Royal Opera House
Rich in history, the Royal Opera House is a major venue for performing arts in London
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: YesAddress: Bow St, London WC2E 9DD, UK
Phone: 020 7304 4000
Official Website: Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House Reviews
Rated out of 5
An absolutely magnificent experience at the Royal Opera House! The production was superb, and the artists were true masters of their craft—such incredible professionals. 🩰🎭🎶
The venue itself is stunning; the auditorium is beautifully decorated, and the whole atmosphere is enhanced by how elegantly dressed the audience is.
A truly special evening. Highly recommend for a world-class performance. ✨
SunShine Summer - 2 months ago
An absolutely incredible performance of The Nutcracker. It had a truly special Christmas vibe.
The sets and the acting were unreal. The scene changes were so smooth, and every new set somehow looked even more impressive than the last. A live orchestra playing Tchaikovsky. That massive Christmas tree rolling onto the stage and rising up.
And the atmosphere of the Royal Opera House — something truly special: magical, historic, unforgettable. It feels like real luck to catch this show in December. And the dancers’ performance was simply outstanding.
Ilia Klinkin - a month ago
What can I say… one of my favourite places on earth. Such flawless, gorgeous productions, timeless masterpieces, both ballet and opera represented and on what level! I guess one of my favourite aspects of RBO though is that you really get all sorts of people there, and everyone is treated equally. So simple yet so hard to achieve for many establishments. I’ve never experienced snobbery there, regardless of how I was dressed and what kind of seat I had. Just a fabulous, glorious place to visit.
Monika S - a month ago
Fantastic venue and company showing ballet and opera.
Young Opera tickets are amazing and help young people like me engage with the arts for reasonable prices.
Views are pretty decent any where in auditorium, though the seats are more cramped the higher up you go.
The shop offers lots of themed and seasonal merchandise, though it could have more opera related items.
Free tap water available throughout the House and is appreciated along with the free cloak room service too. Though the queues to collect after the show are a bit manic!
Libbi Gamble - a month ago
A joyous, heartwarming delight, The Royal Ballet's performance of La Fille mal gardée was a masterclass in comic ballet. The dancers, led by a radiant Marianela Nuñez as Lise, brought Frederick Ashton's witty choreography to life with impeccable technique and infectious charm. Nuñez was perfectly paired with Vadim Muntagirov, their playful, ribbon-entwined pas de deux radiating with youthful love. The ensemble scenes, especially the intricately-woven maypole dance, showcased the company's precision and polish. From the barnyard humor to the exquisite footwork, this production was a truly uplifting and effervescent experience.
Highly recommended for any occasion.
Evi - 2 months ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Picadilly Line | Covent Garden | 2 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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Photo Gallery
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View from balcony inside the Royal Opera House cc licensed photo by Chris -
Photo Credit: Donnchadh H - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Donnchadh H - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Donnchadh H - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Arbron - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Arbron - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Donnchadh H - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr
