9 Facts About Royal Albert Hall

1. On 2 October 2011, the Royal Albert Hall staged the 25th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which was broadcast live to cinemas across the world and filmed for DVD.

2. On 6 April 1968, the Royal Albert Hall was the host venue for the Eurovision Song Contest which was broadcast in colour for the first time.

3. The Royal Albert Hall was originally designed with a capacity for 8,000 people and has accommodated as many as 12,000.

4. In October 1942, the Royal Albert Hall suffered minor damage during World War II bombing but was left mostly untouched as German pilots used the distinctive structure as a landmark.

5. In 1936, the Royal Albert Hall was the scene of a giant rally celebrating the British Empire, the occasion being the centenary of Joseph Chamberlain's birth.

6. At some point, the Queen remarked the Royal Albert Hall reminded her of the British constitution.

7. The Royal Albert Hall was scheduled to be completed by Christmas Day 1870 and the Queen visited a few weeks beforehand to inspect.

8. The Royal Albert Hall was constructed mainly of Fareham Red brick, with terra cotta block decoration made by Gibbs and Canning Limited of Tamworth.

9. The Royal Albert Hall is a registered charity held in trust for the nation and receives no public or government funding.