All eyes will be on South Bank with iconic landmarks, restaurants and bars joining in the celebrations on 28th March. For a third year running WWF-UK has teamed up with the destination management consortium South Bank London and visitors coming to the area on Saturday can experience candlelit dinners in many of its bars and restaurants, such as OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie, Skylon and Sea Containers, and enjoy great views of the UK's biggest London landmarks, including Southbank Centre and National Theatre as they switch off. 

Shareen Brown, Earth Hour Project Manager at WWF-UK said:

“We're delighted to once again have the support of South Bank London and hope the participation of these iconic landmarks will inspire the rest of the capital and the UK to celebrate Earth Hour on 28th March. We're really excited to announce a special surprise on one of London's most recognisable buildings; it will be a powerful reminder to switch off the lights alongside millions of people from across the world for this extraordinary global moment. Earth Hour is more than an hour of darkness, it's a community of people who are sharing their love for our planet and taking action to protect it every day.”

In the run up to and on 28th March visitors can join enjoy a unique day of candlelit dinners and witness some of the capital's brightest and most iconic destinations switch off in support of Earth Hour, including a spectacular display which will be unveiled at OXO Tower at 8.30pm.

Where's Panda Competition

Visitors to South Bank recently may have noticed a couple of giant pandas wandering the area. No need to panic, it is all part of another instalment of Where's Panda? From 20th– 27th March, audiences can join in the big South Bank London Facebook competition with a chance to win a super prize – gifts from many of South Bank's top destinations and attractions, as well as a special prize from WWF-UK. All people have to do is guess where the monochrome mammals are.

The competition launched on South Bank London's Facebook page on Friday 20th March at 6.30pm, and a new picture will be added each day this week – audiences simply have comment below the picture to enter with their guess of where the pandas are. The winner will be announced on the day of Earth Hour, Saturday 28th March by South Bank London, on Facebook.

Dinner by Candlelight at OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie, Sea Containers and Skylon

The decadent surroundings of Skylon, Sea Containers at Mondrian London and OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie provide the perfect ambience for a candlelit dinner on 28th March. To celebrate Earth Hour all non essential lighting will be turned off and an abundance of candles will illuminate these spaces for a romantic riverside setting. At Skylon diners can enjoy themed cocktails and surprise dishes; at Sea Containers guests can partake in a special Gin Gimlet cocktail with dinner; while over at OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie, guests can indulge in their delicious a la carte menu – all by candlelight of course.

For more about Skylon, click here, for more about OXO Tower, Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie, click here and to find out more about Sea Containers here.

The Big Switch-Off Event

The night would not be complete without the spectacular Earth Hour lights out display. South Bank will be steeped in darkness for one hour, from 8.30pm – 9.30pm on 28th March, with some of the UK's most iconic landmarks and destinations taking part, as well as local residents and businesses.

The following South Bank landmarks will all be switching off their lights: Old Vic, Coca-Cola London Eye, Mondrian Hotel London (Sea Containers sign), Southbank Centre, Gillray's at London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Park Plaza Hotel County Hall and Park Plaza Hotel Westminster Bridge, BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, National Theatre, Skylon and OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie.

Earth Hour Cocktails

Head to Park Plaza County Hall where they have added several Earth Hour inspired drink to the menu, served with illuminated straws, each in homage to this year's theme: #FUNPLUGGED.

A Surprise Will Be Unveiled at OXO Tower!

Leading the lights out, the world-famous OXO Tower will be joining in with a spectacular display to mark Earth Hour. Residents and visitors to London's South Bank will be invited to look up during the hour for a special Earth Hour surprise. 

-Ends-  

Editor's notes

For more information and images, contact: gemma.hutchinson@southbanklondon.com, 020 7202 6918

A guide to Earth Hour in South Bank is published on www.southbanklondon.com / http://southbanklondon.com/spend-your-earth-hour-in-south-bank

About South Bank Marketing Group

South Bank London is an association of key attractions, cultural venues, restaurants and hotels in the area committed to promoting South Bank as one of London's top destinations, including: BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank, Coin Street Community Builders, Coca-Cola London Eye, Florence Nightingale Museum, House of Vans,  IWM London, London Duck Tours, London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Mondrian Hotel London, National Theatre, OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, Park Plaza County Hall, Park Plaza Riverbank, Plaza on the River, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Southbank Centre, MBNA Thames Clippers, The Old Vic . 

Our role is to:

• Provide destination leadership

• Maintain and grow South Bank's profile as one of the capital's top destinations

• Increase visitor dwell time and spend throughout the year

• Build strategic alliances which enhance the area's profile and its influence

• Influence local public realm schemes which impact on the visitor

For South Bank visitor information see www.southbanklondon.com

Follow us on Twitter @southbanklondon

Become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/southbanklondon 

South Bank Marketing Group is run by South Bank Employers' Group, a not for profit organisation in the South Bank, Waterloo and Blackfriars area committed to achieving the best possible experience of South Bank for visitors, employees and residents. www.sbeg.co.uk

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive.  Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour, organised by WWF, is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet. Last year was the biggest yet, with hundreds of millions of people taking part across a record 162 countries and 7,000 towns and cities alongside world famous landmarks from the Sydney Opera House to Times Square in New York. Earth Hour continues to have a real and lasting impact beyond the hour, from crowdfunding to help protect critically endangered species, to campaigns to protect The Great Barrier Reef.  In 2015 Earth Hour will be held on 28th March 2015 between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. wwf.org.uk/earthhour #EarthHourUK