Hotels near Alexandra Palace

The palace was named after the Princess of Wales, Alexandra of Denmark, who married Prince Edward. It’s nickname ‘Ally Pally’ was popularized by the English actor and singer Gracie Fields.

Alexandra Palace has a rich and varied history. On opening in 1875, it boasted a concert hall, theatre, circus, racetrack and boating lake. Its place as an entertainment venue has remained unchanged over the years although it is now most famous as both an iconic gig venue (The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Queen have all played there) and as the home of the PDC World Darts Championship.

It was placed in public ownership in 1900 by an Act of Parliament, to remain ‘a place of public resort and recreation’ and remains publicly owned to this day.

The park surrounding Alexandra Palace was opened to the public in 1863 with the palace itself constructed over the next decade and opening in 1873. Tragically, it was destroyed by fire just 16 days later and had to be rebuilt on the same site, eventually opening again just two years later in 1875. Its original purpose was to offer the public a space for recreation, education and entertainment in North London, just as Crystal Palace did in the south.

It’s both an indoor and outdoor venue. The Palace itself is an indoor space but there is extensive outdoor space available to hire for various events.