.

Cultural Significance

Space for Artistic Expression The Undercroft functions beyond just a skating space, serving as a venue for artistic expression. Various activities take place here including:

Video filming and photography Graffiti art Creative expression through skating Open jam sessions and community events

International Recognition This space is regarded as a pilgrimage site and place of prestige by the global skateboarding community. American pro skater Chad Muska praised it, saying "The essence of skateboarding is what's happening right here... Skateboarding is Southbank."

The Fight for Preservation

Long Live Southbank Campaign When Southbank Centre announced plans to redevelop the Undercroft into commercial facilities in 2013, the skate community immediately mobilized. A grassroots organization called Long Live Southbank (LLSB) was formed, launching the "Save Southbank" campaign.

Successful Preservation The campaign achieved remarkable success:

September 18, 2014: Southbank Centre and LLSB signed a binding agreement ensuring the space's long-term future 150,000 statements of support collected 33,000 planning objections submitted Support from London Mayor Boris Johnson

2017 Renovation

Restoration Project In 2017, LLSB and Southbank Centre collaborated on a major renovation:

New lighting installation Concrete section replacement Reopening of large areas blocked since 2004 Recovery of 426㎡ of skate space

Funding Sources Renovation funding came from various sources:

Skate brands like Palace Skateboards and Supreme Architectural Heritage Fund London Marathon Charitable Trust Sport England Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund Crowdfunding

Current Status

Thriving Community Today, the Undercroft buzzes with activity, filled with skaters of all levels and backgrounds. It functions as both part of a tight-knit community and a preserved historical site for the future.

Visitor Information Address: Southbank Skate Space, Belvedere Road, London, UK Opening Hours: 24 hours Access: Beneath Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre

Southbank Skate Space transcends being merely a skate park, establishing itself as an iconic space representing British youth culture and urban art. Preserved through the community's persistent efforts, this space will continue to serve as a venue for creativity and self-expression for...

Southbank Skate Space isn’t just a skate park, it’s performance art with a soundtrack of deck smacks, mid-air grunts, and shattered dreams. This place is London’s unofficial runway for dudes in Thrasher hoodies who might land a trick one day… just not today.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome spot. The graffiti-covered concrete jungle under the Queen Elizabeth Hall gives off peak Tony Hawk Pro Skater meets East London art kid energy. But the real magic? It’s in the spectacle. It’s a theater of near-misses, heroic recoveries, and 14-year-olds yelling “bro!” every time their board betrays them.

You’ll see everything here: – One guy pulling off a sick trick and pretending it was casual – Three others filming TikToks in slow-mo – A kid with a helmet bigger than his future – Someone who clearly just bought a board from Urban Outfitters this morning

But honestly, grab a coffee, sit on the ledge, and enjoy the show. It’s free entertainment, with a side of secondhand adrenaline and the occasional “OOF” that echoes off the walls like a Shakespearean tragedy.

Whether you’re a skater, a poser, or just someone who enjoys a chaotic good time, Southbank Skate Space is the perfect place to watch London try, fail, and...

One of the oldest skateparks in London, its free and open to all. Everything is concrete here including a set of steps, a ledge, banks and a couple of grind boxes. Graffiti adorns every wall. It's right on the southbank which has plenty of places to eat and drink. The skatepark has a railing that surrounds it, so great for anyone who just wants to watch skaters or BMXers do their thing. This place also hosts skate competitions with DJs knocking out tunes, so can be very entertaining. Also if it's raining the majority of the space is under cover and is lit up at night, which is a touch! Initially this was not a skatepark, but seemed to have everything a skateboarder could want due to its design, and deep history within the skateboarding community. Developers intended to knock it all down, but this was thwarted by skaters from across all age groups through the #longlivesouthbank movement. #southbank #skatePark #waterloo #southbankskatepark...