What Bag Can You Bring to the Darts?
Visual Rule of Thumb: Approximately the size of a standard A4 sheet of paper or small clutch/handbag.
Only one small bag per spectator is permitted. All bags are subject to physical inspection and wand screening at Palm Court turnstiles.
Permitted vs Prohibited Bags
To ensure swift security screening for over 3,000 spectators arriving per session, Alexandra Palace and the PDC enforce strict bag guidelines. Security teams measure questionable bags against official sizing templates at the entrance gates.
Permitted Bags
- Small clutch bags or wristlets
- Small cross-body handbags within the 30cm x 20cm x 10cm dimension limit
- Small clear plastic bags within size limits
- Medically necessary bags (subject to search and prior medical declaration)
- Essential baby care bags for accompanying infants
All permitted bags must still pass physical search and electronic scan.
Strictly Prohibited Bags
- Backpacks and rucksacks of any size (including mini fashion backpacks)
- Suitcases and rolling luggage
- Holdalls, weekend bags, and duffel bags
- Laptop bags and briefcases
- Tote bags exceeding 30cm x 20cm x 10cm
Prohibited bags cannot enter the Great Hall arena.
Spectators Traveling with Luggage: Official Options
A common trap for fans arriving directly from UK regions or international flights via Heathrow, Stansted, or Gatwick is heading straight to Ally Pally with travel luggage.
1. Alexandra Palace External Bag Drop (General Venue Facility)
Under Alexandra Palace's general Great Hall visitor regulations, an external bag-drop facility operates near the East Court car park with a published charge of £10 per bag.
2. Guaranteed Central London Station Left-Luggage
To eliminate any uncertainty on match day, spectators are strongly advised to deposit suitcases at central London railway station left-luggage hubs before boarding the Piccadilly Line or Great Northern train:
King's Cross & St. Pancras
Manned left luggage facilities operated by Excess Baggage Co inside the concourse and Bounce network locations nearby. Direct 14-minute estimated Piccadilly Line tube to Wood Green.
Euston Station
Manned luggage lockers open 07:00–23:00. Located 10 minutes walk or 1 tube stop from King's Cross for direct Ally Pally connections.
Liverpool Street Station
Convenient for travelers arriving from Stansted Airport. Manned storage on main concourse, direct rail connections via Moorgate.
Note: The internal Great Hall cloakroom accepts light coats only and will reject suitcases, rolling bags, and large backpacks at the turnstiles.
Security Screening & Entry Procedures
Entry gates for the PDC World Darts Championship open approximately 60 to 90 minutes prior to session start times (11:00 for afternoon sessions, 17:30–18:00 for evening sessions). Security operations at Alexandra Palace are thorough and multi-layered.
Perimeter & Ticket Check
Visual ticket verification at the outer Palm Court gates to ensure all approaching visitors hold valid session passes.
Detector Arches & Wands
Spectators step through walk-through metal detector arches. Handheld security scanning wands are used for secondary localized checks.
Physical Bag Search
Permitted small bags (under 30cm × 20cm × 10cm) are unzipped and manually searched on dedicated inspection tables.
Sniffer Dog Teams
Passive drug detection dogs and pyrotechnic detection teams patrol the queue lines and entrance turnstiles continuously.
Medical Supplies & Accessibility Lanes
Spectators carrying essential medication, insulin pens, epi-pens, or specialized medical equipment are fully accommodated. A dedicated accessible lane operates at Palm Court. You do not need to restrict life-saving medication to the 30cm × 20cm × 10cm rule, but all medical equipment must be declared to security supervisors upon arrival and supported where possible by prescription or doctor documentation.
Complete Prohibited Items List
To prevent crowd disorder, player distraction on the oche, and spectator injury, the PDC and Alexandra Palace enforce strict contraband rules. Confiscated items will not be stored or returned.
| Category | Prohibited Articles | Specific Regulation & Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol & Drinks | Outside alcohol, glass bottles, metal cans, unsealed drinks, and thermos flasks | Empty reusable plastic water bottles (to fill at free water points) and small factory-sealed water bottles up to 500ml. |
| Attire & Sportswear | Football shirts, club scarves, or football-affiliated emblems of any club worldwide | Strictly enforced by security to maintain a neutral, friendly darts party atmosphere and prevent rivalry tensions. |
| Fancy Dress Props | Hard plastic, metal or wooden weapons, sharp implements, realistic toy guns, swords, and scythes | Only soft foam or cardboard accessories are permitted. Inflatables over 1 meter or obstructing spectator view are banned. |
| Masks & Helmets | Full-face covering masks, motorcycle helmets, or balaclavas | Spectators must remove full-face coverings at the security turnstiles for facial ID and age verification. |
| Recording Equipment | Professional cameras with detachable telephoto lenses, external microphones, tripods, selfie sticks, and drones | Standard smartphones and non-professional compact cameras are permitted for personal spectator memories. |
| Noise & Distraction | Vuvuzelas, whistles, air horns, musical instruments, laser pens, and megaphone devices | Strictly confiscated at entry gates to prevent player distraction on the oche. |
| Hazardous & Pyrotechnic | Flares, fireworks, smoke canisters, illegal substances, and hazardous liquids | Immediate confiscation, refusal of entry, and referral to Metropolitan Police. |
Important Ally Pally Event Rules
🚫 No Football Shirts or Colors
Alexandra Palace enforces a zero-tolerance policy against football shirts, scarves, badges, and national/club rivalry colors of any kind. Spectators will be turned away at security or required to change into neutral clothing before being admitted. Fancy dress sports kits (e.g., retro 1980s athletics or darts player replicas) are permitted, but domestic or international football apparel is barred.
🚪 Strictly No Re-Entry
Once your digital ticket barcode is scanned at the turnstiles and you enter the venue, your ticket is marked as redeemed. If you exit the building at any point during the session, re-admission is strictly denied. There is no pass-out system for smoking or meeting friends outside. Dedicated outdoor smoking courtyards are provided inside the ticketed secure perimeter.
🎭 Fancy Dress Props & Inflatables
Fancy dress is a hallmark of the World Championship, but props must comply with safety standards. Realistic plastic weapons, swords, fake guns, scythes, and heavy wooden sticks are confiscated at the door. Only soft foam or cardboard accessories are allowed. Inflatables taller than 1 meter or items obstructing the view of seated spectators will be deflated.
🔞 Age & Supervision Policy
Under 16s attending the tournament must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 21 or over at all times. Proof of age (passport or photocard driving license) may be requested at turnstiles and is strictly required under the venue's Challenge 25 alcohol policy.
Frequently Asked Questions: Security & Bags
What is the maximum bag size allowed at Alexandra Palace for the darts?
The maximum permitted bag size is strictly 30cm x 20cm x 10cm (approximately an A4 sheet of paper). Small handbags, clutches, and compact cross-body bags within these dimensions are permitted following search. Backpacks, holdalls, rucksacks, and suitcases are prohibited.
Is there luggage or suitcase storage on site at Alexandra Palace?
Suitcases and oversized bags exceeding 30cm x 20cm x 10cm cannot enter the Great Hall arena. Under Alexandra Palace's general venue policy, an external bag drop operates near the East Court car park at a published charge of £10 per item. However, event-specific operational availability for the 2026/27 World Darts Championship has not yet been explicitly confirmed. Spectators should confirm bag-drop availability with the venue before travelling, or use central London station left-luggage facilities (such as King's Cross St. Pancras or Euston). Internal cloakrooms accept coats only.
Can I bring food or drink into Alexandra Palace?
No outside alcohol, cans, glass bottles, or takeaway food are permitted through security checkpoints. Spectators may bring an empty reusable plastic water bottle to use at the free Palm Court refilling stations, or an unopened factory-sealed water bottle up to 500ml.
Are football shirts allowed inside the Great Hall?
No. Football club shirts, scarves, and club badges of any professional team worldwide are strictly banned. Venue security will deny entry to anyone wearing football club colors to maintain a friendly, neutral party environment.
Can you leave and re-enter Alexandra Palace during a session?
No. Alexandra Palace enforces a strict no re-entry policy. Once your ticket barcode is scanned and you pass through the turnstiles, exiting the building terminates your session admission.