WHAT'S ON AT THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDON
The Royal Opera House, also known as The Royal Ballet and Opera, is home to The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet. It originally opened in 1732 but is the third building on this site. Within two years of opening, Handel’s operas were being performed. Many were specifically written for the venue and had their premiere there.
The Royal Opera House is the third largest auditorium in London with a seating capacity of 2’256. As well as operas and ballets, the venue hosts behind the scenes tours, open rehearsal events, family days, recitals, summer schools, afternoon teas, and tea dances. Originally opened as a playhouse, the venue performed pantomimes and plays and even became a dance hall during the Second World War.
The Royal Ballet and Opera is also home to The Paul Hamlyn Hall, the main public area often used for events, conferences, dances, exhibitions, concerts, and workshops. The Linbury Studio Theatre has a capacity of 400 and is a flexible theatre space. Events to look forward to include A Single Man, Tosca, The Magic Flute, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Nutcracker. Book your tickets online below for The Royal Opera House.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Royal Opera House, London
Sip and Sketch - Royal Ballet & Opera Costume Design Tour
Royal Opera House
Sat 2 Aug - Sun 19 Oct 2025
Royal Opera House Behind the Scenes Tour
Royal Opera House
Sat 2 Aug - Fri 31 Oct 2025
Royal Opera House Family Sundays
Royal Opera House
Sun 26 Oct - Sun 30 Nov 2025
HerStory of the Royal Opera House Tour
Royal Opera House
Thu 14 Aug - Sat 27 Sep 2025
Royal Ballet - The Nutcracker
Royal Opera House
Sat 22 Nov 2025 - Mon 5 Jan 2026
Royal Opera House Architecture Tour
Royal Opera House
Mon 4 - Wed 6 Aug 2025
What's On at the Royal Opera House, London
Paul Taylor Dance Company: Concertiana + Echo + Esplanade

Royal Opera House, London
Wednesday 28 - Saturday 31 January 2026
Snapshots of American modern dance, presented by Paul Taylor Dance Company.? ...Boris Godunov

Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 29 January - Wednesday 18 February 2026
Richard Jones? acclaimed staging of Mussorgsky?s awe-inspiring opera returns, starring Bryn Terfel as the tormented Tsar. Mark Wigglesworth conducts. ...Pierrot Lunaire

Royal Opera House, London
Tuesday 10 - Saturday 21 February 2026
In the year of the American choreographer's centenary, The Royal Ballet revives Glen Tetley?s surreal ballet of melancholy and mischief under the moonlight. ...Giselle

Royal Opera House, London
Saturday 14 February - Friday 20 March 2026
Experience the quintessential Romantic ballet Giselle?in Peter Wright?s atmospheric and bewitching production. ...Royal Opera - Siegfried

Main Stage
Tuesday 17 March - Monday 6 April 2026
Conductor Antonio Pappano and director Barrie Kosky return for the triumphant third chapter of Wagner's Ring cycle. Moments of transcendent beauty and heroic triumph sparkle in the third chapter of Wagner's Ring cycle, brought to life u...Rigoletto

Royal Opera House, London
Wednesday 25 March - Thursday 23 April 2026
Verdi?s most famous opera returns, with Oliver Mears? darkly elegant production. Acclaimed Verdi specialist Mark Elder conducts. ...The Turn of the Screw

Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 26 March - Monday 6 April 2026
Benjamin Britten?s chilling opera on fear, guilt and the corrupt depths of the human psyche comes to life in an atmospheric new staging.? ...Mayerling

Royal Opera House, London
Monday 30 March - Monday 18 May 2026
An intoxicating mix of dangerous desires, family secrets and political intrigue spirals into a royal disaster in Kenneth MacMillan?s psychologically thrilling ballet, inspired by real life events. ...International Draft Works 2026

Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 16 - Saturday 18 April 2026
New works made by emerging choreographic voices are presented by The Royal Ballet, together with various international companies. ...International Draft Works 2025

Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 16 - Saturday 18 April 2026
A showcase of the ever-changing art form of ballet. ...Wayne McGregor: Alchemies

Royal Opera House, London
Saturday 18 April - Wednesday 6 May 2026
The world premiere of a new ballet by Wayne McGregor, alongside Yugen, a poetic response to Leonard Bernstein?s Chichester Psalms, and Untitled, 2023, his powerful artistic collaboration with Carmen Herrera. ? ...Jette Parker Artists: Three Chamber Operas

Royal Opera House, London
Friday 1 - Friday 8 May 2026
The Jette Parker Artists perform works by Elizabeth Maconchy, Charlotte Bray and Elena Langer. ...Royal Opera - Peter Grimes

Main Stage
Tuesday 5 - Thursday 28 May 2026
Britten's brooding opera returns. Deborah Warner's staging foregrounds the vulnerability and volatility of the shunned Peter Grimes, and the tragic conflict between the individual and group. Allan Clayton, Bryn Terfel and Maria Bengtsson st...Samson et Dalila

Royal Opera House, London
Wednesday 13 May - Wednesday 3 June 2026
Richard Jones?s ?vibrant? (The Guardian) production returns, starring the electrifying Aigul Akhmetshina and SeokJong Baek as the biblical lovers. ...Tulsa Ballet: Made in America

Royal Opera House, London
Wednesday 13 - Sunday 17 May 2026
Oklahoma?s premier ballet company performs in the Linbury Theatre for the first time, bringing works by Yuri Possokhov, Nicolo Fonte and Andy Blankenbuehler. ...The Marriage of Figaro
Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 4 June - Thursday 2 July 2026
Mozart?s comic opera is packed with plot twists, forbidden desires and unforgettable melodies, combining laugh-out-loud comedy with moments of breathtaking beauty. ...So Are We: León and Lightfoot

Royal Opera House, London
Thursday 11 - Saturday 20 June 2026
The Royal Ballet presents two Company premieres by Spanish/British choreographers Sol Le?n and Paul Lightfoot. This stirring mixed programme marks the first time a British company performs the work of the acclaimed contemporary choreographi...I Puritani

Royal Opera House, London
Tuesday 30 June - Sunday 19 July 2026
Richard Jones directs a new staging of Bellini?s last opera I puritani, featuring a sublime score and a passionate love story. ...Royal Opera - La Bohème

Main Stage
Wednesday 1 - Saturday 25 July 2026
With its Parisian setting, tender exploration of first love and both humorous and heartbreaking celebration of friendship, La boheme captivates audiences time and time again, making it the perfect choice for your first visit to the opera. R...La bohème

Royal Opera House, London
Wednesday 1 - Saturday 25 July 2026
Experience your first opera with Puccini?s famous love story, or return to The Royal Opera for an enduring favourite. ...La Fille du régiment

Royal Opera House, London
Tuesday 7 - Friday 24 July 2026
Laurent Pelly?s larger-than-life production returns, with Yves Abel conducting Donizetti?s comic opera. Juan Diego Fl?rez returns to the role of Tonio alongside Jonah Hoskins, starring alongside Sara Blanch in her Royal Opera debut as the p...The Royal Ballet School Summer Performance

Main Stage
Saturday 18 July 2026
The Royal Ballet School returns to the Royal Opera House for the annual showcase of the exceptional talents of its young dancers. ...Jette Parker Artists Summer Performance

Main Stage
Friday 24 - Sunday 26 July 2026
An unforgettable evening with some of the brightest new talents of the opera world. Jette Parker Artists perform an uplifting array of opera excerpts on the main stage, accompanied by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. The Jette Parker...How to get to the Royal Opera House, London
Royal Opera House Frequently Asked Questions
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD
The Royal Opera House does not have its own car park. On street parking is limited with disabled bays available on Bow Street and Floral Street.
You can receive 30% off by pre booking at the Intelli Park Car Park on Drury Lane.
Tube - Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road
Bus - Aldwych, Drury Lane, Leicester Square Station
The seating capacity of The Royal Opera House is 2'256.
You can visit their seating plan.
For further information on tickets at the Royal Opera House, you can visit their returns and refunds page, or their attending a performance page.
The Royal Opera House box office is open:
12 noon - 6pm, or until the start of an evening performance.
Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
It is open Monday - Saturday.
On performance Sundays, it will open 90 minutes before the performance begins.
For individual shows and concerts, if the timing is not listed under our 'more info' tab for that particular event, you check it out via the 'more info' tab for your show here.
You can fin more information on accessibility at the Royal Opera House via their accessibility page.
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to pass on to the Royal Opera House, you can email them .
If you lose an item during your visit to the Royal Opera House, email them with a description of your item an the date and performance / time of your visit. They keep items for one month.
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for accommodation near the Royal Opera House.
Food and drink are not permitted into the Royal Opera House. However you may take in a none glass reusable water bottle and fill it with water inside the building.
Late arrivals may need to wait in the foyer for a suitable break in the performance. This could be up to 90 minutes. Performances start promtly.
Click here for some great places and ideas for food whilst in London.
For further information and support regarding your visit to the Royal Opera House, you can visit their visitor information or visit their help centre.
Please note that LiverpoolTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the Royal Opera House and all other venues in Liverpool and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Royal Opera House, London
Sip and Sketch - Royal Ballet & Opera Costume Design Tour
Royal Opera House
Sat 2 Aug - Sun 19 Oct 2025
Royal Opera House Behind the Scenes Tour
Royal Opera House
Sat 2 Aug - Fri 31 Oct 2025
Royal Opera House Family Sundays
Royal Opera House
Sun 26 Oct - Sun 30 Nov 2025
HerStory of the Royal Opera House Tour
Royal Opera House
Thu 14 Aug - Sat 27 Sep 2025
Royal Ballet - The Nutcracker
Royal Opera House
Sat 22 Nov 2025 - Mon 5 Jan 2026
Royal Opera House Architecture Tour
Royal Opera House
Mon 4 - Wed 6 Aug 2025