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Alexandra Palace Theatre London

About the Alexandra Palace Theatre

Alexandra Palace Theatre is just one of many attractions at Alexandra Palace (or “Ally Pally”), a recreation and entertainment venue nestled in North London parkland. The Grade II listed building is best known as the birthplace of television, with strong links to the BBC. For 80 years its theatre remained dark, until a renovation restored it to its former glory.

The theatre first opened in 1875 and quickly attracted Victorian audiences thanks to incredible stage machinery and effects. However, it struggled to compete with the West End and was later used as a music hall venue and props store for the BBC, before languishing for the better part of a century. After years of research and design, work began in 2016 to bring it back to life and the venue re-opened in 2018.

The restoration retained the theatre’s beautiful 19th-century character, whilst ensuring it was in a fit state to host 21st-century performances. The project was a huge success, and the venue was removed from the Theatres at Risk register. Now dubbed London’s oldest new theatre, the Alexandra Palace Theatre welcomes a variety of shows every year, with a new lease of life granted to this hidden gem in the heart of North London.

Frequently Asked Questions

The box office is open around 90 minutes before performances begin. Tickets are now e-tickets, sent to you via email. These can be displayed on your phone and scanned for entry into the auditorium.
The theatre opens about half an hour before the start of the show. Bars are open for longer if you arrive early, which we recommend; Alexandra Palace is a huge, historic building with lots to see and do before a performance, both inside and across the expansive grounds. Some highlights include the boating lake and ice skating rink. In East Court itself, where the theatre is located, you can learn about the history of the building in a dynamic installation, beneath the impressive glass-domed ceiling.
There are two bars at the venue: the Theatre Bar and the East Court Bar. Both bars serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. The East Court also has a cafe, open daily from 10am-5pm, that serves hot drinks, savoury snacks, pastries and sandwiches. Hot food cannot be taken into the theatre.
There is no cloakroom at the theatre, and visitors are advised to avoid bringing large bags.
There are several eateries onsite at Alexandra Palace that visitors to the theatre can eat at. Phoenix Bar and Pizzeria in the Palm Court offers a menu of hand-crafted stone-fired pizzas, with a drinks menu including craft beers, wines and cocktails. There are several cafes for sandwiches and light lunches in the grounds, including Grove Cafe and Lakeside Cafe.

If you want to eat offsite before a show, Muswell Hill is around 20 minutes from the venue via public transport and has a range of restaurants including The Real Greek, Spanish tapas outlet La Lluna, and Cilicia, which serves Mediterranean dishes.
The Roseview Hotel is a stone’s throw from the theatre, and situated in vibrant Muswell Hill, where you will find lots of independent shops and restaurants and are close to leafy Highgate Wood. Great budget options include Travelodge Wood Green, which is 20 minutes away by bus.
The box office can be contacted via email at visitor.services@alexandrapalace.com or by phone at 020 8365 4343 (9am-5pm).
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