In a part of London where there are already many standout buildings, The Royal Albert Hall perhaps stands out more than most. This domed red brick building with it’s 800 foot long mosaic freeze which circles the building, has been one of London’s greatest landmarks since its official opening on the 29th March 187, 151 years ago.
The foundation stone of the building was laid by Queen Victoria in 1867 and the building was named after her beloved late husband Prince Albert
Whichever way you approach the Royal Albert Hall, I defy you not to be struck by its majesty. Whether you are crawling past on one of the many buses whose routes navigate this part of London, or whether you approach on foot from behind the imposing Prince Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, the view is just as impressive. This is a building which begs to be admired, and rightly so in my opinion.
The Royal Albert Hall happens to be my favourite venue in London, and no matter how many times I visit, each one is an occasion. Although I have been many times, and enjoyed many sorts of entertainment here, I had little knowledge of the building itself or what makes it function.
My curious (nosey) nature means I have a fascination for what goes on in well-known places when the doors are closed and the audience has left. This is where the tour of The Royal Albert Hall comes in.
The Tour
The tours are conducted by hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides. Our guide was a natural, and taught us so much in an interesting way. He was brimming with information and very happy to answer any questions. From the group I was in there were lots.
The tour begins on the ground floor of the building gradually travelling up through the floors via the boxes, the circle and up to dizzying heights of the gallery. We stopped on each floor and learned something of how shows are put on, and the time it takes to create and take down sets. None of this was rushed and their was plenty of time to take a seat and enjoy the view.
On the day we were there it was the last performance of Cirque du Soleil and we were able to see some of the equipment for the show being tested. The turnaround for shows is very impressive. Most of them, even the very big ones like Cirque du Soleil can be turned around within 24 hours.
A highlight was of course being able to peer into the Royal Box where the Queen and other members of the Royal family sit when they visit. We were also allowed in to the room where the royal family and other dignitaries retire to during intervals. If members of the Royal family are visiting there will be lots of fresh flowers adorning the staircase which they use. Something to look out for if you are wondering if anyone important is going to be there when you are visiting!
We also learned that if you want to hire the whole venue, you can do so for just £15000.
More Than Just Music
For those less familiar with The Royal Albert Hall it might be associated solely with The Proms or classical music. As a venue however, it has always had a diverse range of shows.
Between 1908 and 1918 the Royal Albert Hall hosted more than 20 women’s suffrage meetings, playing a vital role in the fight for women’s right to vote in the UK. On 18th December 1909, the first British indoor marathon was run there with the two competitors running 524 laps of the auditorium which had been covered in coconut matting.
During WW2, events were held to fund the care of injured members of the armed forces, the families of those fighting, prisoners of war, and those suffering on the Home Front. Performers such as John Gielgud, Vera Lynn, George Formby and Laurence Olivier all took to the stage to do their bit.
Today there are of course many music concerts of all genres, their are charity events and sporting events such as Tennis is a regular feature. The Hall is very adaptable and chairs can be moved and rearranged to accommodate whatever kind of performance is taking place.
Added Extras
When you book a tour, coffee or tea and cake in the café at Door 12 is included. We choose to have ours at the end of the tour which was perfect. It was a lovely way to complete our visit and of course an opportunity to chat about what we had enjoyed (everything) and speculate on what we might want to book tickets for in the future…..
Whether you have been to The Royal Albert Hall lots of times before or this is your first visit, I guarantee this tour will have you longing to return.
You can buy tickets for tours here.
