Over the years, numerous renowned performers have declared hello Wembley while surveying the famous stadium complex.
However, few may have been aware that beneath their feet lay the remnants of an advanced swimming facility from the 1930s, once celebrated as an extraordinary aquatic centre.
The venue now known as OVO Wembley Arena originated as the Empire Pool and has become one of Britain’s most storied concert halls, yet today the drained basin and its original wave-generating equipment sit hidden directly underneath the current audience areas.
The structure’s white Art Deco architecture emerged in mid-1934 when entrepreneur Arthur Elvin sought to maximise usage of the British Empire Exhibition grounds beyond the neighbouring stadium.
This exhibition actually prompted construction of the original Wembley Stadium itself, functioning as a vast imperial trade exposition held in impressive pavilions during 1924 and 1925 that attracted 27 million attendees and required a spacious arena for its opening and closing ceremonies.
Ten years later, on land previously occupied by the exhibition, civil engineer Sir Owen Williams conceived a reinforced concrete structure featuring three imposing arches to create an interior free of supporting columns, twenty windows, and one side that opened onto a sunbathing area and landscaped gardens.
While intended primarily for swimming competitions, the facility was engineered to be versatile, equipped with a detachable floor surface that could transform it into an ice skating rink or multi-sport arena.
The venue’s inaugural major international competition was the 1934 British Empire Games, where it was promoted as the world’s wonder pool.
Notably ahead of its era, it provided Olympic-standard indoor facilities measuring 200 feet in length and 60 feet in width, later welcoming swimming and boxing competitions during the 1948 London Olympic Games.
Daily attendance reached up to 5,000 visitors who came to swim, leap from elevated platforms, or anticipate a signal triggering hidden mechanisms beneath the 16-foot deep section to produce six-foot swells.
By 1948, public swimming sessions had ceased and the complex accommodated diverse sporting activities ranging from ice hockey to tennis, cricket, basketball and badminton.
Its conversion into an entertainment complex began in the 1950s. With the swimming area concealed beneath temporary flooring, the venue presented ice pantomimes, festive celebrations, basketball demonstrations by touring American teams, and equestrian exhibitions.
The final occasion the pool held water occurred in 1956 for an appearance by swimming performer Esther Williams.
During the following decade, legendary acts including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who took to the stage, and in 1974 a permanent floor was installed, permanently entombing the original pool beneath concrete.
The distinguished structure received Grade II protected status in 1976. Though long referred to as The Empire Pool, it officially became Wembley Arena on February 1, 1978, signifying its establishment as a permanent entertainment destination.
Iconic performers such as Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Queen, ABBA and Pink Floyd delivered memorable concerts at the complex, which continued developing through subsequent decades with substantial renovations enhancing amenities for spectators and artists alike.
Despite its entertainment focus, the venue has maintained its sporting function for select competitions.
When London hosted the 2012 Olympic Games, the facility accommodated badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events, echoing its role in the 1948 Games.
Currently operating as OVO Arena Wembley, the venue is recognised as an innovator in flexible indoor event spaces and an essential component of London’s cultural infrastructure.