Since being opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, The Royal Albert Hall has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, Britain’s first indoor marathon, meetings held by the Suffragettes, several editions of Miss World, appearances by Albert Einstein and exhibition bouts with Muhammed Ali (not at the same time). Not to mention the annual BBC Proms concerts. Eating and drinking Visitors have several bars and restaurants to choose from. The Royal Albert Hall Café Bar and Verdi Italian Kitchen are open to non-ticket holders. If you’re there to see a performance, booking a table is highly recommended. For more options, check out our guide to pre-theatre dinner in London. Tours There’s a lot to discover in and around this stunning building, and various tours are available to be booked via the Royal Albert Hall website. Priority booking and discounts For a year, Friends of the Albert Hall receive priority access to ticket pre-sales as well as discounts on the venue’s tours, shops and restaurants. Accessibility The Royal Albert Hall is an accessible venue - see their accessibility guide for more details. They also offer shows with British Sign Language tickets as well as events suitable for children and adults with autism, sensory and communication impairments and learning difficulties, and for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted.