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London has no shortage of celebrated theatres, but the Royal Opera House holds a distinctive place in the city’s cultural life. Standing on Bow Street in Covent Garden, it is home to The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, with a history on the site stretching back to 1732.
Performances remain central to the experience, complemented by public spaces, guided tours, exhibitions and several places to eat and drink. Open during the day as well as for evening performances, the Royal Opera House warrants more time than the curtain call alone.
A Covent Garden Cultural Landmark
The present Royal Opera House dates largely from 1858 and is the third theatre to occupy the site after its predecessors were destroyed by fire. Its classical Bow Street façade and Main Stage auditorium retain much of their Victorian character, while later redevelopment has opened the building more fully to Covent Garden.
One of its most recognisable spaces is the glass-vaulted Paul Hamlyn Hall, originally built as the Floral Hall in the 19th century. Once associated with the Covent Garden flower market, it now forms a central part of the Royal Opera House and houses dining and hospitality spaces beneath its iron-and-glass structure.
The building is open to the public during the day without a performance ticket. Visitors can explore the public areas, stop at the Ground Floor Café, browse the Royal Ballet and Opera Shop and see changing exhibitions and installations.
Opera, Ballet and the Main Stage
The Royal Opera House is the London home of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House accompanying nearly all Main Stage performances.
The Main Stage hosts major opera and ballet productions, spanning established repertory and new work. Its red and gold auditorium provides the grandest setting in the building, though attending a performance is more relaxed than the surroundings might suggest. There is no formal dress code, with audiences ranging from those dressing for the occasion to those arriving more casually.
The Linbury Theatre offers a more intimate setting for ballet, dance, opera and music, while talks, workshops and other events broaden the programme beyond full-scale productions.
Exploring Beyond the Auditorium
Free public access makes the Royal Opera House an easy daytime addition to Covent Garden. Exhibitions and installations change throughout the year, often drawing on costumes, set designs and archive material, while the Royal Ballet and Opera Shop carries books, music, gifts and RBO merchandise.
The programme also includes smaller-scale events. Recitals at Lunch bring live music to the historic Crush Room, while Live at Lunch presents lunchtime events and concerts in the Paul Hamlyn Hall. Workshops and Talks explore productions and the work of performers and creatives, and selected Tea Dances are accompanied by the Royal Opera House Dance Band.
These experiences offer another way to discover the institution without committing to a full-length opera or ballet.
Behind the Scenes
Guided tours reveal more of the working theatre. The Behind the Scenes Tour explores areas normally closed to the public, with routes changing according to rehearsals and other activity taking place that day.
The Architecture Tour focuses on the evolution of the Victorian theatre and its transformation over the centuries. Exhibition Tours provide shorter expert-led introductions to front-of-house displays, including costumes, set designs and archive material.
The programme also features limited-edition themed experiences at selected times, so it is worth checking what is scheduled alongside a visit.
Dining Above Covent Garden
On the fifth floor, Cicoria is the principal restaurant open to visitors with or without a performance ticket. Led by Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, its seasonal Italian cooking draws inspiration from Emilia-Romagna, with mains, desserts, antipasti and small plates alongside à la carte and lunch menus.
Next door, Bar Cicoria is a walk-in rooftop bar serving Italian-inspired small plates, cocktails, wines and other drinks. Its covered terrace overlooks Covent Garden Piazza, making it particularly appealing before an evening performance.
The Ground Floor Café provides a more casual daytime option, while ticket holders have additional choices before performances. The historic Crush Room, Balconies Restaurant and Paul Hamlyn Hall offer pre-theatre dining, with bars throughout the building serving drinks before performances and during intervals.
Food and drinks can be pre-ordered for the interval at selected venues, avoiding the busiest queues once the performance pauses.
Making an Evening of It
Arriving early leaves time to explore the building or settle in for dinner or drinks. For those eating at Cicoria before a performance, the Royal Opera House recommends reserving a table around two hours before curtain up.
Auditoriums generally open 30 minutes before performances. Main Stage programmes provide background on the production, cast and creative team, while interval drinks can be ordered ahead.
Punctuality matters. Latecomers may have to wait for a suitable break before entering the auditorium, potentially for up to 90 minutes, so allowing enough time for arrival and security checks is sensible.
Planning a Visit
The Royal Opera House stands on Bow Street in Covent Garden, close to Covent Garden Underground station, with Charing Cross the nearest mainline station. There is no on-site parking.
Step-free entrances are available from Bow Street and Covent Garden Piazza, with lifts serving key areas of the building. Accessible seating and essential companion tickets are available, while the free Access Scheme allows visitors to register their requirements and receive priority booking for accessible performances.
Accessible programming can include audio-described, British Sign Language interpreted and relaxed performances, with details provided for individual productions.
Cloakrooms are available to performance and tour ticket holders, and larger bags and backpacks must be checked in. Travelling light makes entry considerably simpler.
The Royal Opera House Experience
The historic auditorium may be the centrepiece, but the Royal Opera House has plenty to explore around it. Guided tours, exhibitions, smaller events and rooftop dining give visitors several ways to experience the building, whether attending a performance or spending an afternoon in Covent Garden.
For an evening visit, dinner or drinks followed by a performance by The Royal Ballet or The Royal Opera remains the classic way to experience one of London’s defining cultural institutions.
Location: Bow St, London WC2E 9DD
