Time travel
In its 150 years, London's Alexandra Palace has hosted seminal moments in entertainment history, from being the birthplace of the world’s first regular TV station to major live music performances.
Built as “The People’s Palace”, its purpose was to bring leisure and entertainment to the masses – a mission which continues with more than five million visitors expected at this year’s events.
Recycled materials from 1862’s South Kensington International Exhibition were used to create the first palace, opened in 1873 with 60,000 people attending, but it burned down 16 days later. Reopening in 1875, Victorian Londoners descended en masse for festivals, theatre and music.
Named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, she arrived in England aged 18 to marry Queen Victoria’s eldest son Albert Edward, who became King Edward VII. However, its nickname “Ally Pally” was said to be coined by Gracie Fields, a regular on the stage in the inter-war years.
Set on top of Muswell Hill, the palace has been the location for many influential events. In 1895, the first women’s football match in England was said to have taken place there, and in 1908 and 1909, the Suffragettes held meetings in the theatre.
In the 1930s, Ally Pally became home to the “race for television”, the BBC, and the world’s first TV station. The BBC tower is where the first high-definition public TV service began in November 1936.
After “light entertainment” moved to Lime Grove, the Ally Pally studios were used by the BBC throughout the 50s and 60s for news broadcasts and in 1966, the first colour TV signals were transmitted.
Then, it happened again… the palace burned down in 1980 and took eight years to reopen. Sade was the first back on the Great Hall stage, then Barry Manilow.
Over the decades, the main stage has been graced by many global stars with the giant Willis Organ as the backdrop. The ice rink opened in 1990, and the Palace also hosted the Brits as well as the launch of Blur’s Parklife. In 1996 the building gained Grade Ii-listed status.
To celebrate 150 years, Ally Pally will be hosting a free party on May 27 from 12-9pm, alexandrapalace.com/150party
Staycation holiday park specialist Haven is to invest £170m across UK sites this year with fresh accommodation, major entertainment upgrades and new state-of-the-art facilities including Adventure Villages and Marina Bar & Stages. The firm expects to host more than three million guests in 2023. haven.com