Alexandra Palace in north London is one of the few surviving grand leisure buildings constructed in the 19th century, and hidden away inside is a theatre that closed its door 65 years ago. During its lifetime it was also used as a cinema, a centre for Belgian refugees in the first world war and as part of an internment camp for German prisoners during the second.



Ambitious plans for its future came to a halt following a fire in 1980, and now the Grade II-listed building can be visited through a new programme of organised tours, the second of which took place on 12-13 April. These have been arranged following the popularity of the first tour, which was part of the Open House campaign in 2013. Photographs by Simon Leigh

