ROYAL ALBERT HALL ULTIMATE GUIDE
Mon - Thurs: 9:30am to 5:30PM
Time Needed: 2,5 hours
Fri - Sun: 9:00am to 5:00PM
Price: £18 - £34
When Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, died suddenly at the age of 42 in 1861, Queen Victoria was overcome with grief. In her period of mourning the Queen wanted to design a so-called “Albertopolis” in South Kensington, London, which consisted of a handful of cultural and entertainment landmarks to be constructed in his memory.
The Royal Albert Hall (named after Prince Albert) was opened in 1871, and is one of the many “Albertopolis” sites in London including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal College of Art, the Royal College of Music, and much more.
The Royal Albert Hall hosts more than 360 events every year ranging from live orchestra performances, comedy and circus shows, charity events, Christmas Carol concerts, and even sumo wrestling competitions. Most notably, the venue hosts one of the largest festivals of Western classical music in the world (The Proms), and some of the many famous artists to perform at the venue over the years include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and much more.
Although the venue hosts a variety of top-notch performances throughout the year, if you happen to be visiting London during the summer months, then grabbing a seat for the BBC Proms is a must.
If you want to learn more about the history of the Royal Albert Hall, the venue currently offers seven one-hour tours which usually run every day:
If you have some extra time, make sure you stroll around the corridors and glance over photographs of past performances and events.
If you happen to have tickets in the Upper Circle, be aware that it is quite steep, and some seats have a restricted view of the stage.
When watching a performance or show during the hot summer months, you might want to bring a fan with you as it can incredibly hot inside the venue.
If you plan on snagging a ticket for the BBC Proms, then be prepared to spend all day waiting in a queue or camping out on the steps to get your seat.
Address
Imperial College Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2AP, United Kingdom (See map).
By Tube
The nearest station is South Kensington, which is about a ten-minute walk away.
By Train
The nearest station is West Brompton, which is a 27-minute walk away.
By Bus
You can reach the Royal Albert Hall via routes 9, 10, 52, 70, 360, 452, N9 and N52.
There are a variety of different performances, events, shows and plays held at Royal Albert Hall throughout the year; for more information visit the “What’s On” section on their official website.
Be aware that there are many stairs during the tours, so it’s highly recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes (and lifts are also available).
If you want to have a bite to eat before or after your visit, there are a handful of dining facilities scattered throughout the venue, which all open two hours before every main auditorium event. You are not allowed to bring your own food or drink into the venue, however bottled water is allowed.
The Royal Albert Hall Box Office is open daily from 9 a.m., and the Verdi opens at 12 p.m. between Tuesday and Sunday.
The Royal Albert Hall Box Office is located at Door 12 of the building and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Online prices for the Royal Albert Hall tours cost:
A tour of terror as you step into the world of Jack the Ripper!
Schedule:
Duration: 2 hours