Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the most iconic venues in London, famed for its grand design, historic legacy, and world-class events. Located in the heart of South Kensington, the Royal Albert Hall London has hosted everything from classical concerts and ballet to boxing matches and film screenings. With its unmistakable circular structure and soaring dome, the Royal Albert Hall combines architectural splendour with exceptional acoustics and a versatile performance space.

Since its opening in 1871, the venue has been home to countless legendary moments. Today, the Royal Albert Hall continues to draw global stars and diverse audiences, staging more than 350 events each year, including the world-famous BBC Proms. Whether you’re seeing a rock concert or a symphony orchestra, the Royal Albert Hall offers an unforgettable cultural experience in a truly spectacular setting. Have our read of our Best Seats Guide to help you decide where to sit.

The History of Royal Albert Hall

Commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her late husband Prince Albert, the Royal Albert Hall was originally intended as the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences. Opened in 1871, the venue quickly became a symbol of Victorian ambition and cultural grandeur. Its unique round shape and glass-domed roof made it an architectural marvel of its time.

Early performances were marred by poor acoustics, which weren’t fully resolved until the installation of the famous "mushroom" diffusers in 1969. Over the decades, the Royal Albert Hall London has played host to major events—from Verdi’s Requiem to Muhammad Ali’s boxing matches. Despite several renovations, the Royal Albert Hall retains its original charm and continues to serve as a national stage for music, sport, celebration, and innovation.

Where is Royal Albert Hall?

The Royal Albert Hall is located in South Kensington, at Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP. It sits beside Hyde Park and directly opposite the Royal College of Music. Nearby landmarks include the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The venue is well-connected by public transport, walking routes, and cycling paths. Visitors can reach the Royal Albert Hall from central London via the Piccadilly, Circle, and District lines. The area is also served by regular bus routes, and cycling docks are available close by. Allow extra time during peak hours, especially for high-profile events.

Royal Albert Hall Nearest Tube

The Royal Albert Hall nearest tube stations are:

  • South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle, District lines) – approx. 10-minute walk
  • Gloucester Road (Piccadilly, Circle, District lines) – approx. 12-minute walk From either station, follow signs to the museum district, then walk north through Exhibition Road or Queen's Gate to reach the Hall.

Royal Albert Hall Nearest Train Station

The nearest mainline train station is London Victoria, which is a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride from the Royal Albert Hall. Alternatively, travellers can take the Underground (District line) from Victoria to South Kensington and walk from there.

Buses to Royal Albert Hall

Several day and night bus routes stop near the Royal Albert Hall:

  • Daytime routes: 9, 23, 52, 360, 452
  • Night buses: N9, N52 The closest bus stops are on Kensington Gore and Prince Consort Road. From either stop, it’s a 1–2 minute walk to the venue’s main entrance.

Royal Albert Hall Accessibility

The Royal Albert Hall offers step-free access via Door 12 and lifts to most auditorium levels. There are wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, induction loops, and captioned and signed performances available throughout the year.

Royal Albert Hall Safety Policy

Visitors must pass through security checks on arrival. Large bags and suitcases are not permitted. The venue encourages contactless payments and pre-ordering refreshments to reduce congestion. For the most up-to-date information, visit the official Royal Albert Hall website before attending.

Royal Albert Hall Dress Code

There is no formal dress code at the Royal Albert Hall. Smart casual is widely accepted for most events, though some gala performances or classical concerts may see attendees opting for more formal attire. Comfortable footwear is recommended due to the size of the venue. Read our What To Wear guide to find out more.

Royal Albert Hall Notable Productions

Over its long history, the Royal Albert Hall has welcomed landmark performances such as The Beatles Live at the Albert, Verdi’s Requiem, Cirque du Soleil, Eric Clapton’s Residency, and The Phantom of the Opera in Concert. Its stage has hosted legends across all genres.

Royal Albert Hall Seating Plan

The Royal Albert Hall seating plan shows a capacity of around 5,200 seats spread across multiple tiers, including the Arena, Stalls, Circle, and Gallery. The in-the-round layout means audiences are never far from the stage, with exceptional Royal Albert Hall seat views from almost every section.

Premium seating in the Stalls and Boxes offers luxury and proximity, while Circle and Gallery seats provide elevated views of the performance. Accessibility is excellent throughout the venue, and the Royal Albert Hall seating plan is available online to help audiences find the best option for their visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cirque du Soleil: OVO is the current production at Royal Albert Hall. The latest booking period for Cirque du Soleil: OVO at Royal Albert Hall started 09/01/2018 19:30:00 and runs until 01/02/2026 17:30:00. Tickets for Cirque du Soleil: OVO start at £57 and are available to book now.

Royal Albert Hall is located in London. The full address is Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP.

No, there is no formal dress code at the Royal Albert Hall. Guests are welcome to wear whatever they feel comfortable in, whether it’s jeans and trainers or more formal attire like a tuxedo or an evening dress.

The nearest underground stations to the Royal Albert Hall are South Kensington (Circle, District, and Piccadilly) and High Street Kensington (Circle and District).

The rausing circle in the Royal Albert Hall is located one level above the Second Tier boxes, offering a great view of the stage, while remaining a decent option for those looking for more affordable tickets.

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

South Kensington

Closest Train Station

Victoria

Dance

Cirque du Soleil: Kurios

Cirque du Soleil returns to the Royal Albert Hall with Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities!

Concert

Diana Krall

Canadian jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall returns to the Royal Albert Hall with her Wallflower World Tour.

Concert

Film Music Gala

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra return with their phenomenal film music extravaganza.

Concert

Bryn Terfel at 50

Legendary Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel celebrates his 50th birthday with a special one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

Grand Organ Gala

10,000 organ pipes in glorious harmony.

Concert

Elgar at the Royal Albert Hall

Concert

Space Spectacular

Experience the Royal Albert Hall but not as you know it!

Concert

John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra

The John Wilson Orchestra return with a sensational new show celebrating the genius of George Gershwin.

Concert

Star Trek: Ultimate Voyage

An exciting new concert experience featuring the greatest music and visuals from five decades of Star Trek.

Concert

Iolanta in Concert

Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko will make her much anticipated return to the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

Classic FM Live

Ji Liu and Sir James Galway join us at another unforgettable evening of classical favourites, accompanied by stunning lights and fireworks.

Concert

Bob Dylan

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has announced a run of Royal Albert Hall concerts.

Concert

National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain

The annual national brass band championships return to the Hall, with the nation's top brass bands battling for the Challenge Trophy.

Concert

An Intimate Evening with Art Garfunkel

Following his triumphant return to these shores last year, Art Garfunkel is back

Concert

Swan Lake

Dancers from English National Ballet perform in Derek Deane's critically acclaimed production of Swan Lake.

Concert

BLTM Gala Concert

A musical celebration involving over 500 young musicians from the High Wycombe Music Centre.

Concert

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra

The inimitable Jools Holland returns for two nights of boogie-woogie partying with his sensational Rhythm & Blues Orchestra & guests.

Concert

Pete Townsend's Classic Quardophenia

Guitarist Pete Townshend presents a new orchestral version of one of The Who's landmark albums.

Concert

Messiah from Scratch

The world's most celebrated choral participation event returns to the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

Lucha Libre in the Royal Albert Hall

For one night only, the Royal Albert Hall will host the mythical, dangerous, acrobatic and heroic world of Mexico's masked wrestlers.

Concert

The Cat Empire

The globally-popular Australian band return to the London stage for a debut Royal Albert Hall performance.

Concert

Squeeze

The enduring British pop heroes return as part of a tour celebrating the release of their first album of since 1988.

Concert

Berlioz's Grande Messe des Morts

One almighty concert featuring Berlioz's Grande Messe des Morts.

Concert

The Music of Bond

In this year's Friendship Matinee celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Concert

The Scratch Youth Messiah

Over 1,000 young voices from The Really Big Youth Chorus in a performance of Messiah.

Concert

Ratatouille in Concert

Pixar's 2007 animated comedy adventure will be celebrated live in a HD screening with a live orchestra this October half term

Concert

John Rutter Christmas Celebration

Concert

Khon

60 Thai performers, and their stunningly beautiful costumes, bring Khōn to London.

Concert

Theatre Train Presents: How to make a Hero

A fast-moving show exploring the stories of the Ancient Greeks.

Concert

The Bootleg Beatles

The Bootleg Beatles return to the Hall with their note-perfect recreation of hits from every era of the world's most famous songbook.

Concert

Steven Wilson

The multi-instrumentalist and producer delivers two entirely different shows across two days.

Concert

Classical Spectacular

The UK's most popular classical music show returns to the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

The Music of Youth Proms Concert

Music being performed by more than 3,000 of the UK's most talented young musicians

Concert

Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp

Roger Hodgson, the legendary songwriter and singer, formerly of Supertramp, returns for another magical evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

A Gala for St. George

Celebrate England's national day with a selection of favourite English songs, poems and readings.

Concert

Carmina Burana

Orff's towering masterpiece Carmina Burana crowns an evening of superb music.

Concert

Back to the Future Live in Concert

Celebrate a worldwide cultural phenomenon in this screening of Back to the Future with a live orchestral accompaniment.

Concert

Lead Belly Fest

Concert

Beethoven's Ninth

5.01 reviews

Concert

Gordon Lightfoot

Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot will return to the Royal Albert Hall in 2016

Concert

Frank Sinatra Jr - Sinatra sings Sinatra

Frank Sinatra Jr. performs some of the best-loved songs made famous by his father

Concert

Cliff Richard: 75th Birthday UK Tour

Cliff Richard returns to the Hall as part of his 75th Birthday Tour.

Concert

Nicola Benedetti

One of the most sought-after classical violinists in the world returns to the Royal Albert Hall.

Concert

Jonathan Lee

Jonathan Lee concludes his Better To Be An Old Man World Tour with a debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Musical

The Car Man

4.934 reviews

The Car Man comes to the Royal Albert Hall for 14 performances only!

Dance

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

4.437 reviews

Celebrate 40 years of Cirque du Soleil with Corteo!

Dance

Cirque du Soleil: Alegria

Step into the light with Cirque du Soleil’s most iconic production Alegria: In a New Light

Dance

Cirque du Soleil: Luzia

4.5148 reviews

Cirque du Soleil: Luzia is dream journey through Mexico

Dance

Cirque du Soleil: Totem

4.128 reviews

Journey into the Evolution of Mankind