Arena at the Royal Albert Hall

The Arena is the flat floor in the middle of the Hall. For most concerts it's rows of chairs facing the stage. For the Proms and some gigs it's a standing floor. For Cirque du Soleil and other shows in the round, it's the stage, so there are no Arena seats at all.

For a concert

Book the front rows, up to about row 6. You're as close to the performers as anyone in the Hall. Up to about row 10 is still good if you're tall enough to see over the heads in front.

Further back, the floor doesn't rise, so you're looking past every row of heads between you and the stage, and the sound can be weaker than in the Stalls round you. At a gig where the crowd stands up, you'll see very little. For pop or rock, book the Stalls instead.

Standing in the Arena

For the BBC Proms, and some gigs, the chairs come out and the Arena is a standing floor, right in front of the stage.

Getting there, legroom and children

The Arena is on the ground floor, by the kiosk bars and the free water points at Doors 3 and 9. Legroom is fine, and booster cushions are allowed here, which they aren't in the Stalls, the Choir or the Rausing Circle.