The Proms begins its 2025 run on Friday 18 July and is a staple of British summers. Just as Wimbledon kicks off the season for many of us, the last night of the Proms marks the end of the heat and the onset of autumn. The series of concerts has become such an institution that it’s easy to forget how revolutionary it was when it began, back in 1895. Whether you’re attending this year or will be watching from home, here are seven facts to enjoy.
1. The Proms turned live music on its head
Just as Shakespeare’s Globe makes theatre accessible to all, the Proms makes classical music easy to enjoy, regardless of wealth or status. When the festival was created, seats in the stalls – traditionally the most expensive – were removed, and standing tickets offered the cheapest option. To this day, you can get standing tickets for just £8.
2. You don’t even have to stand
If standing through an entire concert sounds like a challenge, don’t worry. You can sit on the floor or even lie down if there’s space! The point is that the music is accessible and the experience should be as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
3. The Proms wasn’t always at the Royal Albert Hall
When the Proms began, concerts were held at Queen’s Hall, Westminster. They only moved to the Royal Albert Hall in 1941 when the original venue was destroyed by bombing in World War II. Today, while most events are held at the Royal Albert Hall, some are held at Cadogan Hall and other venues in the UK.
Those attending events at the Royal Albert Hall have the added benefit of enjoying some of the best places to eat in Kensington, London – such as Little India on Gloucester Road – before heading to the show.
4. The show has gone one – through war and pandemic
Although some of the seasons have been curtailed, the Proms has never missed a year. Instead, organisers experimented with format and timing, trying out matinees, shorter second halves and – during COVID-19 lockdowns – socially distanced performers with no live audiences.
5. New music is central to the festival
New music has always been central to the Proms, with some of Britain’s most celebrated composers – such as Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams – having work debuted there. Some of the more avant-garde works have caused confusion, such as the premiere of Harrison Birtwistle’s Panic at the Last Night of the Proms in 1995.
6. There have been some very memorable Proms moments
The Proms has not been without its fair share of fun. In 1999 the premiere of Bernstein’s Wonderful Town ended with a conga around the arena, while in 2008 the inaugural Doctor Who Prom mixed daleks and double basses. There has also been an Ibiza Prom hosted by DJ Pete Tong and one with a Finnish folk sing-along.
7. The Proms celebrates diversity
In the past 20 years, the Proms has celebrated diversity with appearances from Beninese star Angélique Kidjo, Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, American mezzo-soprano and self-professed “queer girl” Jamie Barton and the history-making West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, comprised of Israeli, palestinian and Middle Eastern musicians.
If you have tickets to any of this year’s Proms concerts, why not start your evening with a meal at the best Indian in South Kensington? Here at Little India, we offer a wide selection of British favourites and authentic Indian dishes, each made with the freshest ingredients. Our restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Kensington, and is a stone’s throw from the Royal Albert Hall. Book your table today.
