Our History
A look back in time
1873
1873
A short-lived inauguration
Alexandra Palace opened on Queen Victoria's 54th birthday with a grand celebration including concerts, recitals and fireworks. Tragedy struck 16 days later when a fire broke out in the Palace.
1875
1875
The new Alexandra Palace
The new Alexandra Palace opened to the public with its new Henry Willis organ: one of the largest in Europe at the time.
1875
The new Alexandra Palace
The new Alexandra Palace illustration.
1880
1880
Dr. Holden’s Magical Entertainment
Dr. Holden performs ‘Conjuring Experiments, consisting of Occidental and Oriental Magic, acquired by him during his recent travels around the world.’
1880
Venetian Fête
The lake is illuminated, with the Alexandra Palace Choir perform as Singing Gondolas. The event was so popular it caused overcrowding and additional performances had to be added.
1882
1882
First Aerial Photograph
Cecil Shadbolt takes the first aerial photograph in the UK over Alexandra Palace, but neglects to photograph the Palace itself!
1887
1887
The Siege of Sevastopol
The largest Panorama Picture in London, previously exhibited at the Champs Elysees, Paris.
1888
1888
Dr Barton
Dr Barton and his airship built in the grounds of Alexandra Park.
1888
Queen Mary
Queen Mary at Alexandra Palace inspecting the arrangements.
1888
Underwater feats in a crystal tank
Miss Alice Webb performs in her crystal water tank, eating, drinking, sewing, peeling an apple, smoking and writing.
1896
1896
Parade
Parade on the Race Course showing the Victorian Grandstand at Alexandra Palace.
1898
1898
Colonel Cody’s Wild West Show
Samuel Franklin Cody brought his Wild West Show to Alexandra Palace. Not to be confused with ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody, Sam was an aerial innovator and brought his kite exhibition to Alexandra Palace in 1903.
1902
1902
Colonial Troops
In celebration of the Coronation of Edward VII, colonial troops from around the world are gathered at Alexandra Palace.
1905
1905
Did you know?
1905 saw a Nelson Ball held at the Palace and a full-sized replica of Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was brought into the Great Hall.
1906
1906
Edwardian Daredevil Dolly Shepherd
Former Alexandra Palace waitress, Miss Dolly Shepherd and Captain Gaudron parachute from 4,500 ft over Alexandra Palace. Before embarking Dolly kisses a young lady in the audience.
1910
1910
Percy Honri’s New Pavilion
Music Hall star Percy Honri performs with his troupe in a new theatrical pavilion in the Park.
1913
1913
Did you know?
Winston Churchill spoke in the Great Hall in 1913 but attendees complained that “only those in front and the specially favoured ones on the platform” could hear well.
1914
1914
The WWI Years
Alexandra Palace was requisitioned by the Government to be used first as a Belgian refugee camp and later as a German and Austrian internment camp for the duration of WWI.
1914
Did you know?
Following the outbreak of war the Palace grounds were closed without warning. Signs at each entrance read: ‘Until further notice, the Palace Grounds are closed to the public who are warned that any unauthorised person found in the grounds is liable to be shot—By Order’.
1914
Refugees at the Palace
During the War, the Theatre is converted into a chapel where the Catholic Belgians could take mass. In July, the AP Executive Committee agree to a request for soldiers and their horses to be billeted at the Palace in the event of mobilisation.
1914
Refugee’s luggage by the organ
Belongings of Refugees around Willis Organ.
1914
Hospital in the Theatre
The former Bijou Theatre at Alexandra Palace was used as a hospital for Belgian and Dutch refugees during the first year of the First World War.
1914
Beds in the Great Hall
Beds laid out for refugees in the early stages of the war.
1915
1915
Internment Camp
In May of 1915 the Palace becomes an internment camp, with barbed wire fencing and sentries.
1922
1922
Palace Refurbished
The Palace reopens following extended refurbishment after damage during the First World War. In the Theatre a new bar is installed under the circle and management is taken over by W. J. MacQueen-Pope.
1922
Scout Rally
73,000 Scouts rally at Alexandra Palace, with Chief Scout and founder, Robert Baden-Powell.
1925
1925
Did you know?
In 1925, the Kennel Club held a dog show at the Palace with such an array of rare and speciality breeds that the dogs were said to be worth an estimated £25,000.
1925
Shakespeare Festival
Ben Greet Players perform a series of Shakespeare plays in the Theatre and a statue is installed in the East Court.
1928
1928
Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields produces ‘The Show’s the Thing’ at the Alexandra Palace Theatre. It transfers to a successful West End run and tour.
1936
1936
Birthplace of the BBC
On 2 November the world's first regular high-definition public television broadcast took place from the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace.
1939
1939
Organ Restored
Having been damaged in the First World War the Grand Willis Organ is finally restored and re-pitched a semitone lower. Sir Henry Wood conducts a Handel festival, whilst Mr. G.D. Cunningham plays the organ.
1940
1940
Refugee Centre
Belgian refugees returned to Alexandra Palace during WWII.
1941
1941
Blitz
The television transmitter was used to jam the Luftwaffe navigation systems. A bomb exploded to the north of the Palace, damaging the organ.
1945
1945
Pre-fab village
The Great Hall is filled with prefabricated houses to show councils what rehousing would be available in the aftermath of war.
1946
1946
Muffin the Mule
The first dedicated children’s television programme makes a star out of Muffin the Mule.
Play1948
1948
Recording television
Telerecording allows television to be directly recorded for the first time. The Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph is the first broadcast recorded. Adelaide Hall is the first performer to be recorded.
Play1954
1954
Closure of Alexandra Palace station
Passenger trains cease to serve Alexandra Palace directly.
1954
Television news and newsreel
The studios at Alexandra Palace become the dedicated home for television news.
Play1961
1961
Sean Connery – Footballer
A young Sean Connery plays with the Showbiz XI at an ‘All Stars’ Football Match at the Alexandra Park F.C. Ground.
1962
1962
All night festival of jazz
Festival of jazz in 1962.
1964
1964
BBC Two
Due to a power cut affecting BBC Television Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, BBC Two is launched from Alexandra Palace.
Play1964
Hornsey College of Art
The Fine Art department of the prestigious and influential Hornsey College of Art moves into Alexandra Palace.
1967
1967
14 hour technicolor dream
The seminal psychedelic happening of the Summer of Love brings John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the leading lights of the Underground together for an all night event headlined by Pink Floyd.
Play1969
1969
The Who
The Who stop off at Alexandra Palace on their iconic Tommy tour.
1971
1971
Blandford Hall Fire
In the ongoing history of destructive fires the Tudor Ballroom, or Blandford Hall, burns down. It is followed by the stables and cricket pavilion.
1973
1973
Leo the Lion
Documents recently unearthed from the AP archives have revealed the origins of Leo the Lion. This popular bronze sculpture by the boating lake is been climbed on by thousands of children over the last forty years. In early 1973, Sir Charles Wheeler was commission to produce a lion sculpture for Alexandra Park for siting at the children’s zoo. Sir Charles worked on many public buildings, the Bank of England and a fountain in Trafalgar Square.
1973
Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne on stage at Alexandra Palace.
1974
1979
1979
Capital Radio jazz festival
Jazz legends perform at the weekend festival, including Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Dizzy Gillespie.
1979
Rock Against Racism
The final concert of Rock Against Racism is held at Alexandra Palace. RAR brought together pop, rock, punk and reggae musicians on a mixed bill which campaigned against a rise in racism and racial conflict.
1980
1980
Fire at the Palace
For the second time, fire broke out across Alexandra Palace burning a large part of the building to the ground. Substantial restoration works began shortly after the fire and the Palace finally re-opened in 1988.
1980
Beat the Blues Festival
Punk takes over Alexandra Palace with performances by The Slits, The Raincoats, The Pop Group and poet John Cooper Clarke.
Play1982
1982
The Jam
While the Palace was being rebuilt, a temporary structure was built so we could continue to host events - including a performance from The Jam.
1985
1985
Frank Warren presents international boxing
Promoter Frank Warren presents three fights at the Alexandra Pavilion, including Terry Marsh, who would later be accused but acquitted of shooting Warren.
1985
Cultural festival of India
Celebrating 5,000 years of Indian heritage, across 25 acres of Alexandra Park, through music, dance, arts and crafts and the ‘Cradle of Civilisation’; featuring 60 tableaux constructed using traditional materials and fabrics.
1988
1988
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow becomes one of the first acts in the newly restored and reopened Alexandra Palace.
1989
1990
1990
The Stranglers
The Stranglers perform their last gig with Hugh Cornwell at Alexandra Palace.
Play1993
1993
The BRIT Awards
The Brit Awards begin a three-year residency at Alexandra Palace. Performances include Madonna, Take That, Pet Shop Boys, duets from Sting with M People, Bjork with PJ Harvey, and Elton John with Ru Paul!
Play1994
1994
Blur – Parklife
Blur bring the sound of BritPop to Alexandra Palace, playing their seminal album Parklife, and supported by Pulp.
Play1994
The Afro Hair and Beauty show
The Afro Hair and Beauty Show arrives at Alexandra Palace, and for the next 15 years presents the latest styles, trends and glamour.
1996
1996
MTV Europe Music Award
Hosted by Robbie Williams, performers include George Michael, The Fugees, The Smashing Pumpkins and a notoriously foul mouthed performance by Metallica.
Play1997
1997
Spice Girls launch McLaren MP4-12
The Spice Girls join Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard to launch the new look, silver McLaren. Jamiroquai play the launch party for 5,000 guests.
Play1998
1998
Electro New Years Eve
Huge show on New Years Eve from The Chemical Brothers, New Order and Underworld.
Play2000
2000
MOBO Awards
Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes and Trevor Nelson host the MOBO Awards, with Craig David as the big winner of the night, and performances from The Fugees, Gabrielle and Sade.
Play2001
2001
UK Garage
Universal Sounds presents all night UK Garage, Drum & Bass, and R’n’B. Acts include So Solid Crew, Pay As You Go Cartel, Heartless Crew, laying the base for what would become Grime.
Play2002
2002
A Royal visit
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip meeting with Rosemary Warne (Deputy lieutenant) 6th June 2002.
2003
2003
Indie bands take over
The Noughties explosion of indie music brings Kings of Leon to Palace, followed by The White Stripes in 2004, Kasabian and Franz Ferdinand in 2005 and the Arctic Monkeys in 2007.
2009
2010
2010
Secret Cinema
The Park is filled with Bedouin as Secret Cinema bring Lawrence of Arabia to transform Alexandra Palace.
2010
Bio-blitz
The environment around Alexandra Palace is special for its biodiversity. In 2010, the Natural History Museum conducted a ‘bio-blitz’ and in the space of 24 hours, over 700 species in the park were recorded.
2010
EDM arrives
Swedish House Mafia played Alexandra Palace, followed by Skrillex and Chase & Status in 2011, and David Guetta in 2012.
Play2011
2011
All Tomorrow’s Parties
Portishead curate for All Tomorrow’s Parties the I’ll Be Your Mirror Festival, headlined by PJ Harvey and Grinderman.
2013
2013
Björk
Björk performed the first-ever concert “in the round” at the venue.
2013
Red Bull Soapbox Derby
2014
2014
alt-j & The Libertines
alt-j & The Libertines both perform at Alexandra Palace in 2014.
2015
2015
Prodigy & Disclosure
Prodigy & Disclosure both rock the venue in 2015.
2016
2016
Afropunk
Alexandra Palace hosts the UK’s first Afropunk event, headlined by Grace Jones.
2016
Skepta
Hot off winning the Mercury Music Prize, Skepta comes back to his North London base.
2017
2017
Drone racing
Coined ‘The Sport of the Future’, Alexandra Palace hosts the UK’s first professional drone race, the finale of the Allianz World Championship.
Play2017
Spotify – Who We Be
The first ever Spotify live event in the UK, bringing the power house of streaming and major urban, grime and hip hop UK artists.
2018
2018
Kaleidoscope
We produced our first ever music and arts festival - taking place across the Palace and basements.
Play2018
BBC Proms
The BBC Concert Orchestra performed in the Theatre ahead of the completion of the East Wing Restoration Project.
2018
Theatre and East Court reopens
The long lost Theatre reopens for performance, for the first time in over 80 years.
2019
2019
42,000 lights
Four Tet transforms the Great Hall with 42,000 lights as part of his live spectacular, Squid Soup.
2019
Biblio-buzz
Celebrated author Michael Rosen hosts the finale of the Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award in the Palace’s Theatre
2019
London Fashion Week
The Theatre plays host to a show from Simone Rocha.
2020
2020
Lockdown
The outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic sees the Palace close to visitors due to lockdown rules. Our spaces host distribution centres, charities and a testing centre, as well as a host of streamed and socially distanced entertainment, whilst the Park welcomes 4 million visitors across the year.
2020
Alone at the Palace
In July Nick Cave releases his solo performance recorded in a totally empty Palace.
2020
Top Gear
The Top Gear team record their spectacular Wall of Death stunt in the Great Hall.
2020
Drive-in film club
Drive-in cinema comes to the Park. It would be followed by a drive-in opera performance of La Boheme by the English National Opera.
2021
2021
6 Music Festival
The BBC 6 Music Festival was broadcast from the Theatre, featuring performances from Michael Kiwanuka, Laura Marling and Bicep.
2021
Audiences return
In October audiences return for live music for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. Performances come from John Grant and Dermot Kennedy, among others.
2021
A visit from Royalty
The inaugural Earthshot Prize is hosted in the Theatre by Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The awards feature a range of performances including Ed Sheeran and Coldplay outside in the Park, lit by an army of cyclists.
2022
2022
Young Actors
The Palace’s first ever Young Actors Company is launched.
2022
BBC centenary
Ally Pally joins the BBC centenary celebrations, with Strictly, the Great British Menu and Antiques Roadshow among those filming at the Park and Palace.
2022
Park awards
The summer sees the Park awarded the prestigious Green Flag for a 15th consecutive year.
2022
Later…
The iconic Later…with Jools Holland makes the Theatre its home, with two series recorded here at the Palace.
2023
2023
9 darter
Michael Smith throws a nine-darter in the final of the World Darts Championship. The scenes from the West Hall spread across the world.
2023
Our 150th birthday!
20,000 of you joined us to celebrate 150 years of Ally Pally!