Virtual Orchestra: Sibelius
Drop in to this free virtual reality experience, pop on a headset and find out what it’s like to sit right in the middle of the Philharmonia Orchestra in full flow.
Available throughout the Opening Weekend, the Philharmonia’s virtual reality experience gives you a player’s eye view.
How does it feel to sit in the viola section right in front of the conductor, up at the back with the French horns, or in the middle among the woodwind?
How does the sound change as you turn to face the double basses or the violins?
Is it exciting or nerve-racking (or a bit of both) to face an expectant audience of 2,500 people?
What does the music of Sibelius, Tchaikovsky or Vaughan Williams sound like from the inside?
Now’s your chance to find out.
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
Thu 26 – Sat 28 Sep, 10am – 7pm
Sun 29 Sep, 10am – 3pm
Standard entry
Free – no ticket required
Make a donation
Help us open up the arts to everyone by making a one-off or a recurring donation.
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open daily.
Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.
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