The South Bank is booming, figures obtained by the Evening Standard show.

The London Eye, National Theatre and National Film Theatre have all seen surges in popularity, winning back customers after the 7 July terror attacks.

The South Bank Centre is currently without its leading venue, the Royal Festival Hall, which will reopen in June following a £91million restoration. Even so, it is estimated that 15.2 million people will visit this year, a five per cent increase.

The South Bank's renaissance has been prompted by new restaurants, shops and outdoor attractions such as Danish artist Jeppe Hein's interactive water fountain. Michael Lynch, chief executive of the South Bank Centre, said: "What we have been seeing has given us the confidence that people will keep on coming in the run-up to the reopening of the Festival Hall.

"With the amount of activity on the South Bank I'm sure it will continue to be a vibrant, safe place to be."

The 1,100-seat Olivier Theatre is 92 per cent occupied on average compared to 75 per cent three years ago. The 21 institutions on the South Bank attract more than 12 million visitors a year.

In the autumn it will get a further boost when the Young Vic Theatre and National Film Theatre reopen. The South Bank's latest attraction is a virtual orchestra with 59 plastic cubes activated by sitting on them.