Royal Albert Hall, Concert hall in South Kensington, London, England
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall in South Kensington with an oval shape and a large glass dome rising above the space. Inside, the seating spreads across several tiers arranged around a central arena, with capacity for more than 5000 people.
Queen Victoria opened the building in 1871 and named it after her late husband Prince Albert, who had supported plans for a cultural venue in the area. Over the decades, the space has hosted boxing matches, balls and conferences alongside concerts, adapting to different public needs.
The BBC Proms have been held here every summer since 1941, ending with the Last Night of the Proms, broadcast worldwide on radio and television. The hall also hosts the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, attended by the whole royal family, and the Imperial College London graduation ceremony. More than 10,000 letter 'A's for Albert are set into the balustrades and stair rails.
Guided tours of the building run during the day and show the main spaces, galleries and backstage areas. Access is available at ground level, and staff can assist with any particular requirements visitors may have.
Large mushroom-shaped deflectors hang from the ceiling, installed in the late 1960s to reduce troublesome echoes that interfered with performances. These visible elements look unusual in a 19th-century space but serve an important acoustic function.
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