Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most interesting places in Great Britain. It is a large concert hall, commonly referred to as the Royal Hall. In this article, we will tell you where it is located, what events are held there, and give a detailed account of its history.

History

The RAH opened on 29 March 1871, with construction beginning in 1867. It was initiated by Prince Consort Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. Construction was financed by funds raised from the organisation of the first World Exhibition in 1851. Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott were responsible for the architectural design.

According to the project, the Royal Albert Hall was not to be a separate building, but part of a more massive cultural and educational complex, including the Royal College of Music and the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 1941, the RAH has hosted the BBC Proms international music festival (the largest in Great Britain). In the post-war period, famous rock bands and performerssuch as:

• Paul McCartney
• Deep Purple
• Led Zeppelin
• The Who

Performed in the hall. The building has the appearance of an ancient amphitheatre. Its exterior walls are decorated with a mosaic called ‘The Triumph of Science and Art’.

The main concert hall is 72 metres wide and 83 metres long.

The Royal Albert Hall has one of the largest organs on the planet, with up to 9,000 pipes.

Every year, the hall hosts up to 350 cultural and entertainment events, including:

• performances by pop artists;
• circus shows;
• boxing;
• opera and ballet performances, including the famous production of The Nutcracker;
• banquets and charity evenings;
• award ceremonies.

The hall underwent renovation from 1996 to 2004.

The Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall

The royal family has visited the Royal Albert Hall on more than one occasion.

In 2019, the Royal British Legion Remembrance Festival was held in the hall, attended by Elizabeth II, her son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Elizabeth II's daughter Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

In 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, accompanied by other members of the royal family, attended the annual Remembrance Festival at the RAH. Among the guests were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent.

The hall is conveniently located, and watching the events taking place there is a pleasure for everyone without exception.

Where is the Royal Albert Hall located?

The Royal Albert Hall was built in the South Kensington area of London, near Hyde Park. The area is located in the west of Central London, is fashionable, and stretches from Hyde Park to the underground station of the same name. Its architectural appearance is a combination of Georgian and Victorian styles: houses decorated with stucco stand side by side with brick buildings. There are almost no high-rise buildings.

Attractions include:

1. The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) with a collection of decorative arts and design
2. The Natural History Museum with dinosaur skeletons and interactive exhibits.
3. The Science Museum.

Hyde Park is a place to relax, play sports and enjoy nature. Here, for example, you can take a boat ride on the Serpentine lake.

Seating plan at the Royal Albert Hall

Before visiting the Royal Albert Hall, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the seating plan.

The Stalls (ground floor) are divided into six sub-sectors, each with four rows. From here, you can watch concerts and opera performances.

The Loggia Boxes are located above the Stalls, providing a magnificent view of the stage and excellent acoustics. There are 34 separate boxes here.

The Grand Tier Boxes are located slightly above the Loggia Boxes, offering good views and sound. There are 36 boxes in this section, numbered from 3 to 41.

The Second Tier Boxes are located above the Grand Tier Boxes and are more compact, with 70 boxes.

The Rausing Circle is located above the Second Tier Boxes and is ideal for those looking for a more affordable option with a good view of the stage.

At the top of the hall is a gallery with no assigned seats, where spectators can watch concerts standing or sitting wherever they like.

Capacity of the Royal Albert Hall

The original capacity of the Royal Albert Hall was 8,000 spectators, but later, for safety reasons, the number of seats was reduced to 5,554, of which 1,268 are privately owned. When standing room is used, the hall can accommodate up to 5,900 people.

How to get to the Royal Albert Hall?

There are several ways to get to the Royal Albert Hall: by underground, bus or car – choose the most convenient option.

Nearest underground stations

The closest underground stations to the Royal Albert Hall in London are South Kensington and High Street Kensington. It takes no more than 15 minutes to walk from either station to the concert hall.

The nearest railway stations to the concert hall, Victoria and Paddington, are a half-hour walk away.

By bus

There are several bus routes that go to the Royal Albert Hall:

• Daytime: 9, 23, 52, 360, 452.
• Night-time: N9, N.

The closest public transport stops to the hall are Kensington Gore and Prince Consort Road, which are just a couple of minutes' walk away.

When using public transport, we recommend using the TFL service to choose the best route.

By car

Transfer to the RAH by car is also possible. Parking is usually not a problem, but it is better to plan ahead.

Parking

The nearest car park is located on the grounds of Imperial College, approximately a 5-minute walk away. The entrance is on Exhibition Road. Spaces should be booked in advance, and parking costs £11 plus a 10% booking fee.

Events at the Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall hosts a host of interesting events. A number of major concerts are scheduled to take place in the coming months.

27 and 28 October 2025: Westlife;

19 October 2025: Queens of the Stone Age;

31 October 2025: Inhaler;

3 November 2025: Suzanne Vega;

4 November 2025: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard;

13 November 2025: Wet Leg;

14 to 23 November 2025: London Jazz Festival;

21 and 22 November 2025: Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra;

2 December 2025: Tony Hadley;

8 and 9 December 2025: Cliff Richard;

12 December 2025: Jamie Cullum;

9 March 2026: Gipsy Kings;

30 March 2026: Stornoway;

31 March 2026: Ichiko Aoba;

8 and 9 April 2026: Belle & Sebastian;

18 and 19 May 2026: Zucchero;

8 June 2026: Ray LaMontagne;

10 June 2026: Rufus Does Judy4;

1 July 2026: 10cc;

4 July 2026: Strongman Classic 2026.

Tickets for events must be booked in advance as they sell out quickly.

Past events

Let's also say a few words about past events.

On 30 May 2020, indie rock icons Kaiser Chiefs performed at the Royal Hall.

On 25 March 2023, Kasabian, in collaboration with a charity for teenagers with cancer, gave a concert in front of an audience at the Royal Albert Hall.

On 15 September 1997, a charity concert called Music for Montserrat was held, dedicated to the island of the same name.

In July 2009, American blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa performed, which was recorded and later released on DVD.

In 2011, a film version of the musical Phantom of the Opera was released to mark the 25th anniversary of the production.

From 1989 to 2022, the hall hosted A Classic Spectacle, directed by Raymond Gubbey.

Christmas receptions at the Royal Albert Hall are particularly popular. The cost of a reception starts at £28.95 per person.

Information for visitors

Please read the visitor information before travelling to an event at the Royal Albert Hall.

Dress code

There is no dress code for most performances at the Royal Albert Hall. If there is a dress code for a specific event, it will be indicated on the tickets, for example, tailcoats for men and evening gowns for women. Sportswear is not permitted at concerts.

Hotels near the Royal Albert Hall

There are several good hotels located a short distance from the concert hall:

• Citadines South Kensington London — 550 m away.
• The Bailey S Hotel London Kensington — 930 m away.
• Millennium Hotel and Conference Centre Gloucester London — 880 m away.
• Cheval Harrington Court At South Kensington — 780 m away.
• Ashburn — 870 m away.
• Ibis Styles London Gloucester Road — 810 m away.
• The Harrington Apartments — 930 m away.

Restaurants near the Royal Albert Hall

There are also numerous restaurants with positive reviews near the concert hall.

• Coco Momo Kensington is a bistro offering a varied menu with dishes from different cuisines: English, Mediterranean and American.
• Stein's Berlin is a German restaurant with traditional cuisine, including sausages, schnitzels and pretzels, as well as a large selection of foamy drinks.
• Côte Kensington is a French restaurant with a warm and cosy atmosphere.
• Honest Burgers is an affordable restaurant with a menu featuring beef burgers and vegetarian options.

Contact details and postcode

Address: Kensington Gore

London

SW7 2AP

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7589 8212.

Website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Tiktok

Twitter

Frequently asked questions