Alexandra Palace in London, England
Photograph © London Tourist Board.
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Victoria Tower
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace Way, London, England, Wood Green N22 United KingdomPrint this page   •   Share this page   •   Map This

Billed as "The People's Palace," Alexandra Palace rests on a hilltop amid 196 acres of land outside of London. Thought the grounds were originally 300 acres, it is still a showplace, and a getaway. A recreation zone, and an exhibition space. It started in 1873 as a place where people form the city could go to get away from it all. Thousands of people flooded the facility when it opened. But the fun didn't last long. Just 16 days after it opened, the place burned to the ground. Within two years it was open again, entertaining generations of people. It has an indoor ice skating rink, a conservatory with a glass roof, banquet facilities, parks, playgrounds, and more. Its most important footnote in history, however, is the fact that this was the first television home of the British Broadcasting Company. In 1936, the BBC made its first television broadcast from the tower next to the palace. It remained the Beeb's center of activity until the 1950's, but to this day the tower still carries four television channels, and six radio stations. The tower's height is 220 feet, but the building is over 300 feet above sea level, making this an important transmission point. And as an entertainment and concert venue, the BBC thoughtfully built a concrete ramp that a television camera could be wheeled down in order to provide live broadcasts of events at the Palace.

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Quick Facts
Notes
    >1873 - Alexandra Palace opens.
    >1873 - Alexandra Palace burns to the ground.
    >1875 - Alexandra Palace is re-built.
    >1936 - The BBC's first public television transmissions originate from the Alexandra Palace.
    >10 July, 1980 - The Palace burns. Nearly half of the building is destroyed.
    >17 March, 1988 - The Palace reopens.
Rate This Entertainment Venue
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Your Thoughts

There are nine comments.

  This wonderfully iconic building, is clearly visible in the far distance from the South Bank of the Thames, as I noticed recently, when looking out of a window on the 22nd Floor of the Union Jack Club in Waterloo.

Marc J Quigley-Ferriday - Sunday, September 14th, 2008 @ 6:11pm  

  I worked on the fairground whilst at college about 1958. I also travelled on the old steam railway!

glyn jones - Saturday, January 12th, 2008 @ 2:12pm  

  There is a bronze head bust situated inside the building of Charles Henry Hocken, 1940's does anyone know the history of this man why is the bust thereIt may not be there now thanks so much

eric hardy - Sunday, July 29th, 2007 @ 6:02pm  

  iremeber rolling skating Saturday mornings, the boating lake, and the fun fair, I also remember the old mansion house at the foot of Ally Pally, does anyone else?Us kids spent all our school holidays up there. My father and I used to walk up Ally Pally every Sunday with our dog, come rain or shine. great memories!

Janet White - Sunday, September 10th, 2006 @ 12:48pm  

  I can see the palace from my street. It is such a prominant landmark for the whole of north london - I feel it should pass into the hnds of the national trust or english heritage an a project begun to restore it to its original 1875 use - plus the historic BBC alterations.As it currently stands it is a huge shame.

Darren Roberts - Monday, May 15th, 2006 @ 10:44am  

  In the 1950's/60's the West wing had a roller skating rink, advertised as having a "Canadian" maple floor. Skates were wooden wheels on alloy plates, with boxing boots for comfort. Large crowds attended the skating, dancing and racing sessions that attracted international skaters. It was a major stop on the European racing circuit.

Peter Hogan - Friday, January 13th, 2006 @ 8:49pm  

  My grandmother & family were billeted here during 1st world war as belgian refugees. This was one of several places the Belgian refugees were housed until being dispersed throughout England until it was deemed safe for them to return to their own country.

Victoria Salmon - Saturday, November 27th, 2004 @ 7:53am  

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