london opera house tours

The Ultimate Guide to visiting the Royal Opera House

Royal opera house ultimate guide.

Many visitors in London venture to Covent Garden to shop, dine or watch street performers in the dazzling Covent Garden Piazza. But opera, ballet and classical music lovers head to Covent Garden for one reason and one reason only: To see a performance at the Royal Opera House.

Built in 1858, the current Royal Opera House is actually the third to be built at its location on Bow Street, as both of the previous theatres were destroyed by fires in 1808 and 1856.

The original venue was constructed in 1732 (when it was known as the Theatre Royal), and was originally designed to be a playhouse. However, over the years the venue expanded into the world-renowned arts venue that it is known as today, and has attracted some of the biggest names in classical and opera music.

Royal Opera House Highlights

Immediately upon entering the Covent Garden Piazza, visitors will be greeted with the massive iron and glass structure known as The Paul Hamlyn Hall (or “The Floral Hall”) which has direct access to the main opera building. This area also boasts a champagne bar and restaurant, so concertgoers can sip on a glass of champagne or have a quick meal before watching a performance.

Besides being blown away by a ballet, opera or orchestra performance, visitors can also choose from two different tours if they want to learn more about this fascinating London venue:

• The Backstage Tour – (1.5 hours) which includes visits to both the backstage and Front of House areas as the actors prepare for the evening performances. The tour also covers the history of the venue, its current productions, and may even include the rare opportunity to see the Royal Ballet in a classroom (however this is not always guaranteed).
• The Velvet, Gilt and Glamour Tour (45 minutes) where visitors can learn more about the venue’s architecture and history, and even hear stories from some of the many famous opera singers who once performed at the Royal Opera House. Visitors will also be led to the Royal Retiring Room, which is still used by members of the royal family today.

Special Tips

Getting There

Visiting royal opera house.

To find out which performances are taking place at the Royal Opera House during your visit to London, visit the “What’s On” section on their official website.

During the day, the Royal Opera House is open to the general public as well as anyone who has pre-booked a guided tour, however only ticket-holders will be allowed in during performances.

Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before each performance starts, as latecomers will not be allowed into the venue. There will be announcements alerting all concertgoers at least three times before each performance starts.

There are two bars and three different restaurants located inside the Royal Opera House, all of which open 90 minutes before the start of each performance, as well as during intervals. Please note that any food or drink is not allowed in the auditorium.

For those with mobility issues, there is lift access to all the levels of the main auditorium (except the Orchestra Stalls). If you are watching a performance with your family, children between the ages of five and 14 must be seated next to an adult, and babies and infants will not be allowed into the auditorium.

The use of cameras as well as recording equipment inside the venue is strictly prohibited. There are free cloakroom facilities, but be aware that space is extremely limited so try to avoid bringing large items with you during your visit. All visitors may be searched upon entering the venue, and all large bags and rucksacks must be placed in the cloakroom.

When to Visit

Ticket prices can range anywhere from as low as £15 to as much as £200 depending on which seat or performance you choose. Because performance times and costs may vary, be sure to check out the Royal Opera House’s official website before you visit and/or book your tickets.

Souvenir programmes are available to purchase for £7, and you can buy them in the Main Entrance Foyer, the Paul Hamlyn Hall or the Amphitheatre Lobby.

The Ticket Sales and Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

Ticket collection for the day’s performances and tours are available between Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m, and the Box Office telephone lines are open between Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Souvenir Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. The shop is normally closed on Sundays unless there is a performance, in which case its opening hours are from at least four hours before the performance starts (or 10 am.).

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London Tours Explore the Worlds of Opera and Classical Music

Fans of music from centuries past will find a wide variety of experiences and collections. One even comes with a side of rock ’n’ roll.

By Farah Nayeri

Reporting from London

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the red velvet curtains at the Royal Opera House? Do you relish a bit of backstage gossip or enjoy looking at centuries-old instruments? London has a rich variety of tours and collections for opera and classical-music enthusiasts. Here’s a selection.

Royal Opera House

Who were some of the women who made history at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden? It’s a question that the opera house is answering in detail in a tour that runs through Aug. 12.

Among the many stars the tour is spotlighting is a soprano who gave a whole new meaning to the word “diva”: Adelina Patti (1843-1919), an Italian who made her opera debut in New York at 16, then crossed the Atlantic for a 23-year Covent Garden career.

She was admired for her coloratura singing and feared for her business chops. According to the tour organizers, she demanded to be paid in gold at least half an hour before each stage appearance and commanded $100,000 per show (in today’s money). And in a performance as Violetta in “La Traviata,” she wore a custom gown encrusted with 3,700 of her own diamonds.

The singer comes up in another tour : an outdoor one organized jointly by the Royal Opera House and the Bow Street Police Museum that runs through Aug. 31. During Patti’s diamond-studded performance of “La Traviata” at the Theatre Royal (the precursor of the current opera house), security had to be reinforced in a big way because of the precious stones embedded in her gown. Covent Garden at the time teemed with pickpockets, robbers, criminals and even murderers. So police officers surreptitiously joined the chorus onstage — where they could get as close as possible to the soprano and go unnoticed.

Royal Albert Hall

With 5,272 seats, Royal Albert Hall is more comparable in size to an arena than to a classical-music concert hall; in fact, the Cirque du Soleil regularly performs there. It’s named after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, and was inaugurated in 1871, a decade after his death. You can hear that royal back story and get the lowdown on the hall’s tricky acoustics in an hourlong tour . The tour also covers some of the luminaries who graced the main stage (such as Albert Einstein and Muhammad Ali) and some of the more outlandish events held in the hall, including a séance and an opera performance for which the auditorium was flooded with 56,000 liters (nearly 15,000 gallons) of water.

Handel Hendrix House

The museum , in a Georgian townhouse at 25 Brook Street in Mayfair, has a rich history: George Frideric Handel lived there from 1723 until his death in 1759. (Jimi Hendrix rented an apartment on the top floor in the late 1960s, but that’s another story .) The house is now a museum where you can visit Handel’s bedroom, the dining room where he rehearsed and gave private recitals, and the basement kitchen. This is where Handel composed “Zadok the Priest,” the British coronation anthem, which was recently performed for King Charles III. Here, too, Handel wrote “Messiah,” which took him about three weeks to compose.

Speaking of “Messiah,” if you would like to see the first published score of songs from the oratorio, head to the Foundling Museum, on the grounds of the Foundling Hospital, a children’s home in Bloomsbury. The score was donated by Handel, one of the hospital’s major benefactors, who gave benefit concerts there and even composed an anthem for his first one. Also on display: Handel’s will.

Royal College of Music

The Royal College of Music has a collection of more than 14,000 objects covering five centuries of music making. That includes about 1,000 musical instruments, such as the world’s earliest-dated guitar.

A new exhibition features hidden treasures from the collection, including a photograph of Mary Garden. She was a Scottish-born soprano who moved to the United States in the late 19th century, joined the Opéra Comique in Paris in 1900 and premiered the role of Mélisande in “Pelléas et Mélisande,” the only opera that Debussy ever completed.

Also on display is a yuequin , a stringed instrument from the ancient city of Guangzhou in China, which was brought to London in the early 19th century and acquired by King George IV.

Farah Nayeri writes on art and culture in Europe. She is the author of “Takedown: Art and Power in the Digital Age.” More about Farah Nayeri

Let Us Help You Love Classical Music Even More

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That’s just the beginning: Here are five minutes to fall in love with  tenors, the flute, the trumpet, Brahms, string quartets and so much more.

Royal Opera House

• Covent Garden • 2 min walk
• Leicester Square • 6 min walk

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What's On at the Royal Opera House

Whether you're new to ballet and opera or you've loved them all your life, Royal Opera House something for you.

From incredible tours, free family activities to extraordinary lunchtime experiences there is always something happening in the Royal Opera House.

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Royal Opera House: London Opera House Tours

Last updated: 03/26/2023

Discover the Royal Opera House, the incredible Opera House in London, which hosts incredible opera and ballet shows, in addition to offering very interesting tours.

THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

Located in the bustling region of Covent Garden , the Royal Opera House is an opera house, where various artistic performances of opera, ballet, music are held. The venue is home to the Royal Opera, Royal Ballet and Royal Orchestra. The current building is the third to be built in this space. Initially, in 1732, the Theater Royal was inaugurated, which served as a theater in its first years of existence and, later, received ballet and opera performances, mainly by the German composer Handel. After a fire in 1808, a second Theater Royal was built and opened the following year. The theater hosted mostly opera and ballet performances. A new fire destroyed the second theater in 1856.

The current building, known as the Royal Opera House (ROH), was built in 1858. During World War II, it served as a ballroom. In 1946, the building reopened with a performance of “Sleeping Beauty” and, in 1947, it hosted the first performance of “Carmen” by Bizet. During the 1990s, the building underwent extensive renovation and reconstruction works. Its magnificent main auditorium has a capacity of over 2,200 people and consists of four levels of boxes and balconies and the amphitheater gallery.

OTHER ROYAL OPERA HOUSE STRUCTURES

>> paul hamlyn hall.

It is a large iron and glass structure adjacent to and with direct access to the main opera building. The room now functions as the atrium and main public area of the opera house, with a champagne bar, restaurant and other services, as well as providing access to the main auditorium on all levels. As well as acting as a main public area for performances in the main auditorium, Paul Hamlyn Hall is also used to host a range of events including private functions, dances, exhibitions, concerts and workshops.

>> LINBURY STUDIO THEATER

Linbury Studio Theater is a secondary, flexible performance space built below ground level within the Royal Opera House. It has a retractable seat and a floor that can be raised or lowered to form a studio floor, raised stage or orchestra pit stage. The theater can accommodate up to 400 patrons and host a variety of different events. It has been used for private events, traditional theater shows and concerts, as well as community and educational events, product launches, dinners and exhibitions.

>> PRODUCTION WORKSHOP & COSTUME CENTER

In 2010, the Royal Opera House opened a space for the creation of sets for its presentations. O Tamar Manoukin Production Workshop it is home to scenic painters, carpenters and metalworkers. Here they turn designers' visions into reality, creating the diverse backdrops that appear in ballets and operas. In 2015, the inauguration of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Costume Center , offers a costume-making facility for the Royal Opera House and features over 20,000 costumes from current repertoire, historical costumes, musical instruments and furniture from the collection. The Costume Center also has a training center for costume making students. There is specific tours to know the place.

ECONOMY IN LONDON: ACTIVITY CARDS For those who want to do many things and visit many paid places in London, the suggestion is to purchase one of the cards that give you direct access to attractions and ride the tourist bus, saving a lot! O  THE LONDON PASS   is the most famous of them. The card can be purchased in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 days. It entitles you to entry to over 60 of London's top attractions and 1 day tour on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. In addition, the card offers more than 20 exclusive special offers at some of the city's shops and restaurants. See the full list of included attractions in this link . Price: from £69. Read more:  What to do in London – Complete itinerary of 5 days or more  

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE TOURS

As well as attending one of the wonderful performances at the Royal Opera House (see show schedule here ), the Royal Opera House offers guided tours to see behind the scenes of one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. Some tours are seasonal and last for a short period of time, but others tend to be fixed (see all options in this link ). Then check out the main types of tours available. We recommend that you buy the ticket online to guarantee the visit on the desired day and time:

>> BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR

This guided tour allows you to embark on various corners of the building that are generally not accessible to the public. Through this tour it is possible to learn about the history of the Royal Opera House, how the productions are staged and some interesting curiosities. The tour lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs £16.

>> VELVET, GILT AND GLAMOR TOUR

This is the premier tour for anyone looking to explore London's oldest Victorian auditorium. The Royal Opera House main stage has hosted spectacular performances by the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera and Royal Opera House Orchestra since it was built in 1858. The tour allows you to learn more about architecture, hear stories of artists who have taken center stage and learn about the cutting-edge technology that keeps the theater running. This tour starts at the back of the Superior Amphitheater, which is the highest part of the auditorium. The tour lasts around 1 hour and costs £16. It was this tour that I took when I visited the Royal Opera House. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to take pictures during the visit.

>> HERSTORY OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

This guided tour immerses you in the history of the Royal Opera House through the experiences of the amazing women who built it. The idea is to observe, over the years of history, the inspiring women who led the opera house through tumultuous and exciting periods, such as choreographers and composers. The tour lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs £16.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

There are several gastronomic options at the Royal Opera House. Below, find out more about them.

• ROYAL OPERA HOUSE CAFÉ: It's a restaurant offering freshly made salads, sandwiches, pastries and hot drinks made by baristas during the day with fresh food, cocktails and champagne at night. It is located on the ground floor of the main foyer, next to the main entrance on Bow Street and opens daily from 12:00. check the menu here .
• PIAZZA: O square is a drinks and small plates restaurant with a sustainably sourced menu using the finest produce from the London market. It is located on the 5th floor of the Royal Opera House. To get there, use the stairs in the main lobby and head to the 4th floor next to Paul Hamlyn Hall and take the escalator. You can also take the elevator on the right side of the Main Stage auditorium entrance on the ground floor. The restaurant opens from 12:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Saturday and from 12:00 to 18:00 on Sundays. Check out the menus: à la carte , lunch , drinks , wine list
• BALCONIES RESTAURANT:  This fine dining restaurant features the best of modern British cuisine and offers incredible views of Paul Hamlyn Hall from the mezzanine level. To access, use the foyer stairs or the grand staircase of the historic Bow Street entrance. There are glass stairs on each side of the Hall to reach the mezzanine level. The restaurant opens around showtimes. See the menu in this link .

• CRUSH ROOM:  For those looking for more formal dining, check out this 1858 restaurant, decorated with 17th-century Flemish artwork, as well as two crystal chandeliers fashioned from the original chandelier that once stood in the center of the main auditorium. The Crush Room is above the historic entrance on Bow Street and is accessed by stairs or walking through Paul Hamlyn Hall towards the auditorium or you can take the lift on either side of the ground floor main auditorium entrance to access the Crush Room. The restaurant opens around showtimes. See the menu here .
• PAUL HAMLYN HALL CHAMPAGNE BAR: Located in a beautiful hall in the heart of the Royal Opera House, this venue serves champagnes and small plates, such as traditional sandwiches. It is located on the lower level of the beautiful glass-vaulted hall and is open during performance times. To arrive, simply use the foyer stairs or the grand staircase of the historic Bow Street entrance or take the elevator on the left hand side of the entrance to the Main Stage auditorium on the ground floor. check the menu here .

• DORFMAN CONSERVATORY:  This bar has a great selection of champagnes and cocktails. It is located above the historic entrance on Bow Street and is accessed by taking the stairs or crossing Paul Hamlyn Hall towards the auditorium. You can also take the elevator on either side of the ground floor main auditorium entrance to access the Dorfman Conservatory. check the menu in this link .
• LINBURY BAR:  The Linbury Bar serves drinks and small plates and is located in the Linbury Foyer on the ground floor. Take the elevator on the left side of the main auditorium entrance on the ground floor. The bar only opens at the time of the presentations. see the menu in this link .

HOW TO REACH ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

The Royal Opera House is super well located in Covent Garden , an incredible location for shopping, dining and entertainment. To get to the place by public transport, there are some good options:

• SUBWAY: The closest stations are Covent Garden ( Piccadilly Line ), Leicester Square ( Piccadilly Line and Northern Line ), Holborn ( Piccadilly Line and Central Line ), Charing Cross ( Northern Line and Bakerloo Line ) and Tottenham Court Road ( Piccadilly Line , Central Line and elizabeth line ).
• TRAIN: The nearest train stations are Charing Cross, Waterloo and Euston.
• BUS: There are several bus lines that serve the region. The nearest stops are Aldwych, Drury Lane and Leicester Square Station. We recommend that you do a simulation on Google Maps to see which is the best option for your case.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Royal opera house.

• Address:  Bow St, London WC2E 9DD, England, United Kingdom
• Schedules:  daily from 12:00 (closing times vary)
• Entrance: tours from £16

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Private Tours

Find out more about how you can book a bespoke Royal Opera House tour for you and your party.

TAILORED TO YOU

Explore the Royal Opera House with a custom tour expertly arranged to fit you and your group's needs.

We offer a selection of bespoke packages to make your experience a truly special one. An expert tour guide will be on hand to tailor your visit to you, whether you'd prefer your tour in a different language or want a closer look at a particular interest.  

Get in touch today to book your very own exclusive visit delivered by our dedicated team.

The magic of Ballet and Opera at your fingertips

Private tours are a wonderful way for you to explore our Covent Garden venue in a unique experience created just for you. Find out below just some of the arrangements that we can deliver for you and your party.

Your private tour could include:

• A premium experience of a tour of your choice available for 2-9 people.
• A translation to your chosen language (German, Polish, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese) if needed.
• Possibility for your tour to be given when we are closed to the general public, giving you full, unique access to our building.
• A bespoke hospitality package to be included as part of your experience.

Have something particular in mind?

Our team are keen to make your perfect tour a reality. Get in touch today to discuss your wishes and we can help design a package to best suit your needs.

*Quotes for prices dependent on scale and delivery of your requirements. 

Proposal tour

Looking for a one in a million proposal idea?

Experience your dream marriage proposal, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most famous stages.  

Enjoy a bespoke tour for you and your partner around our beautiful historic venue in the heart of Covent Garden. Then, pop the question in one of the most romantic places to propose - the grand Royal Box.  

An experience to remember

Our team will be on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly so you can relax and enjoy that magic moment with your loved one in one of the best places to propose in London.

What you will receive:

• Private 60 minute ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the building with the option to tailor the tour around a specific area of interest
• 10 minutes in the Royal Box for the proposal
• Reserved table at one of the Royal Opera House bars for champagne and a sharing dessert
• Bouquet of flowers
• Framed Royal Opera House tickets personalised to your name and engagement date

Email [email protected] to find out more.

Schools Tours

Bring your student's learning to life with a look behind the scenes into a professional working theatre.

With an offer that can be flexibly adapted around particular areas of interest, get in touch to find out more about what we can deliver to compliment your curriculum.

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London & Bath Theatre Tour

Travel to London and Bath with Goodspeed!

October 15 - 25, 2023

This year Goodspeed is traveling to London and Bath! See the best that London theatre has to offer with your fellow Goodspeed members before we head over to Bath, the UNESCO World Heritage site that has been a travel destination since Roman times. Space is limited, so call today to book your trip. 

Group airfare, including round-trip transportation is available on United Airlines. 

If you love theatre, this is the trip for you. Our itinerary will include:

• 6 nights in London at The Bloomsbury Hotel
• 3 nights in Bath at Gainsborough Bath Spa
• Full English Breakfast daily
• Welcome dinner featuring a London theatre expert
• 6 theatrical productions (See Below)
• Farewell dinner in Bath at the Roman Baths and Pump Room
• And so much more!

This Year's Performances Are:

This energetic 19th-century ballet is enlivened by Ludwig Minkus’ spirited score, and is a wonderful showcase for the virtuosity of The Royal Ballet's Principal dancers. Created for The Royal Ballet a decade ago, Carlos Acosta’s exuberant production brings the sunshine and charm of Spain to the Main Stage with Tim Hatley’s characterful designs.

Their relationship is like no other. And yet, it’s like all others. Clare is a talented sculptor and Henry is – well – a time traveller. They meet, fall in love, and marry – but not in that order. Flung apart by time but united by love, Henry is always trying to get back to Clare. Their journey is one of resilience, impossibilities, and trying to hold on to each other when everything is pulling you apart.

Based on Audrey Niffenegger’s internationally best-selling novel, this new British musical is thrillingly brought to life with original songs from Grammy Award winners Joss Stone and Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. Adapted by multi award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson, the London premiere is helmed by acclaimed British director Bill Buckhurst ( Sweeney Todd ), with design by Anna Fleischle and illusions by Chris Fisher ( Back to the Future: The Musical  &  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ).

The Bridge transforms for one of the greatest musicals of all time. It has more hit songs, more laughs and more romance than any show ever written. The seating is wrapped around the action while the immersive tickets transport you to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana in the unlikeliest of love stories.

When one moment changes everything, Henry finds himself split between a past he no longer recognises and a future he can’t even begin to imagine. As he learns to navigate this new world, can he find a way to take control of his life, and keep his family from falling apart?

Based on the Sunday Times best-selling autobiography by Henry Fraser,  The Little Big Things  is a new British musical with an explosive theatrical pop soundtrack in a world premiere production. This uplifting and colourful new musical is a life-affirming story of courage, transformation and a reminder that it’s the little things that really do matter the most.

Theatre-mad Bobby Child is torn between his show-business dreams and running the family bank. He reluctantly heads west to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a theatre’s mortgage, only to fall for the theatre owner’s daughter, Polly. Desperate to prove his good faith, Bobby decides to put on a show – complete with dancers from the glamorous Zangler Follies in New York City – to save the theatre, renew the town and hopefully win Polly’s love.

Directed and choreographed by multi-Tony® and Olivier award winner Susan Stroman, this spectacular production transfers from a sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Starring Charlie Stemp, the Olivier-nominated star of  Half a Sixpence  and  Mary Poppins,  as Bobby, Carly Anderson, star of  Wicked,  as Polly, and Drama Desk Award winner Tom Edden as Bela Zangler.

Theatre Royal, Bath

Legendary stage and screen actor Brian Cox (HBO’s multi-award winning  Succession ) comes to the Theatre Royal Bath for the very first time, playing Johann Sebastian Bach in the world premiere of Oliver Cotton's new play  The Score .

Spring 1747. Potsdam, Prussia. Johann Sebastian Bach reluctantly visits the court of Frederick II, Europe’s most ambitious and dangerous leader.

The two men could hardly be more different. As the Age of Enlightenment dawns, they stand in opposite camps. Bach is deeply religious, Frederick is an atheist. Bach loathes war, Frederick revels in it. Bach studies scripture, Frederick reads military history. Frederick remains in awe of Bach’s genius however and has mischievously prepared a musical conundrum that he hopes will baffle the composer and amuse his court.

The explosive events of the following days could not have been predicted by either man. LEARN MORE

"Goodspeed's trip exceeded expectations-which you always do." -Jim and Lousie Wilmot, Naples, FL

"You organized and led a wonderful week, one that was perfectly balanced between free time and planned events. It was my first trip since my husband died and I had a wonderful time. I look forward to another trip." -Betsy Russell, Bloomfield, CT

“Thank you for making the London trip a most memorable one! It was truly enjoyable from beginning to end; the plays were wonderful; the company delightful; the accommodations most comfortable and the three of you were the BEST! Thank you, thank you, thank you for a great London experience!” -Roger Glass and Larry Mullins, Dayton, OH 

“Albert and I are having the time of our life. It is thrilling to be here!!!! What a privilege to be a part of this group. We are meeting the most fun, interesting, and like-minded theatre folk, and are having a ball each day seeing our shows and discussing our adventures.” -Robbie Kestnbaum, Greenwich

Follow our travelers on past tours:

• 2019 London Tour Blog
• 2018 London Tour Blog
• 2017 London Tour Blog
• 2016 London & Edinbburgh Tour Blog
• 2015 London Tour Blog
• 2014 London Tour Blog
• 2012 London Tour Blog

2011 London Tour

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