Ally Pally: What's the Big Deal?
Alice Turcotte
2025-05-27 04:59:59
Count answers: 8
The world-famous Alexandra Palace in north London was opened in 1873, having been designed as the ‘Palace of the People’, with the purpose of providing entertainment and recreation to the masses.
Five million people come to Ally Pally each year to enjoy and benefit from these activities, as well visiting the Park and the much-loved ice rink.
Today the Palace and 196 acre park are run by a charity – the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust – which continues this mission in 2023 by hosting a programme of live music, sport, festivals, theatre, exhibitions and creative learning opportunities for the local community.
Cora Lueilwitz
2025-05-22 17:30:19
Count answers: 3
Alexandra Palace, often referred to as ‘Ally Pally’, celebrates 150 years since it first opened in 1873. The Palace was designed to be ‘The People’s Palace’ and is well-known for its long history as a venue for events and performances, from Gracie Fields to Pink Floyd, as well as its role in the early days of the BBC. Alexandra Palace was at the centre of pioneering television and broadcasting, converting dining rooms to TV studios and the theatre into a prop workshop. In November 1936, the BBC launched their television service from the Palace. One of the most well-known uses of Alexandra Palace is as a venue for stars to perform. The palace has featured many rock legends including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Queen.
Seth Wilderman
2025-05-10 05:23:23
Count answers: 5
Ally Pally: What's the Big Deal?
At 237 metres long and 38 metres high, the Palace is wider and taller than Buckingham Palace. At seven acres big the Palace is larger than five Wembley Stadium pitches. The popular name “Ally Pally” was said to be coined by Gracie Fields, who was a regular on the Theatre stage at the Palace in the inter-War years.
Famous for hosting the annual World Championship Darts since 2008, the Palace in fact held its first version of the event, then called ‘The News of the World Championship’, in 1963. The Palace’s Theatre was the location for the country’s first same-sex marriage on 29 March 2014. The Great Hall was home to the BRIT Awards from 1993-1995 (peak era Brit Pop).
Among the London sights you can see from the Palace: St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, Canary Wharf, London Eye, BT Tower, three Premier League football grounds. Behind the main stage of the Great Hall – a location for performances from the likes of Madonna, Jay-Z, The Rolling Stone, Led Zeppelin and many hundreds more – is the giant Willis Organ, designed by Henry Willis who also designed organs for Gloucester Cathedral, Crystal Palace and the Royal Albert Hall. One of the highest points in London, the Palace used to have its own tram and train station helping visitors up that hill!
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