Royal Opera House

Rich in history, the Royal Opera House is a major venue for performing arts in London

Bow Street entrance to the Royal Opera House
Bow Street entrance to the Royal Opera House cc licensed photo by markhillary

The Royal Opera House, a prominent venue for opera and performing arts in London is located in the district of Covent Garden the building is often referred to by the same name.

The theatre is home to The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet and to the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

The original building called the Theatre Royal was built in 1732 and functioned primarily as a playhouse for it's first 100 years. The theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1808 and rebuilt by 1809. It was later destroyed in yet another fire in 1856 and replaced by a new building in 1858, which still forms much of the present building. In 1892 the theatre was named the Royal Opera House or ROH for short. It served as a dance hall during the Second World War. From 1996 through 2000 major reconstruction and enhancement took place which included the old Covent Garden Market creating an extensive new gathering place.

The Royal Opera House has collections of several hundred thousand items that highlight the history of the ROH. You can visit exhibitions of some of these collections on Monday to Friday from 10am to 3:30pm.

For more information about the Royal Opera House as well as performances and schedules visit their official site at the link below.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Friday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Saturday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
  • Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM

Address: Bow St, London WC2E 9DD, UK

Phone: 020 7304 4000

Official Website: Royal Opera House

Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating The Royal Opera House is an impressive venue. The acoustics are great, and the seats are comfortable enough for long productions. The staff is friendly and professional. Prices at the bar are reasonable. Generally, you have a good view from most seats. I tried the Director’s Box and Row E, and the views were great. It is centrally located and features a classic, luxurious design with a touch of modernity.
Roy Peleg - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Beautiful venue with great facilities. I've been to the opera here twice in last six months. The acoustics are fantastic and the stage sets were incredible. It always feels like a very special experience. You can order drinks and snacks including crips or sandwiches for the interval.
Frances Lawrence - 2 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating We went to the nutcracker spectacle in December and we got tickets for the amphitheater, Row J, Seat 52-no armrests. Even though we were at the top, we were still able to fully enjoy the ballet and the orchestra. Additionally, we easily found our seats thanks to the staff members. It is important to keep in mind that tickets sell out quickly so if you want to attend to the ballet you have to buy the tickets in advance. (We bought our tickets in August and the event was in December) Congratulations to the dancers and musicians🌟!
Bárbara R V - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Absolutely fantastic. The orchestra. The dancers. Such a high quality performance the best!! The costumes. The decor. All is majestic and spectacular. The staff is kind and helpful. I had the best evening. I watched the nutcracker on Dec 7 2023. I will definitely come again as soon as I go back to the UK. My best UK experience this Xmas. Just Magic. Thank you so much and continue ROH team
carine - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Stunning. It wasn’t on my bucket list but should have been. We saw and heard a wonderful performance. May I thank the staff. We must have spoken to at least 6 or 7 of them over the evening. They were so helpful, and accommodating, and just seemed interested in what they were doing. Many many thanks for a lovely evening, an experience to cherish.
David Tee - 2 months ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Picadilly LineCovent Garden2 Minutes

How to get to Royal Opera House by Tube

From Covent Garden Tube Station exit onto Long Acre and go right(east), then go right onto Bow Street. The Royal Opera House is just ahead on the right.

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