Royal Albert Hall Facts

We couldn't visit an iconic venue like the Royal Albert Hall without finding out some facts about it! Here are some facts about this amazing concert hall:

• The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall located in central London. It is on Kensington Gore, overlooking Hyde Park, within walking distance of several museums and colleges.
• It was designed by two architects in the Royal Engineers, and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871.
• It was originally called the Hall of Arts and Science, and the name was changed after Prince Albert‘s death.
• The design was partly based on the Colosseum in Rome.
• It was originally lit by gas and the original dome was made in Manchester, before being taken apart and transported to London.
• The Royal Albert Hall is not circular as often thought, but oval in shape. Its distinctive design may have saved it from being bombed during World War II, as German pilots used it as a landmark.
• The building can seat about 5,400 people, although when first built could seat up to 8,000.
• It measures 83 metres across and reaches a height of 41 metres.
• Over 350 events take place at the Royal Albert Hall each year. In addition to the Proms, the hall hosts rock concerts, ballets, graduation ceremonies, film premieres and tennis matches.
• Cirque du Soleil has performed several times at the Royal Albert Hall. Other famous names who have played here include the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minelli.
• The famous Proms have been held at the hall since 1941. The 8 week programme of concerts finishes with the well known and patriotic themed last night of the Proms.
• The frieze at the top around the outside of the Royal Albert Hall was designed by a ladies’ mosaic class. It shows different jobs, including painting, construction and engineering.
• The building’s organ is one of the largest in England, with 9,999 pipes.
• The acoustics in the hall were not perfected until 1969, when fibreglass discs were hung from the ceiling.