Plenty of things to do in London at the Royal Albert Hall
For a fantastic day out seeing the greatest London attractions, be sure not to miss spending a few hours in the Royal Albert Hall, one of the world’s most important entertainment venues and a Grade I listed building that is a fascinating place to explore in itself.
Located on the northern edge of South Kensington, the Hall has remained in constant use since it opened its doors in March 1871 and is perhaps most famous for serving at the venue for the annual summer Proms for the last 70 years.
The Hall was modelled after traditional amphitheatres of antiquity, although its purpose as a music venue was hampered by acoustical problems that went on for nearly a century.
A number of large fibreglass diffusing disks were installed into the ceiling in 1969 to dampen the echo, putting an end to the long-running joke that any composer could be sure of hearing his music twice in the Royal Albert Hall.
The Hall has also included an Education department since 2003, which runs a regular programme of events designed to educate and inspire schoolchildren.
Some of these include the Junior Ignite concerts, the Primary Proms and the Key Stage 2 Victorian Tours and Workshops, all of which help to get kids learning about music and history.
Today, the Royal Albert Hall serves as a venue for a wide variety of performances, from modern pop and rock music to classical productions.
In the coming weeks and months, visitors looking for things to do in London should check the schedule regularly to see what interests them.
New Wave band The Cure will bring their Reflections show to the Hall on November 15th, providing an opportunity to see two and a half hours of live music spanning three albums from Robert Smith’s legendary troupe.
The UK’s “Queen of Soul”, Beverley Knight, is in concert the following night in support of her seventh studio album, which draws inspiration from a variety of the biggest soul artists from the UK.
Between November 17th and the 20th, the Royal Albert Hall plays host to a Classical Spectacular, as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra perform selected works of Verdi, Puccini, Sousa, Handel, Strauss and many more to the backdrop of an incredible light show, providing a true feast for the senses.
There will be a chance to see some of the greatest legends in rock on November 23rd when the Prince’s Trust stages the return of the Rock Gala, a special event to raise money for the trust.
Pete Townshend, Boy George, Chris de Burgh, Julian Lennon, Cerys Matthews and Midge Ure are among the famous faces confirmed for the night, while comedian Tim Minchin will provide some light relief.
Jools Hollands and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra take to the stage on November 25th and 26th, along with special guests Sandie Shaw, Herbert Gronemeyer and Chris Difford.
Fans of the opera will not want to miss Natasha Marsh, the Voice of Euro 2008, who will perform an intimate concert in the Elgar Room on November 29th, providing fans with a first look at her brand new repertoire of songs.
For something completely different, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe will reignite their old rivalry in a singles tennis match on December 2nd, alongside a doubles match featuring Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic and Tim Henman, as part of a four-day celebration of the Wightman Cup.
Visitors will find 13 bars and restaurants to grab refreshments while they are at the Hall, including the Cloudy Bay Wine Bar, the relaxed Café Consort and the elegant Coda restaurant, which serves a dazzling array of contemporary British dishes.
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