This is the most interesting roof in London.

The @royalalberthall is 150 years old; the roof is 600 tonnes of glass and steel. And it turns out that there's a terrifying technicians' trampoline, acoustic-dampening mushrooms, and a complete lack of connections.

(The Royal Albert Hall is within the Hyde Park no-fly-zone. Drone operations were specially permitted and approved by the aviation authorities.)

(you can find contact details and social links there too)

[TomScottGo]

I wish I'd had a bit more time up on the mesh, to get used to it - but we had to be finished by the time rehearsals for the day started!

[MaxxMcGeePrivate]

Kudos to the camera guy who was walking on the mesh too. With no free hands.

[dodgeman]

If it’s not permanently attached, does that make it technically a lid?

[xxsimonsxx]

I love how Tom gets terrified of walking in the mesh and then the cameraman is just chilling there, already standing on it

[Steets]

The engineer saying that most people, including the fire brigade, just hold his hand to get across the mesh, and then JUMPING on the mesh to prove its safety is awesome.

[Zebra_Cakes]

The reaction “oh my god don’t bounce on it!” Was so genuine 😂
I would be terrified as well

[shanerc]

So what you're saying, is that every director that has made a scene of London being destroyed by some natural disaster has missed a golden opportunity to show the roof of the Royal Albert Hall being lifted off and cartwheeling through the city? Or maybe they have and now I know to look for it.

[Lulu-qpjm]

I feel your "this completely illogical" statement Tom. I am a civil engineer. I know how over built bridges are. I still can't walk on anything like glass where I can see down.

[philipsheehan]

I used to be a theatre tech, the best part of it was seeing how the new techies reacted to the grid. Some would avoid it like the plague, others would use it like a trampoline. It was amazing bouncy

[leinadreign]

I really love how Tom isnt shying away from showing his fear of heights and holding the inspectors arm for safety.
Something you arent seeing often.

[bigclivedotcom]

Tension grids are great once you get used to the idea of walking on air. Actually really practical for gaining easy access to lights.

[StuffandThings_]

Victorian engineering is just so wild. Some stuff is incredibly overengineered, whilst at the same time some stuff is incredibly underengineered. Its like that awkward point in the industrial revolution where they became confident enough with the new industrial capabilities to start doing some really crazy stuff, but there wasn't enough precedent to really know what was or wasn't enough. The Forth Bridge and the Tay Bridge (the one that collapsed) are a great example of this juxtaposition.

[Archgeek]

"Terrifying Technicians' Trampoline" is a deeply glorious phrase. Well stated, Tom.

[mitchellwalker]

Can we just applaud Scott’s cameraman for filming him while walking on the mesh

[KSchawacker]

I'm an event production rigger and I can confidently say that that I still experience vertigo above about 50ft. It's completely normal and something that gets easier the more you work at height. No shame in seeking hand holds at those heights.

[Nttmf]

Victorian engineering at its pinnacle. I wish more people would acknowledge the workers that constructed these amazing buildings.

[KeithHearnPlus]

I love how Tom isn't afraid to, well, be afraid on camera. I think it's one of the reasons he has such a great following. He feels more like a friend than a celebrity.

[localfloridaman]

Tom: I'm scared of heights
The cameraman: I don't have such weaknesses

[emmarubacava]

Hello Theatre Lighting Technician here,
Wire tension grids are a god send! I always feel so much safer and more confident when rigging and focusing from a wire tension grid as opposed to ladders or harness work or more traditional common place grids that are just iron beams with gaps big enough for your foot to slip through. Wire tension grids I’ve worked on in the past have had huge signs up that say “THIS IS NOT A TRAMPOLINE!” however…
Fantastic video! Thank you for making it and thanks Royal Albert Hall for the backstage tour!

[theshinxhunter]

I love how Tom both fully admits his fears when confronted with something that terrifies him, and does his best to face them and experience something cool. It’s really admirable.