Royal Albert Hall Tour Review

There are so many reasons why taking Royal Albert Hall Tour should be on your list of things to do in London.

Since living in London since 2013 I have taken it twice. The guides who conducted both tours were knowledgeable and passionate about the information. While some of it was the same in between the years I visited, the two tours did vary in what I was able to see, learn and do.

You could have a range of experiences too based on the day you visit. And to learn why- keep reading!

Who Should Take a Royal Albert Hall Tour

This London tour is perfect for adults who love music, history or film. And if you love Royal Things to Do in London– put it on your list! I wouldn’t recommend it for small children.

It’s especially interesting to pair with your tickets to a performance which may be that evening. I’ll explain more about why this would be really exciting for you later.

Also, it’s a great activity if you’re looking for things to do in London when it’s raining. There are many free museums nearby, so between the Royal Albert Hall tour and those- you’d have plenty to do!

And if you plan on getting the London Pass, this is also a great activity if you plan to be in the Kensington neighbourhood. 

The London Pass through GoCity

A list of other London Pass attractions to pair with the Royal Albert Hall Tour could be:

• Kensington Palace
• Royal Albert Hall
• Wellington Arch
• The King’s Gallery
• Royal Mews

Most important for you to think about if you want to pair this London tour with other attractions is that above listed ones aren’t all open every day.

So, you would need to figure out which day you were going to be in the Kensington area and research if it’s a day they’re operating. As in the case of Kensington Palace, if a popular exhibition has opened, it could be extremely crowded.

Also, there are specific days and times the Royal Albert Hall offers their tours. As with most things to do in London, I recommend you book in advance for the best experience.

In the past I paired it with a Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre tour in Southwark and two other attractions. You could do that too, but it would be quite a big day. 

Royal Albert Hall Tour: Need to Know

Both tours consisted of a small group of approximately 6-10 people. And the guides clearly stuck to a tight schedule for the one hour experience. 

Depending on what is happening that evening, you may or may not be able to take photos inside the hall. If there are musicians rehearsing, you will not be able to do this. On my second visit it seemed like a tech rehearsal was happening, so I have these images to share with you. 

Two people on the tour were attending the concert that evening. They had made the trip to London from another area of England specifically to see the performing artists. So, it was especially interesting for them to get a preview of the experience.

Your ticket entitles you to 10% off your order at the Royal Albert Hall Cafe Bar. But even if you’re planning a light snack before the tour, know that it will take them time to prepare it and bring it to your table. The tour starts promptly, so make sure you factor in extra time if you want to eat there before it starts.

A new addition on the second tour was a small device you wear as a lanyard. At first I thought this would be audio based and wasn’t thrilled. I wanted it to be more personal.

However, the device was just to give you an individual, up close look at any images to which the guide was going to refer. I haven’t had a tour anywhere provide something like this yet. This is a great addition because it means you aren’t peering over to see an image on an iPad with a glare while trying to piece together what a guide said with a quick glance at a photo.

What You’ll Experience

During the tour you will see the entrance for the Royal family when they attend performances. My second tour guide was very savvy and offered to take a photo of each tour member in this location.

You’ll also have a chance to sit in some seats and learn more about the performances, stage and history. 

Royal Albert Hall Seats and Versatility

Both tour guides shared loads of information about how the stage and seats can be altered to accommodate different performances. They’ve even had a tennis court placed inside. If you are ever planning on attending an event, you definitely want to review a seating plan before purchasing tickets.

Based on the placement of the stage for an event, some seats may be better than others. Also, the top seats are extremely vertical. If you experience a fear of heights or mild vertigo, these might not be enjoyable for you.

On the second tour, I inquired about seats for the very popular (and generally sold out) Cirque de Soleil performances that happen in the winter each year. The guide indicated that since some seats swivel, those could be ideal for that show. Or, she said, you may wish to sit at the highest level to have a more ‘aerial’  view.

What You’ll See and Learn

Both tours started with the historic information on the Royal Albert Hall’s inception. When it was built 145 years ago upon the inception of Prince Albert people could buy a box. This actually meant they held a 999 year lease on it. With a box purchase, you received your own keys. People decorated their box, and it was fashionable to try to ‘outdo’ your ‘neighbours.’

Of course, Queen Victoria bought the first Royal seating box. The Royal box has a crown above it. It’s roped off with silk curtains and has posh chairs in comparison to chairs in other boxes. When a member of the Royal family isn’t attending the music hall for an event, their staff uses the box. If you work for His Royal Majesty the King, you can apply for tickets. Boxes have sold for £1.2 million and still are under ‘ownership’ for nearly one thousand years.

As a charity building, the Royal Albert Hall operates as a hall for hire. It’s had epic costume balls and concerts to raise money. Generally, it costs £16,000 to rent the hall. Anyone who wishes to do so must uphold the royal charter for the venue. One of the guidelines is the event must promote the love of music.

You will also have a chance to see the area that the Royal Family uses during intermissions and learn about the dignitaries that celebrities who have joined them in this area.

Performances

The BBC has it each year for ‘BBC Proms for 7 weeks, and they bring all their own kit. They remove all the chairs in the arena so people can walk around for the promenade.

One of the more epic events occurred when J.K. Rowling launched the Order of the Phoenix, book five of the Harry Potter series. She read passages from the book on the stage.

About 10 times a year you can buy tickets to the viewing of a film that will be accompanied by a live orchestra. Essentially, the venue turns in to the biggest cinema in Europe. 

All James Bond premieres take place at the Royal Albert Hall. And, at Kylie Minogue’s concert, the venue ran out of champagne. As of Autumn 2024, the artist who has performed at Royal Albert Hall the most  is Eric Clapton, with 213 performances.

Royal Albert Hall Tour- Interesting Facts

• Within 20 minutes of a show closing, the stage breakdown begins.
• Trucks can drive under the stage from outside to facilitate set bulking and deconstruction.
• The original Royal Albert Hall was built with no bathrooms. This meant people ran to the parks during show intervals.
• The venue is seen to be a living memorial to Prince Albert.

Below you can see some archive photos from my 2016 visit as well as watch my Royal Things to Do in London YouTube video.

Have you ever been to the Royal Albert Hall for an event? What was your experience? What seating or ticket suggestions do you have?

Sunny London News

2016 Tour Archives: