Festival Information
London
Overview
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is a free outdoor theatre and performing arts festival held across Greenwich, Docklands and other locations in East London. The programme includes theatre, dance, circus, installations and large-scale outdoor performances presented in public spaces, historic settings and urban environments.
Founded in 1996, GDIF has developed into one of the UK's leading outdoor arts festivals, bringing international and UK artists together for a programme of free performances that transform streets, squares, parks and waterfront locations across London.
Line-up
Visit the festival's homepage to find out
What's On. Closer to the event they publish a full GDIF Programme, look out for links.
Note: Line-ups can evolve/change closer to the event — check back regularly to stay up to date.
Festival Attendance: 60,000+ people
According to the organisers, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival welcomes more than 60,000 audience members across its 17-day programme. This figure reflects total attendance across multiple performances and locations rather than a single-site capacity.
Location
GDIF presents events across Greenwich, Docklands and other locations in East London, using a range of public spaces, waterfront settings and historic sites.
Recent festival locations have included the Old Royal Naval College, Eltham High Street, General Gordon Square and Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich. Additional events have also taken place in Canary Wharf, the Royal Docks, Tower Hamlets and the City of London.
Travel Info
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival events are spread across multiple locations in London, all well served by public transport.
- Underground & DLR: Many venues are close to DLR stations (e.g. Cutty Sark, Woolwich Arsenal, Royal Victoria) and Underground stations (e.g. North Greenwich on the Jubilee Line).
- Rail: National Rail services stop at Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, and other nearby stations.
- River: The Thames Clippers (Uber Boat) serve stops including Greenwich, North Greenwich, and Woolwich Pier.
- Bus: Numerous London bus routes serve the borough of Greenwich and other GDIF sites.
- Accessible Travel: Many venues are step-free and accessible by public transport. See the Accessibility Section for more information.
Tickets
Basic Price Range: Free
GDIF is free to attend. Some events may be ticketed due to capacity constraints.
Most GDIF events are free to attend. Some performances may require advance booking or free ticket reservation due to capacity limits.
GDIF is a registered charity, if you can, please Make A Donation.
You can also support the festival by becoming a Patron, this is through contributing from £300 a year.
Another way of contributing and supporting is to become a Corporate Partner.
Accommodation
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is not a camping festival; visitors will need to make their own accommodation arrangements.
A useful website to find places to stay is Visit London, here you can search for a range of accommodation options to suit your budget.
Packing Checklist:
Ensure you're fully prepared for your festival adventure with our Essential Packing Checklist.
Accessibility
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is committed to making the festival accessible for all. Inclusion is at the heart of GDIF.
Accessibility Provisions
Friendly staff and volunteers have received training in Disability Equality and Communication Access.
General Accessibility
- Many performances include dedicated access provisions, though these vary by event
- Wheelchair accessible venues with level access
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Chairs available at all sites
Further information
For further information about access provisions please visit the GDIF website access page.
You can check the event pages (scroll down to find individual events and follow those links) for detailed access information for each site.
