When
it comes to cultural entertainment, London has
few shortcomings - a fact that's apparent in the
city's impressive calendar of theatre, music and
dance performances, not to mention its
spectacular host of concert halls and event
venues - one of the most iconic and versatile of
them being the Royal Albert Hall. Inspired by
the success of Prince Albert's Great Exhibition,
the Royal Albert Hall was opened in 1871 - ten
years after the Prince’s death.
Being
largely influenced by ancient amphitheatres and
notions of the arts, the oval structure’s
terracotta walls are decorated on the outside
with a frieze dedicated to "The Triumph of Arts
and Sciences". Today, the stunning venue stands
as a testimony to the architectural and
aesthetic achievements of the past, as well as
the technological developments of the present;
it even features the largest pipe organ in the
British Isles.
The Royal Albert Hall hosts a wide variety of
entertainment events, including classical, rock,
pop and jazz music, sporting events, galas,
banquets and balls and the world-famous Proms
series. It has a capacity of 8000, but is
typically packed with crowds during the summer
months when the Promenade concerts take over.
Thus,
visitors have to the option to queue up on the
day of an event in order to get cheap,
last-minute tickets for the seat-less “Gods”
level (the highest level in the hall), or to
book in advance for seats up front.
The Royal Albert Hall has a year-round line-up
of traditional and contemporary theatre, music
and dance events. Upcoming performances include:
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on 15 March,
the Classical Spectacular 2007 from 22 March -
25 March and the Cathcart Spring Prom concert on
17 May. There's even a Ballroom Dancing
Championships event being held in autumn!
If
you're planning to attend an event at the Royal
Albert Hall in London, make sure you book a
hotel in South Kensington. That way, you'll be
close to the venue and you'll still remain well
connected to other top London attractions such
as Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, the Victoria
and Albert Museum and the Natural History
Museum. Moreover, South Kensington is located
right next to Knightsbridge, which, being home
to the exclusively famous Harrods and Harvey
Nichols department stores is one of the prime
shopping districts of London.
So, during your next visit to London, book a
hotel in South Kensington and attend a
performance at one of the most iconic and
atmospheric music venues in the world: the Royal
Albert Hall.