Royal Opera House, London
The Royal Opera House is on Bow Street in Covent Garden, three or four minutes' walk from Covent Garden tube. It's home to The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, now known together as Royal Ballet and Opera, and the main auditorium seats 2,256 people over five levels. Several ballets and operas play side by side through the season, so the same week can have both.
Around 2,256 seats
10 shows on now · From £28 · See shows
Still choosing seats? For the best view, the centre of the Orchestra Stalls, rows G to L. For value, the Amphitheatre at the top: it's the biggest level in the building and holds the cheapest seats, and although it's steep and a long way from the stage, the sound up there is fine. For ballet, keep away from the far ends of the upper levels, where you see the stage side-on.
Already booked? There's no dress code, so wear what you like. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before, no later: every bag is checked at the door, anything you can't keep on your lap goes in the free cloakroom, and latecomers can wait up to 90 minutes to be let in.
Below: the seating plan, a page for each level and the Boxes, how to get here, access, and where to eat and drink, inside the building and nearby.
Quick facts
- Address: Bow Street, London WC2E 9DD
- Capacity: 2,256 in the main auditorium
- Levels: five, plus Boxes on the Grand Tier and Balcony
- Doors: the auditorium opens 30 minutes before
- Payment: card only, everywhere in the building
What's On at the Royal Opera House
The season runs from September to July. Playing now and next:
- Manon, The Royal Ballet, 13 October to 19 November 2026
- Carmen, The Royal Opera, 29 October to 21 November 2026
- Visionaries: Robbins and MacMillan, The Royal Ballet, 9 to 28 November 2026
- Un ballo in maschera, The Royal Opera, 30 November to 18 December 2026
- The Nutcracker, The Royal Ballet, 3 December 2026 to 13 January 2027
- The Magic Flute, The Royal Opera, 13 December 2026 to 17 February 2027
We don't have tickets for The Royal Ballet's Nutcracker. If it's a Nutcracker you're after this Christmas, we do sell English National Ballet's Nutcracker at the London Coliseum, ten minutes' walk away.
Ticket prices
The Royal Opera House prices by demand, so the same seat can cost different amounts on different nights of the same run, and each show page has the current prices for that production. The Boxes, the Orchestra Stalls, the Grand Tier and the Stalls Circle cost the most, and sometimes the Balcony too. The Amphitheatre covers the widest range, including the cheapest seats in the building. All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.
Book Royal Opera House tickets
All-in pricing, the price you see is what you pay.
Royal Opera House FAQs
Is the Royal Opera House the same as Royal Ballet and Opera?
The building is still the Royal Opera House. Royal Ballet and Opera is the new name for the organisation that runs it, and you'll see both names when you book.
Can I take food and drink in?
Only bottled water and ice creams in the auditorium, and no glass. There are free water refill stations on every level.
How big a bag can I bring?
Only one you can put under your seat or hold on your lap. Backpacks, suitcases and anything bigger go in the free cloakroom.
Can I bring children?
Yes, from age five. Children aged five to 14 need their own ticket and have to sit next to an adult. Under-5s aren't admitted, except at family events that say so.
Can I book by phone, or for a group?
Yes, on 020 7193 9050. We'll tell you which seats are left on your date, find seats together for a group, and the price we tell you is the price you pay.