Perched on a hilltop in North London between Wood Green and Muswell Hill, Alexandra Palace has been part of the city’s entertainment landscape since it reopened on May 1, 1875, just two years after a fire destroyed the original building only 16 days after its first opening. Nicknamed “Ally Pally” by Londoners, the sprawling Victorian palace is best known today as one of the capital’s most atmospheric large-scale concert venues, with its cavernous Great Hall serving as the main draw for touring acts.
Beyond music, Alexandra Palace holds a unique place in broadcasting history as the site of the world’s first regular public high-definition television broadcasts, launched by the BBC in 1936. That legacy of firsts carried into its concert history: in 1967, the Great Hall hosted the countercultural all-night happening The 14 Hour Technicolor Dream, drawing over 10,000 people to see Pink Floyd, Soft Machine, and other acts of the era. Following a £27 million restoration completed in 2018, the venue continues to operate as a major concert, exhibition, and sporting destination.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Wood Green / Muswell Hill, Haringey, London, UK
- Type: Multi-purpose hall and theatre
- Opened: May 1, 1875 (current building)
- Great Hall Capacity: about 10,250
- Theatre Capacity: 1,000 standing or 850 seated
- Famous for: Birthplace of BBC television broadcasting (1936); 1967 14 Hour Technicolor Dream with Pink Floyd
A Concert Hall Steeped in History
The Great Hall’s soaring Victorian ironwork and vast open floor have made it a favorite for acts wanting a venue with more character than a typical arena. Over the decades it has hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, and Blur, and it remains a regular stop for major touring artists thanks to its combination of scale and history.
The smaller Alexandra Palace Theatre, reopened in December 2018 after decades of disuse and a major restoration project, offers a more intimate setting for music and other live events, holding up to 1,000 people standing or 850 seated depending on the configuration.
More Than a Music Venue
Alexandra Palace also anchors London’s sporting and entertainment calendar, hosting the PDC World Darts Championship since 2007 and the Masters snooker tournament since 2012 in the same Great Hall used for concerts. Combined with its ice rink, park, and exhibition spaces, the palace functions as a year-round public venue rather than a single-purpose concert hall.
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Alexandra Palace FAQs
What is the capacity of Alexandra Palace’s Great Hall?
The Great Hall holds about 10,250 people, making it one of London’s largest standing concert spaces outside of purpose-built arenas.
Why is Alexandra Palace historically significant?
It was the site of the world’s first regular public high-definition television broadcasts, launched by the BBC in 1936, earning it the nickname “the birthplace of television.”
What famous concert took place at Alexandra Palace in 1967?
The Great Hall hosted The 14 Hour Technicolor Dream on April 29, 1967, an overnight countercultural event headlined by Pink Floyd that drew more than 10,000 attendees.
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Photo: Jack Rose / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.