ROYAL ALBERT HALL ULTIMATE GUIDE
Open: Every day: 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Time Needed: 2.5 hours
Price: £20 - £25
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.
Royal Albert Hall Highlights
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 tours which usually run every day:
- Royal Albert Hall Tour – Enjoy a one-hour guided exploration of the Royal Albert Hall, including the grand auditorium, royal areas, and private boxes. Tours run most days with multiple time slots.
- Inside Out Tour - A one-hour visit to some of the historical buildings, statues and monuments surrounding the venue, where visitors can also learn about London’s cultural quarter known as “Albertopolis .” Available most Saturdays morning.
- Tour & Afternoon Tea – Combine a guided exploration of the venue with a traditional afternoon tea. See the grand auditorium, royal areas, and behind-the-scenes sections, followed by tea at the Café Bar or Verdi - Italian Kitchen.
- Group Tours – For groups of 15 or more, these one-hour tours offer a comprehensive look at the grand auditorium, royal areas, and more. Includes a 10% discount at the Café Bar or Verdi - Italian Kitchen.
Additionally, there are other tours available on special occasions throughout the year. The A Day in the Life Tour is available during preparations for major events, including concerts and launches, and is ideal for ages 11-18, school groups, and home-educating families. Also, the Behind the Scenes Tour is a one-hour guided tour providing access to restricted areas such as the under-stage, dressing rooms, and loading bay, and can be booked on select days each year.
Special Tips
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.
Getting There
Address: Imperial College Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2AP, United Kingdom.
By Tube: If you are travelling by tube, the nearest station is South Kensington, which is about a ten minute walk from the Royal Albert Hall.
By Train: If you are travelling by train, the nearest station is West Brompton, which is a 27 minute walk from the Royal Albert Hall.
By Bus: If you are travelling by bus, you can get to the Royal Albert Hall via routes 9, 10, 52, 70, 360, 452, N9 and N52.
By Taxi: If you are in a taxi, the best place to get off is at Gate 1, which is near the south entrance.
By Car: If you are travelling by car, the entrances to the car park are on Prince Consort Road (until 7:00 p.m.) and Exhibition Road. Please note that parking is not available for matinee performances on weekdays. There are also parking spaces located near Imperial College, but these must be booked in advance.
Visiting theRoyal Albert Hall
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.
Ticket prices and Opening hours
The Royal Albert Hall Box Office is open daily from 9:00 a.m., and the Verdi opens at 12:00 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 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
These are the current ticket prices for each tour:
Royal Albert Hall Tour
- £18.50 for adults
- £10.50 for children (5-16 years)
- £16.50 for concessions
Inside Out Tour
- £20.50 for adults
- £12.50 for children (5-16 years)
- £18.50 for concessions
Tour & Afternoon Tea
- £69.50 for adults
- £90.50 with champagne for adults
- £61.50 for children (12-15 years)
- £39.50 for children (5-11 years)
- £67.50 for concessions
- £88.50 with champagne for concessions
Group tours (for 15 or more people)
- £13.50 per person for Royal Albert Hall Tour
In addition to visiting the Royal Albert Hall, you may also want to take a look at the many free tours of London that depart daily.