Royal Albert Hall opened by Queen Victoria: archive, 30 March 1871 | Music | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences, at Kensington, was opened yesterday by the Queen. We need not here trace the history of the movement of which this capacious hall is the result; nor will it be necessary for us to describe the purposes to which the building will be devoted. The locality and the title sufficiently indicate whence it sprung and what objects it is intended to serve. The inauguration - we suppose we must use the hateful word - though a state ceremonial in the fullest acceptation of the term, had none of the heavy pomp so common to such spectacles. It was grand, but had the merit of simplicity, and the programme presented a certain fitness to the occasion which one often misses in great public pageants. At ten o’clock the doors were thrown open, and the box owners and invited guests began to assemble. In less than an hour the building was more than half filled, and every minute added to the throng. In the arena accommodation was afforded for the mayors of those towns that had contributed £100 or upwards to the Great Exhibition of 1851.

The mayors, 60 or 70 in number, were placed in a body close to the dais. Their scarlet robes formed a ruddy centre-piece to the mass of variegated colour which rose from the floor through amphitheatre and boxes, balcony and gallery, till its more delicate shades were lost in the giddy height of the uppermost seats. The mayors of Manchester, Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Hull, Halifax, Macclesfield, Sheffield, Stockport, Wigan, and the Lord Mayor of York were invited, and it was said that all were present. Behind the civic dignitaries sat some score or so of military officers, deputy lieutenants, and a few divines. Conspicuous among the latter by his little velvet skullcap and pleasant thoughtful features sat the Dean of Westminster, chatting with the Bishop of London , who wore the soutane and lawn sleeves, for His Lordship was to take part in the day’s ceremonial. The remainder of the arena and the amphitheatre were filled by representatives of the press and the general public. In one of the lower boxes were Mr. Disraeli and Lady Beaconsfield.

In a box a few yards off were the members of the Burmese Embassy. In an adjoining compartment were Sir Thomas and Lady Bazley; and overhead, in the centre or grand tier, occupying the box of the Prince of Wales, were the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Teck, and the Princess Mary. At the west end of this tier, flanking the orchestra, was the box for the foreign ambassadors, which was crowded with diplomatists in official costume, many of them carrying a perfect load of stars and decorations. Baron Brunnow, Count Bernstorff, Count Apponyi, and Musurus Pasha were easily recognisable; and as many of the number were accompanied by ladies this box was the most brilliant and conspicuous in the building. The eastern end of the grand tier, directly opposite the ambassadors, was devoted to Her Majesty’s Ministers. Among those present were Mr. Gladstone, the Duke of Argyll, Lord Halifax, Lord Kimberley, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Monsell, Mr. Forster, and Mr. Stensfeld. They, too, were accompanied by ladies, and were in official dress.

The upper tier and balcony were well occupied, but the place would have held 2,000 or 3,000 more, and the spectacle would have been all the better; for the building is so vast, so far beyond any similar structure in Europe, larger even than the Scala at Milan, or the great theatres of Venice and Naples, that it is only when it is filled in every part that it can be seen to advantage. Pinterest A recent photograph of the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London. Photograph: Flip Wibbly Jelly/Alamy At half-past twelve o’clock, after the military band behind the organ had played its last tune, and the Yeomen of the Guard had been ranked each in his proper place along the platform over the arena from the main entrance to the dais, there was a stir at the top of the staircase, and the cheers of the outside public, faintly heard across the vast area, announced the Queen’s arrival. Her Majesty and the royal party had left Buckingham Palace in nine or ten state carriages, escorted by a squadron of the Royal Horse Guards Blue. Thousands of spectators lined the whole of the route, and Her Majesty was very warmly cheered.

A guard of honour composed of the Grenadiers was stationed opposite the building. On alighting at the entrance the Queen was received by the Prince of Wales, the members of the Building Committee, and by several of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851. In the procession to the dais, the Prince of Wales (in the uniform of the 10th Hussars) walked at Her Majesty’s left hand, and following them came the Princess of Wales and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, the Princess Christian, the Princess Louise, the Princess Beatrice, Prince Arthur (in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade), Prince Leopold (in Highland costume), the Marquis of Lorne (likewise in Highland dress), and Prince Christian. On reaching the dais the Queen stood before the principal chair, having all the members of her family to her right, except the Princess Christian. The Queen was plainly attired in black silk dress and mantle, with a narrow trimming of satin floss, and a black bonnet, relieved in the border with a few white flowers. Her Majesty appeared to be in excellent health, and took an evident interest in all that was going on.

On the Queen’s right hand stood the Princess of Wales, wearing a rich costume of purple velvet with a light sable trimming, which looked exceedingly appropriate, considering the chilliness of the weather. Her Royal Highness wore a bonnet of the same material as her dress. The Princess Louise, who, with her young husband, challenged almost as much attention as Her Majesty, wore a white corded silk dress trimmed with ermine, and a white bonnet, in the border of which was a spray of orange blossom. The Princess Christian was attired in a black velvet dress and blue bonnet, and the Princess Beatrice in a green muslin, or some equally light material, and leghorn hat. After a verse of the “National Anthem” had been sung, the Prince of Wales read a brief address, and Her Majesty, in a voice so remarkably distinct that it could be heard over the whole building, said: “I cannot but express my great admiration for this beautiful building, and my earnest wishes for its complete success.” A hearty burst of cheering followed these words, and after silence had been restored the Bishop of London offered a short prayer, and the Prince of Wales, on receiving Her Majesty’s commands, formally declared the building open.

The band and organ then pealed forth another verse of the “National Anthem,” a battery of artillery in Hyde Park boomed forth a salute, and the royal party retired as they had entered, and proceeded by the principal staircase to the royal box in the grand tier. Her Majesty sat in the centre of the box, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Louise, and the Princess Beatrice on her left hand. On her right the Princess of Wales, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and the Princess Christian. The Marquis of Lorne and the Princes Arthur and Leopold were in the rear among the lords and ladies in waiting. During the remainder of her visit Her Majesty was observed to keep up an animated conversation with the Prince and Princess of Wales. The remainder of the programme, which was purely musical, was proceeded with. The first part consisted of a Biblical cantata, composed for the occasion by Sir Michael Costa, who presided over the orchestra. The solos were rendered by Mesdames Sherrington and Patey, and Messrs. Vernon Rigby and Santley.

The orchestra had been splendidly trained for the performance, and the organ, one of the largest in the world, rolled forth such volumes of harmony that one almost feared it might prove too powerful even for so mighty a building. At the end of the cantata the Queen retired and returned to the Palace. A grand miscellaneous concert followed, at which the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Arthur, the Prince and Princess of Teck, and the Duke of Cambridge remained. The first of the miscellaneous pieces was composed by the late Prince Consort. The programme was brought to an end by the overture to “ La Gazza Ladra .” The Princess Louise, the Marquis of Lorne, and the Princess of Wales were warmly cheered by the spectators as their carriages drove away. Royal Albert Hall - History of Royal Albert Hall Kensington - ATG Tickets Group Bookings Royal Albert Hall Overview The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941. It is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable all over the world.

Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. Each year it hosts more than 350 performances including classical concerts, rock and pop, ballet and opera, tennis, award ceremonies, school and community events, charity performances and banquets. The hall was originally supposed to have been called The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed by Queen Victoria to Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences when laying the foundation stone as a dedication to her deceased husband and consort Prince Albert. It forms the practical part of a national memorial to the Prince Consort – the decorative part is the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, now separated from the Hall by the road Kensington Gore. In 1851, the Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park, London, for which the Crystal Palace was built. The exhibition was a great success and led Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, to propose that a permanent series of facilities be built in the area for the enlightenment of the public. Progress on the scheme was slow and in 1861 Prince Albert died, without having seen his ideas come to fruition.

However, a memorial was proposed for Hyde Park, with a Great Hall opposite. The proposal was approved and the site was purchased with some of the profits from the Exhibition. Once the remaining funds had been raised, in April 1867 Queen Victoria signed the Royal Charter of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences which was to operate the Hall and on 20 May, laid the foundation stone. The hall was designed by civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y.D. Scott of the Royal Engineers and built by Lucas Brothers. The designers were heavily influenced by ancient amphitheatres, but had also been exposed to the ideas of Gottfried Semper while he was working at the South Kensington Museum. The recently opened Cirque d'Hiver in Paris was seen in the contemporary press as the design to outdo. The hall was constructed mainly of Fareham Red brick, with terra cotta block decoration made by Gibbs and Canning Limited of Tamworth. The dome (designed by Rowland Mason Ordish) on top was made of wrought iron and glazed.

The first building in modern history to be built top down, there was a trial assembly made of the iron framework of the dome in Manchester, then it was taken apart again and transported to London via horse and cart. When the time came for the supporting structure to be removed from the dome after re-assembly in situ, only volunteers remained on site in case the structure dropped. It did drop – but only by five-eighths of an inch. The hall was scheduled to be completed by Christmas Day 1870 and the Queen visited a few days beforehand to inspect. She was reported as saying "It looks like the British Constitution". The official opening ceremony of the Royal Albert Hall was on 29 March 1871. After a welcoming speech by Edward, the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria was too overcome to speak, so the Prince had to announce that "The Queen declares this Hall is now open". A concert followed, when the Hall's acoustic problems became immediately apparent. Engineers first attempted to solve the acoustical problem by suspending a canvas awning below the dome. This helped and also provided relief to concertgoers from the sun.

A 1949 attempt removed the awning and replaced the glass dome with aluminium panels; however, the acoustics were not properly tackled until 1969 when a series of large fibreglass acoustic diffusing discs (commonly referred to as "mushrooms" or "flying saucers") were installed below the ceiling to reduce the notorious echo. It used to be said that the hall was the only place where a British composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. Initially lit by gas, the hall contained a special system where its thousands of gas jets were lit within ten seconds. Though it was demonstrated as early as 1873 in the Hall, full electric lighting was not installed until 1888. During an early trial when a partial installation was made, one disgruntled patron wrote to The Times newspaper declaring it to be "a very ghastly and unpleasant innovation". In 1936, the Hall was the scene of a giant rally celebrating the British Empire, the occasion being the centenary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth.

In October 1942, the Hall suffered minor damage during World War II bombing but was left mostly untouched as German pilots used the distinctive structure as a landmark. Between 1996 and 2004 the Royal Albert Hall underwent a programme of renovation and development supported by a £20 million (roughly $32 million US) grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable it to meet the demands of the next century of events and performances. Thirty "discrete projects" were designed and supervised by BDP without disrupting events. These projects included improving ventilation to the auditorium, more bars and restaurants, new improved seating, better technical facilities and more modern backstage areas. The largest project was the building of a new south porch – door 12, accommodating a restaurant, new box office and below a new delivery area. Although the exterior of the building was largely unchanged, the south steps leading down to Prince Consort Road were demolished to allow construction of an underground vehicle access and accommodation for 3 HGVs carrying all the equipment brought by shows. The steps were then reconstructed around a new south porch on the same scale and in the same style as the three pre-existing porches: these works were undertaken by Taylor Woodrow Construction.

The original steps featured in early scenes of 1965 film The Ipcress File. On 4 June 2004, the project received the Europa Nostra Award for remarkable achievement. The East and West porches were glazed and new bars opened along with ramps to improve disabled access. Internally the Circle was rebuilt in four weeks in June 1996 providing more leg room, better access and improved sight lines. The Stalls were rebuilt in a four week period in 2000 using steel supports allowing more space underneath for two new bars. 1534 unique pivoting seats were laid – with an addition of 180 prime seats. The Choirs were rebuilt at the same time. The whole building was redecorated in a style that reinforces the buildings Victorian identity. New carpets were laid in the corridors – specially woven with a border that follows the elliptic curve of the building in the largest single woven design in the world. The works included a major rebuilding of the great organ, originally built by "Father" Henry Willis in 1871 and rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison in 1924 and 1933.

The current work was performed by Mander Organs between 2002 and 2004 and the organ is now again the second largest pipe organ in the British Isles with 9,999 pipes in 147 stops. The largest is the Grand Organ in Liverpool Cathedral which has 10,268 pipes. The hall, a Grade I listed building,[9] is an ellipse in plan, with major and minor axes of 83 m (272 ft) and 72 m (236 ft). The great glass and wrought-iron dome roofing the hall is 41 m (135 ft) high. It was originally designed with a capacity for 8,000 people and has accommodated as many as 9,000 (although modern safety restrictions mean that the maximum permitted capacity is now 5,544 including standing in the Gallery). Around the outside of the hall is a great mosaic frieze, depicting "The Triumph of Arts and Sciences", in reference to the Hall's dedication.

Proceeding anti-clockwise from the north side the sixteen subjects of the frieze are: (1) Various Countries of the World bringing in their Offerings to the Exhibition of 1851; (2) Music; (3) Sculpture; (4) Painting; (5) Princes, Art Patrons and Artists; (6) Workers in Stone; (7) Workers in Wood and Brick; (8) Architecture; (9) The Infancy of the Arts and Sciences; (10) Agriculture; (11) Horticulture and Land Surveying; (12) Astronomy and Navigation; (13) A Group of Philosophers, Sages and Students; (14) Engineering; (15) The Mechanical Powers; and (16) Pottery and Glassmaking. Above the frieze is an inscription in 12 in (300 mm) terracotta letters that combine historical fact and Biblical quotations: "This hall was erected for the advancement of the arts and sciences and works of industry of all nations in fulfilment of the intention of Albert Prince Consort. The site was purchased with the proceeds of the Great Exhibition of the year MDCCCLI.

The first stone of the Hall was laid by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the twentieth day of May MDCCCLXVII and it was opened by Her Majesty the Twenty Ninth of March in the year MDCCCLXXI. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. The wise and their works are in the hand of God. Glory be to God on high and on earth peace." Since its opening by Queen Victoria on 29 March 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has played host to over 150,000 different events and has been affectionately titled "The Nation's Village Hall". The first concert at the Hall was Arthur Sullivan's cantata, On Shore and Sea, which was performed on 1 May 1871. Many events are promoted by the Royal Albert Hall themselves, whilst Raymond Gubbay promotes over 70 events a year, having brought a range of events since the early 1970s, including opera, ballet and classical music.

Some events include classical and rock concerts, conferences, ballroom dancing, poetry recitals, education, motor shows, marathons, ballet, opera and circus shows. It has hosted sporting events, including boxing, wrestling (including the first Sumo wrestling tournament to be held in London as well as UFC 38 (the first UFC event to be held in the UK) and tennis. Royal Albert Hall Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP Now playing in Royal Albert Hall Why should you visit Royal Albert Hall, London? The Royal Albert Hall is an arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941. The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable the world over. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. Each year it hosts more than 350 performances including classical concerts, rock and pop, ballet and opera, tennis, award ceremonies, school and community events, charity performances and lavish banquets.

The Hall was originally supposed to have been called The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed by Queen Victoria to Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences when laying the foundation stone as a dedication to her deceased husband and consort Prince Albert. It forms the practical part of a national memorial to the Prince Consort - the decorative part is the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, now separated from the Hall by the heavy traffic along Kensington Gore. HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL In 1851 the Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park, London, for which the so-called Crystal Palace was built. The exhibition was a great success and led Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, to propose that a permanent series of facilities be built in the area for the enlightenment of the public. Progress on the scheme was slow and in 1861 Prince Albert died, without having seen his ideas come to fruition. However, a memorial was proposed for Hyde Park, with a Great Hall opposite. The proposal was approved and the site was purchased with some of the profits from the Exhibition.

Once the remaining funds had been raised, in April 1867 Queen Victoria signed the Royal Charter of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences which was to operate the Hall and on 20 May, laid the foundation stone. The Royal Albert Hall was designed by Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y.D. Scott of the Royal Engineers and built by Lucas Brothers. The designers were heavily influenced by ancient amphitheatres, but had also been exposed to the ideas of Gottfried Semper while he was working at the South Kensington Museum. The recently opened Cirque d'Hiver in Paris was seen in the contemporary press as the design to outdo. The Hall was constructed mainly of Fareham Red brick, with terra cotta block decoration made by Gibbs and Canning Limited of Tamworth. The dome (designed by Rowland Mason Ordish) on top was made of steel and glazed. There was a trial assembly made of the steel framework of the dome in Manchester, then it was taken apart again and transported down to London via horse and cart. When the time came for the supporting structure to be removed from the dome after re-assembly in situ, only volunteers remained on site in case the structure dropped.

It did drop - but only by five-eighths of an inch. The Hall was scheduled to be completed by Christmas Day 1870 and the Queen visited a few days beforehand to inspect. She was reported as saying "It looks like the British Constitution". The official opening ceremony of the Royal Albert Hall was on 29 March 1871. After a welcoming speech by Edward, the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria was too overcome to speak, so the Prince had to announce that "The Queen declares this Hall is now open". A concert followed, when the Hall's acoustic problems became immediately apparent. These were not properly tackled until 1969 when a series of large fibreglass acoustic diffusing discs (commonly referred to as "mushrooms" or "flying saucers") were installed in the roof to cut down the notorious echo. It used to be said that the hall was the only place where a British composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. Initially lit by gas (when thousands of gas jets were lit by a special system within 10 seconds), full electric lighting was installed in 1897.

During an earlier trial when a partial installation was made, one disgruntled patron wrote to The Times newspaper declaring it to be " a very ghastly and unpleasant innovation". In 1936, the Hall was the scene of a giant rally celebrating the British Empire, the occasion being the centenary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth. The Hall has more recently undergone a rolling programme (1996 - 2004) of renovation and development to enable it to meet the demands of the next century of events and performances. Thirty "discrete projects" were undertaken by BDP without disrupting events. Although the exterior of the building is largely unchanged, the south steps leading down to Prince Consort Road were demolished to allow reconstruction of the original underground vehicle access to take modern vehicles. The steps were then reconstructed around a new south porch on the same scale and in the same style as the three pre-existing porches: these works were undertaken by Taylor Woodrow Construction.

The works included a major rebuilding of the great organ, originally built by "Father" Henry Willis, subsequently rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison and most recently rebuilt by Mander Organs; The organ is now again the second largest pipe organ in the British Isles with 9,999 pipes (Liverpool Cathedral has 10,268). Powered By Subgurim( Google Maps ASP.NET Find a show Royal Albert Hall, London | OpenBuildings Royal Albert Hall, London Our community will learn because of you. References Wikipedia , licensed under the GFDL Suggestions View original size Report The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated in the South Kensington area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941. The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable all over the world. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. It also hosts the annual graduation ceremony of the renowned Imperial College London.

Each year it hosts more than 350 performances including classical concerts, rock and pop, ballet and opera, tennis, award ceremonies, community events, charity performances and lavish banquets. The hall was originally supposed to have been called The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, but the name was changed by Queen Victoria to Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences when laying the foundation stone as a dedication to her deceased husband and consort Prince Albert. It forms the practical part of a national memorial to the Prince Consort – the decorative part is the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, now separated from the Hall by the heavy traffic along Kensington Gore. History In 1851, the Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park, London, for which the so-called Crystal Palace was built. The exhibition was a great success and led Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, to propose that a permanent series of facilities be built in the area for the enlightenment of the public. Progress on the scheme was slow and in 1861 Prince Albert died, without having seen his ideas come to fruition. However, a memorial was proposed for Hyde Park, with a Great Hall opposite. The proposal was approved and the site was purchased with some of the profits from the Exhibition.

Once the remaining funds had been raised, in April 1867 Queen Victoria signed the Royal Charter of the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences which was to operate the Hall and on 20 May, laid the foundation stone. The hall was designed by civil engineers Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y.D. Scott of the Royal Engineers and built by Lucas Brothers. The designers were heavily influenced by ancient amphitheatres, but had also been exposed to the ideas of Gottfried Semper while he was working at the South Kensington Museum. The recently opened Cirque d'Hiver in Paris was seen in the contemporary press as the design to outdo. The hall was constructed mainly of Fareham Red brick, with terra cotta block decoration made by Gibbs and Canning Limited of Tamworth. The dome (designed by Rowland Mason Ordish) on top was made of wrought iron and glazed. There was a trial assembly made of the iron framework of the dome in Manchester, then it was taken apart again and transported to London via horse and cart. When the time came for the supporting structure to be removed from the dome after re-assembly in situ, only volunteers remained on site in case the structure dropped.

It did drop – but only by five-eighths of an inch. The hall was scheduled to be completed by Christmas Day 1870 and the Queen visited a few days beforehand to inspect. She was reported as saying "It looks like the British Constitution". The official opening ceremony of the Royal Albert Hall was on 29 March 1871. After a welcoming speech by Edward, the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria was too overcome to speak, so the Prince had to announce that "The Queen declares this Hall is now open". A concert followed, when the Hall's acoustic problems became immediately apparent. Engineers first attempted to solve the acoustical problem by suspending a canvas awning below the dome. This helped and also provided relief to concertgoers from the sun. A 1949 attempt removed the awning and replaced the glass dome with aluminium panels; however, the acoustics were not properly tackled until 1969 when a series of large fibreglass acoustic diffusing discs (commonly referred to as "mushrooms" or "flying saucers") were installed below the ceiling to reduce the notorious echo.

It used to be said that the hall was the only place where a British composer could be sure of hearing his work twice. Initially lit by gas, the hall contained a special system where its thousands of gas jets were lit within ten seconds. Though it was demonstrated as early as 1873 in the Hall, full electric lighting was not installed until 1888. During an early trial when a partial installation was made, one disgruntled patron wrote to The Times newspaper declaring it to be "a very ghastly and unpleasant innovation". In 1936, the Hall was the scene of a giant rally celebrating the British Empire, the occasion being the centenary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth. In October 1942, the Hall suffered minor damage during World War II bombing but was left mostly untouched as German pilots used the distinctive structure as a landmark. Renovation and redevelopment Between 1996 and 2004 the Royal Albert Hall underwent a programme of renovation and development supported by a £20 million (roughly $32 million US) grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable it to meet the demands of the next century of events and performances.

Thirty "discrete projects" were designed and supervised by BDP without disrupting events. These projects included improving ventilation to the auditorium, more bars and restaurants, new improved seating, better technical facilities and more modern backstage areas. The largest project was the building of a new south porch – door 12, accommodating a restaurant, new box office and below a new delivery area. Although the exterior of the building was largely unchanged, the south steps leading down to Prince Consort Road were demolished to allow construction of an underground vehicle access and accommodation for 3 HGVs carrying all the equipment brought by shows. The steps were then reconstructed around a new south porch on the same scale and in the same style as the three pre-existing porches: these works were undertaken by Taylor Woodrow Construction. The original steps featured in early scenes of 1965 film The Ipcress File. On 4 June 2004, the project received the Europa Nostra Award for remarkable achievement. The East and West porches were glazed and new bars opened along with ramps to improve disabled access. Internally the Circle was rebuilt in four weeks in June 1996 providing more leg room, better access and improved sight lines.

The Stalls were rebuilt in a four week period in 2000 using steel supports allowing more space underneath for two new bars. 1534 unique pivoting seats were laid – with an addition of 180 prime seats. The Choirs were rebuilt at the same time. The whole building was redecorated in a style that reinforces the buildings Victorian identity. New carpets were laid in the corridors – specially woven with a border that follows the elliptic curve of the building in the largest single woven design in the world. The works included a major rebuilding of the great organ, originally built by "Father" Henry Willis in 1871 and rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison in 1924 and 1933. The current work was performed by Mander Organs between 2002 and 2004 and the organ is now again the second largest pipe organ in the British Isles with 9,999 pipes in 147 stops. Liverpool Cathedral has 10,268 pipes.

Design The hall, a Grade I listed building, is an ellipse in plan, with major and minor axes of 83 m (272 ft) and 72 m (236 ft). The great glass and wrought-iron dome roofing the hall is 41 m (135 ft) high. It was originally designed with a capacity for 8,000 people and has accommodated as many as 9,000 (although modern safety restrictions mean that the maximum permitted capacity is now 5,544 including standing in the Gallery). Around the outside of the hall is a great mosaic frieze, depicting "The Triumph of Arts and Sciences", in reference to the Hall's dedication.

Proceeding anti-clockwise from the north side the sixteen subjects of the frieze are: (1) Various Countries of the World bringing in their Offerings to the Exhibition of 1851; (2) Music; (3) Sculpture; (4) Painting; (5) Princes, Art Patrons and Artists; (6) Workers in Stone; (7) Workers in Wood and Brick; (8) Architecture; (9) The Infancy of the Arts and Sciences; (10) Agriculture; (11) Horticulture and Land Surveying; (12) Astronomy and Navigation; (13) A Group of Philosophers, Sages and Students; (14) Engineering; (15) The Mechanical Powers; and (16) Pottery and Glassmaking. Above the frieze is an inscription in 12 in (300 mm) terracotta letters that combine historical fact and Biblical quotations: "This hall was erected for the advancement of the arts and sciences and works of industry of all nations in fulfilment of the intention of Albert Prince Consort. The site was purchased with the proceeds of the Great Exhibition of the year MDCCCLI.

The first stone of the Hall was laid by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the twentieth day of May MDCCCLXVII and it was opened by Her Majesty the Twenty Ninth of March in the year MDCCCLXXI. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. The wise and their works are in the hand of God. Glory be to God on high and on earth peace." Events Since its opening by Queen Victoria on 29 March 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has played host to over 150,000 different events and has been affectionately titled "The Nation's Village Hall". The first concert at the Hall was Arthur Sullivan's cantata, On Shore and Sea, which was performed on 1 May 1871. Many events are promoted by the Royal Albert Hall themselves, whilst Raymond Gubbay promotes over 70 events a year, having brought a range of events since the early 1970s, including opera, ballet and classical music.

Some events include classical and rock concerts, conferences, ballroom dancing, poetry recitals, education, motor shows, marathons, ballet, opera and circus shows. It has hosted sporting events, including boxing, wrestling (including the first Sumo wrestling tournament to be held in London as well as UFC 38 (the first UFC event to be held in the UK) and tennis. American singer Bob Dylan concluded his world tour by performing two shows on May 26 and 27 1966. It was several years until Dylan toured again. After Sandie Shaw won the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, the BBC hosted the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest at the Royal Albert Hall. Miss World Pageant finals were held at the Royal Albert Hall from 1969 to 1988. Roger Daltrey of The Who has been intimately involved with the Teenage Cancer Trust which holds annual charity concerts at expected to continue until 2012. The American rock band The Killers performed two shows on 5 and 6 July 2009, that were recorded for the DVD Live From The Royal Albert Hall.

The DVD was packaged with a CD and was released on 6 November of the same year and earned a rating of five stars and the "best rock dvd of the decade" by Starpulse. Swedish prog-death metal band Opeth also filmed its 20th anniversary DVD In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, covering two sets: its breakthrough album, Blackwater Park, in its entirety, and a chronologically-arranged set of one song from each of its other eight albums. Regular events The BBC Promenade Concerts, known as "The Proms" is a popular annual eight-week summer season of daily classical music concerts and other events held at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1942, following the destruction of the Queen's Hall in an air raid, the Royal Albert hall was chosen as the new venue for the proms. In 1944 with increased danger to the hall, part of the proms were held in the Bedford Corn Exchange. Following the end of World War II the proms continued in the Royal Albert Hall and have done so annually in summer since then.

The event was founded in 1895, and now each season consists of over 70 concerts, in addition to a series of events at other venues across the United Kingdom on the last night. In 2009, the total number of concerts reached 100 for the first time. Jiří Bělohlávek described The Proms as "the world's largest and most democratic musical festival" of all such events in the world of classical music festivals. Proms is short for promenade concerts, a term which arose from the original practice of audience members promenading, or strolling, in some areas of the concert hall during the concert. Proms concert-goers, particularly those who stand, are sometimes described as "Promenaders", but are most commonly referred to as "Prommers". The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, is held annually the day before Remembrance Sunday. The Royal Albert Hall is also used annually by the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London for graduation ceremonies. Kingston University also held its graduation ceremonies at the Royal Albert Hall until 2008, but have since relocated to the new Rose Theatre, Kingston upon its completion.

Since 1998 the English National Ballet has had several specially staged arena summer seasons in partnership with the Royal Albert Hall and Raymond Gubbay. These include Strictly Gershwin, June 2008 and 2011, Swan Lake in-the-round, June 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010, Romeo & Juliet (Deane), June 2001 and 2005 and The Sleeping Beauty, April – June 2000. Regular performers Eric Clapton has become synonymous with the Royal Albert Hall, as it has played host to his concerts almost annually for over 20 years. It was also the venue for his band Cream's farewell concerts in 1968 and reunion shows in 2005. Clapton has cited it as his favourite venue to play in the world. He also instigated the Concert for George, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall on 29 November 2002 to pay tribute to Clapton's life-long friend, former Beatle George Harrison.

Many of Clapton's DVD releases were recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall, e.g. 24 nights (CD and DVD), Cream farewell, Cream reunion (CD and DVD) and Concert for George. Shirley Bassey has often sung at the Royal Albert Hall, usually as a special guest at large events. In 2007, Bassey performed in Fashion Rocks in aid of the Prince's Trust. On 30 March 2011, she sang at a gala celebrating the 80th birthday of Mikhail Gorbachev. She also performed at the Classical Brit Awards in May 2011, singing Goldfinger in tribute to the recently deceased composer John Barry. On 20 June 2011, Bassey returned to perform Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as the climax to the memorial concert for John Barry. Trivia A famous and widely bootlegged concert by Bob Dylan at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester on 17 May 1966 was mistakenly labelled the "Royal Albert Hall Concert". In 1998, Columbia Records released an official recording, The Bootleg Series Vol.

4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert, that maintains the erroneous title, but does include details of the actual concert location. Dylan actually did close his European tour on 26 and 27 May of that year; these were his last concerts before Dylan got into a motorcycle accident and became a recluse for a brief period of time. Another concert that was mislabelled as being at the Royal Albert Hall was by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). An album by CCR entitled The Royal Albert Hall Concert was released in 1980. When Fantasy Records discovered that the show on the album actually took place at the Oakland Coliseum, it retitled the album The Concert. The Beatles song "A Day In The Life" mentions the Royal Albert Hall, as does the character Nowhere Man in the Beatles' movie Yellow Submarine. Transport links The Royal Albert Hall (London, UK) – Orchestra For a New Century The Royal Albert Hall (London, UK) Posted: in London • UK The beautifully historical building was constructed during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Following the popularity of the Great Exhibition in 1851 the building was originally designed as a permanent fixture to host events for the arts and sciences and was officially opened by the Queen in 1871 under the new name ‘The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences’, in tribute to her recently deceased husband, the Prince Consort. During its long history the Royal Albert Hall as it is now known, has hosted a range of diverse events including orchestral, rock and pop, film premiers and theatrical performances. Most notably this venue plays host to a number of regular high profile events such as the BBC proms, Royal Choral Society, English National Ballet, Cirque du Soleil and the Festival of Remembrance. The interior is as beautiful as the outside with incredibly intricate work throughout. One thing that especially stands out, especially if you happen to be visiting on a winter day, are the cast iron Victorian radiators that line the halls, they really add to the appearance in contrast with a lot of venues that make do with modern fixtures and fittings. Located in of City of West Minister the hall is sited deep in the heart of London making it easy to reach for those wishing to visit and admire its sheer opulence.

Truly a ‘must see’ for anyone visiting the capital. The location itself is quite beautiful, set against the backdrop of Hyde Park and within easy reach of everything from other landmarks and attractions like the Victoria and Albert Museum to modern music venue the 100 Club. The University College Hospital is also nearby as is the premier private Lymhoma clinic in London and The British Museum. Surrounded by Knightsbridge, Kensington, Paddington, Marylebone, Mayfair and Soho there are a number of excellent restaurants and bars as well as convenient transport routes. Royal Albert Hall | Free Tours by Foot Private Tours Royal Albert Hall Tours One of the most famous concert venues in the entire world, the Royal Albert Hall sits in the west of London, on Kensington Gore in South Kensington. Opened to the public in 1871, the Hall quickly became one of the most high-profile musical venues in the country, hosting more than 350 events every year. Having played host to some of the biggest names in music through its’ 150-year career, the Royal Albert Hall is a must-visit for music lovers coming to London.

How to Get to Royal Albert Hall The closest London Underground stations are Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line) and South Kensington (Circle, District + Piccadilly lines). The Hall can also be reached by bus routes: 9, 10, 52, 70, 360, 452. We recommend using this Google map link for directions to Royal Albert Hall from anywhere in the London area. Be sure to read our post on tips for navigating the London Underground . Royal Albert Hall is located near several other London attractions, including Kensington Palace , Hyde Park, the Natural History Museum and several other sites. For more details on what you could pair with your visit to the Hall, consult our self-guided tour of Kensington and Hyde Park . Royal Albert Hall Tours and Visitor Information Performances: Throughout the year, as various different events and performances are held inside the Hall, visitors can book tickets online at Tours: For those wanting to visit the Hall, not as an audience spectator but as a tourist, the Hall is open for tours and exhibitions throughout the year. Guided tours are available to be booked via the Royal Albert Hall website.

Known os the Public Grand Tours, tours are led by highly-skilled guides who take visitors throughout the building including into the auditorium, the Queen’s Private suites and the Galleries. Tours last around an hour. During the BBC Proms season (18th July to 13th September, 2014) the tour focuses heavily on the history of the Proms tour and visitors are taken to the same areas of the building as in the standard guided-tour. Prices: Child – £5.25 Adult – £12.25 Concessions – £10.25 – 2 for 1 travel deal – through Oct 31, 2015, tours of Royal Albert Hall are part of the 2 for 1 travel deal. Click the link for more information on this deal. London Pass – admission to the tour is included in the London Pass. Discounts – check out Budget Guide to London, where we list our suggestions for discount sites that may have discounts for tours of the Hall Notes: Children under 5 are not permitted on tours during BBC Proms Season. Afternoon Tea can be added to your tour for a charge.

Groups of over 15 can pre-book private tours as well as Behind the Scenes Tours. Exhibitions: Randomly throughout the year, exhibitions will run at the Royal Albert Hall. These exhibitions are free for those who are attending a performance, or free to the general public on open days which will be detailed in advance on the Albert Hall website. Facilities The hall boasts six restaurants and 14 bars. These can be visited in accordance with opening hours and individual visitation access Creation After the success of the Great Exhibition in 1851 (a pinnacle of Victorian imperialism, the Great Exhibition was a showcase of wonders from all over the world, held in Hyde Park), Prince Albert – who was responsible for the Great Exhibition – proposed that a permanent venue should be built nearby to serve the continuing education and enlightenment of Victorian society. A series of buildings in the area were planned – becoming known as Albertopolis. Unfortunately, Albert died before his vision was realised and the Albert Memorial was added to the plans to commemorate the man who had begun the scheme of building education-centric structures in the Kensington area. Building Victoria signed the Royal Charter to found the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences on the 20th of May in 1867.

The Hall was designed by civil engineers Major-General Henry Y.D. Scott and Captain Francis Fowke. The two engineers had been influenced by ancient amphitheatres and was built to contest with the Cirque d’Hiver, a structure in Paris that was seen as the design for the engineers to now outdo. Actually Built by Lucas Brothers, the Hall is comprised mainly of Fareham Red brick and terra cotta, giving it the well-known rustic colouring. Building was finished and official opening took place on the 29th March 1871. At the grand opening, Queen Victoria was too overcome with emotion to speak, leaving the duty of a welcoming speech to her eldest son, Edward, the Prince of Wales. A concert to celebrate the opening followed the speech and it quickly became apparent that the Hall had serious acoustic problems, including a severe echo. Word rapidly spread that the Hall had acoustic difficulties and it became said that the Royal Albert Hall was “the only place where a British composer could be sure of hearing his work twice.” The problem of the echo was not, in fact, solved until 1969 when a group of large fibreglass discus were installed below the ceiling.

Renovation and Restoration Between 1996 and 2004 the Hall underwent a serious programme of redevelopment. A £20 million grant was given to the Hall to complete various necessary tasks including: improving ventilation, adding more bars and restaurants, improved seating, modernising the backstage areas, creating a new box office, and creating better technical facilities. Most of the renovation done was based internally which means the outside of the building has changed but a little from its’ original design. The renovation also included a major rebuilding of the original great organ inside the Hall. Built by Henry Williams in 1871, then rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison in 1924 AND 1923, the organ was rebuilt yet again by Mander Organs between 2002 and 2004. Today, the organ is the second largest pipe organ in the British Isles, boasting 9,997 pipes! Usage The Hall has played host to numerous musical acts throughout the decade as well as being used as somewhat of a showroom and an exhibition space. The first concert held here was on the 1st of May 1871 and was Arthur Sullivan’s On Shore and Sea.

Since then the Hall has seen poetry recitals, rock concerts, motor shows, ballet and opera, circus shows and sporting events, Cirque du Soleil performances, wrestling (including the first sumo wrestling tournament to be held in London!), as well as being used for filming by people such as Alfred Hitchcock. Perhaps most famously of all, the BBC Promenade Concerts (“The Proms”), an eight-week summer season of daily classical music concerts, has been held in the Hall since 1942. Annnually the Classic Brit Awards are held in the Hall as is the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance. Imperial College London, the Royal College of Art as well as Kingston University have used the Hall for their graduation ceremonies and the Hall has also hosted numerous film premiers: Skyfall and Titanic 3D being just a couple. Name The original plan for the building was for it to be named The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences. However, the name was changed by Queen Victoria as a dedication to her late husband, Prince Albert. She made the name change on the laying of the foundation stone and although today it is commonly referred to as the Royal Albert Hall, the full name of the venue is the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences.

Facts and Figures Dome Height: 41m (135ft) Capacity: Up to 9,000 although modern safety restrictions place it at a firm 5,544 Mosaic Frieze: Running along the outside of the building depicting “The Triumph of Arts and Sciences” Inscription: 12in letters running around the dome of the Hall read: This hall was erected for the advancement of the arts and sciences and works of industry of all nations in fulfilment with the intention of Albert Prince Consort. The site was purchased with the proceeds of the Great Exhibition of the year MDCCCLI. The first stone of the Hall was laid by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the twentieth day of May MDCCCLXVII and it was opened by Her Majesty the Twenty Ninth of March in the year MDCCCLXXI. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. For all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. The wise and their works are in the hand of God. Glory by to God on high and on earth peace.

Royal Albert Hall Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com 2 - Royal Albert Hall, London The Albert Hall at night The Albert Hall (official name: Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences), is a large building in the City of Westminster , London . It was opened in 1871, by Queen Victoria . The hall is dedicated to her husband, Albert, Prince Consort , who had died ten years earlier. It is an auditorium where events are held. The Albert Hall is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Events like concerts for classical music or pop music , ballet , even tennis or boxing matches, or large ceremonies or parties or conferences. In the summer the BBC Proms take place there every day. The Royal Albert Hall has been holding concerts since 1941. Contents 5 Other Websites The history of how it was built In the early 19th century the whole area was still countryside. In 1851, there was a Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, just next to Kensington Park opposite where the RAH now stands. The exhibition building, called Crystal Palace , was a glass building which was just there for the exhibition.

Prince Albert had the idea that public buildings should be built in the area for the arts and sciences . Some huge museums were built, including the Science Museum , Natural History Museum , Victoria and Albert Museum etc. When Prince Albert died in 1861 this plan had only just got started. The Royal Albert Hall was built and named after him. Queen Victoria laid the first stone. The Royal Albert Hall is very large. As many as 9,000 people used to get in, but now the safety rules make about 5,500 the usual number. It is round, like an Ancient Greek or Roman amphitheatre . This is why the floor area is called the “arena” (as in an amphitheatre). There is a very large glass and wrought-iron dome . It is 41m high. Round the outside, a little lower than the roof, there is a big mosaic frieze with pictures of "The Triumph of Arts and Sciences" and some writing in terracotta letters. It says that the first stone was laid by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on 20 May 1867 and was opened by her on 29 March 1871.

It also has some words from the Bible . When Queen Victoria opened the building she was so emotional that she could not speak. Her son Edward, the Prince of Wales had to say her words for her. He said: "The Queen declares this Hall is now open". The RAH throughout its history A promenade concert in the RAH The hall has been used for lots of important events ever since 1871. Many of the seats are still owned by members of a Corporation which was called “the Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences”. This group had been formed in 1866 as a charity to get money to build the hall. Its members still have a right to occupy 1,300 of the 5,200 seats. There was a problem with the sound because there was too much echo . It was not until 1969 that something was done about it. Big fibreglass dishes were hung from the ceiling. People who go to the RAH today call them “mushrooms” or sometimes “flying saucers”. They make music sound much better. There is a very large organ at the front of the hall.

It was built by an organ maker called Henry Willis and was later rebuilt by Harrison & Harrison and most recently by Mander Organs ; It is the biggest organ in the British Isles with 9,997 pipes. The Promenade Concerts which were started by Henry Wood in 1895 have taken place in the RAH ever since 1941 when the Queen's Hall was destroyed by bombs in World War II . For two months there is at least one concert every day, and people can be seen queuing for standing tickets all the way down the steps towards Prince Consort Road. People who go to the proms today can choose between standing in the arena (the flat area downstairs), or sitting in the stalls (the seats around the side of the arena), or sitting in the Loggia Boxes, Second Tier Boxes, Circle (upstairs), Choir (where the choir sit if there is one, i.e. behind the orchestra) or standing in the gallery (at the very top). For some events such as tennis matches or ballets or operas the action takes place in the arena, so audience do not sit or stand there.

Recent improvements During the last few years a lot of money has been spent on improving the Royal Albert Hall. The 1,800 seats in the balcony (now called the “Circle”) were very uncomfortable, so new seats were put in which are slightly bigger. The south entrance has been made into the main entrance (as it was years ago), with a porch to match the north entrance. The area south of the hall has been blocked off to traffic and pedestrianised . Dressing rooms (where artists change) are now on stage level instead of down in a basement. There is an underground car park and loading area so that lorries bringing things do not need to unload in the street and get in the way of the people. Lots of other improvements have been made, including better ventilation . Other pages The UK 1871 Census - 1871 News The UK 1871 Census 1871 News The Royal Albert Hall Opens Prince Albert's vision to create an area in London dedicated to the Arts & Sciences' has finally come to fruition. The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences official opening ceremony took place on 29th March 1871.

After a welcoming speech by the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria was too emotional to speak, so the Prince had to announce that "The Queen declares this Hall is now open". The building is Italian Renaissance in style, and was designed by Messrs. Fowke & Scott. Its ornamentation of coloured brick and terracotta is most effective, and the frieze, representing the nations of the world, is well worthy of the famous artists who were engaged upon it. Half of the cost of the building, or £100,000, was defrayed by public subscription, and £50,000 was contributed out of the profits of the Great Exhibition of 1851. 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' H.M. Stanley, an American journalist, who was sent by his newspaper, the New York Herald, to find Livingstone, Scotland's most famous missionary and explorer, finally met him at Ujiji in October 1871 with the words 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?'. Stanley brought with him much needed medicine and supplies and the two became firm friends. Stanley's attempts to get him to return home were unsuccessful and Livingstone is carrying on his explorations.

Livingstone has already travelled more than 45,000 kilometres in Africa and mapped thousands of kilometres, much of which was previously unexplored by Europeans. Board Schools Rule Since 1870 Voluntary Schools have declined in number (except Roman Catholic Schools) because Board Schools provide better buildings and higher pay for teachers. The Education Act of 1870, also known as the "Forster Act", has given rise to a national system of state education and also assured the existence of a dual system - voluntary denominational schools and non-denominational state schools. The act has established elementary schools nationwide to supplement those already run by the churches, private individuals and guilds. School Boards have been elected to raise sufficient funds to maintain the schools in areas of the country where there was inadequate provision. Women are allowed to vote for the School Boards and are also granted the right to be candidates to serve on the them. These elementary schools are non-denominational and religious instruction, whilst being an integral part of the school curriculum, is not compulsory. The School Boards can charge a weekly fee not exceeding 9 pence or, if they want, let children in free.

They have to guarantee attendance for all children in their respective districts between the ages of 5 and 13. Some School Boards have appointed officers to enforce attendance. SPORT An Homage to W.G. Grace At 23, W.G. Grace is one of the most promising British athletes. His preponderance as a batsman has come astonishingly quickly. At 17, he played for the Gentlemen v the Players and the Gentlemen won for the first time in nineteen years. Thereafter for many summers they scarcely lost. This year alone, W.G. scored 2,739 runs, a figure unapproached so far. Football Results: England FA Challenge Cup 1871-72 Quarter-finals Caro Emerald Royal Albert Hall Tickets | Caro Emerald at Royal Albert Hall, London | See Tickets £27.50 (£25.00) Transaction fee applicable * Tickets not available Where we provide a seating plan for events, every effort is made to show you correct information. However, we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of our seating plans in case of short term or venue specific changes due to production requirements.

Seating plans are generally provided as a guide only and are not an exact representation of the seating layout at the venue. Contact venue for tickets More information about Caro Emerald tickets Venue Information Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is one of the world's most famous stages. Its breath-taking auditorium hosts over 380 shows a year by the world's greatest artists across all genres. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events. Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert's vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public revenue funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events annually outside the auditorium in the state-of-the-art Elgar Room, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences. It also has regular daytime tours and works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme. For more information, visit Registered charity number: 254543. FOOD AND DRINK The Hall also offers six dining spaces and 14 bars for customers attending performances at the Hall.

These open two hours before the performance giving you plenty of time to eat and drink at the Hall before the show. To find out more about the Hall's food and drink and pre-book a table, please visit or call the Box Office on 020 7589 8212. Transport By Tube South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly Lines) and High Street Kensington (District and Circle Lines) are the closest Underground stations to the Hall. Walking to the Hall takes approximately 10 minutes from both stations. By Train London Victoria is the nearest National Rail train station. By Car The Royal Albert Hall is located in South Kensington, facing onto Hyde Park. The address is Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. Strict parking controls are in operation in the vicinity of the Hall. They offer some parking spaces at nearby Imperial College. Spaces are £10.20 (including a £0.20 Card Handling Fee) and must be booked in advance through Gates open from 6pm for evening shows and from 1pm for weekend matinees (please note you may be refused entry if you arrive before those times). Please note that parking is not available for weekday matinee performances.

Entrances to the car park are on Prince Consort Road and Exhibition Road. (Sat Nav Postcode: SW7 2BX). By Taxi Black cabs can usually be hailed from Kensington Gore, outside the front of the building. By Bus 9 - Aldwych to Hammersmith, stopping on Kensington Gore outside the Hall. 10 - King's Cross Station to Hammersmith, stopping on Kensington Gore outside the Hall. 52 - Victoria to Willesden stopping on Kensington Gore outside the Hall. 70 - Acton to South Kensington, stopping on Queen's Gate, 2 minutes walk from the Hall. 360 - Elephant & Castle to the Hall, stopping on Prince Consort Road, 1 minute walk from the Hall. 452 - Wandsworth Road Station to Kensal Rise stopping on Kensington Gore outside the Hall. Accessibility Number of Steps The Hall has many stepped entrances at Ground level. Ramped access is located at Doors 1, 3, 8, 9 and 12. Public lifts are located at Doors 1 and 8 and serve all levels from Basement to Gallery. The Arena Foyer bars can be accessed via a platform lift from the Basement level at Door 1.

Wheelchair Access Fourteen wheelchair spaces with adjacent companion seats are situated in the Stalls at Ground floor level. They have a limited number of chairs that can be elevated which may be used by customers seated at the back of the Stalls platforms who are able to transfer from their wheelchair. If you are interested in this facility, please speak to a Steward on arrival. There are also six wheelchair spaces in the Circle at sections P, R, V and X and four spaces within the unreserved standing area of the Gallery. Please note that due to the physical limitations of the circular shape of the auditorium, the spaces in the Circle are more suitable for customers with good upper body mobility. Hearing Systems The auditorium has an infra-red system with a number of personal headsets for use with or without hearing aids. Guide Dogs If you have a guide dog, the best place to sit in the Royal Albert Hall is in a Loggia or Second Tier Box, where your dog may stay with you. If you are sitting elsewhere, stewards will be happy to look after your dog while you enjoy the concert. Please call the Access Information Line on 020 7838 3110 to organise in advance of your visit. General Access Info

Question: The Hall of Arts and Sciences that was opened in 1871 is better known now as what?
Answer: The Royal Albert Hall