Visitor Information
Things to know
- Open daily from 12noon Monday to Sunday and closes after the evening performance. If there is no evening performance, we close at 11pm Monday - Saturday and 9pm on Sunday.
- Our Shop opens at 12noon and closes at the start of the evening performance, or at 6pm.
- We are a cashless venue, so please bring a card for all purchases.
- Complimentary cloakrooms are available for ticket holders and tour guests. Larger bags, suitcases and backpacks are not permitted in our theatres or on tours and must be checked into the cloakrooms.
- We're unable to store pushchairs, e-scooters, or e-unicycles, even if folded - please avoid bringing these into the building.
- Bag checks are in place on entry - please pack light and have your bag ready for checking.
- Free water stations are located on all levels. Please note that glass bottles and open cups aren’t allowed in our auditoriums or on tours. You're welcome to bring a reusable bottle.
- Only food and drink from our Ground Floor Café or bars may be consumed on-site. In the auditoria, only bottled water and ice creams are allowed.
Getting Here
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Royal Opera House, Bow Street, London, WC2E 9DD
Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (step-free access: Leicester Square, Holborn, Tottenham Court Road)
Nearest Train: Charing Cross, Waterloo, Euston (Charing Cross is 0.5 miles away, and has good wheelchair access)
Bus Stops: Aldwych, Drury Lane, Leicester Square Station
There is no on-site parking. There are limited public disabled access bays on Bow Street and Floral Street.
Production House, Thurrock
Main High House Production Park Entrance: Vellacott Close, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1RJ
The nearest mainline train station is Purfleet on the C2C route. These trains operate from London Fenchurch Street.
Accessibility
We're committed to making the RBO accessible and welcoming to all.
- Accessible seating and facilities available
- Complimentary tickets for essential companions
- Assistance animals welcome
For step-free access to the Royal Opera House, use the power assisted doors at the Bow Street entrance or at the Covent Garden Piazza entrance.
The Royal Opera House is a large building with many floors, stairs and corridors. It is lit by a mixture of natural and artificial lighting and can get quite busy and loud at times. The flooring varies throughout the building — some are carpeted and some are smooth and tiled.
We have several lifts, as well as a set of escalators and a ramp that take you to various parts of the building including our accessible toilets. Unfortunately, we do not have Changing Places facilities.
Join our free Access Scheme to personalise the booking process to your access requirements and get prioritybooking for upcoming accessible performances.
For more information on accessibility, including accessible performances and our Access Scheme, please visit our Acessibility Page.
Attending a Performance
Quick Facts
- Please bring your smartphone or digital device to display your ticket.
- Our auditoriums open 30 minutes before each performance.
- The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday from 12noon until the start of evening performance or 6pm, and on Sundays from 12noon until 90 minutes before showtime.
- Cloakrooms open two hours before evening shows and 90 minutes before matinees. Larger bags and backpacks must be checked in. We cannot store pushchairs, e-scooters, or e-unicycles.
- Late arrivals or those who leave during the show may need to wait in the foyer until a suitable break, which could be up to 90 minutes.
- For seat maps, restricted views and accessibility info, visit our Accessibility page.
Your first visit
Your first visit to the ballet or opera
Whether you're a regular theatre-goer or have never attended a performance before, this guide will help you get the most out of your evening with tips on what to wear, where to find translations and synopses and more.
Visitor Guidelines
OUR VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS
At the Royal Ballet and Opera, we're dedicated to creating a welcoming and inspiring environment where everyone feels they belong.
Respect, openness and the highest standards are at the heart of what we do. We celebrate diversity and believe that every individual contributes something valuable to the community. We encourage everyone to share, learn and engage with one another, fostering a space where creativity and thought can flourish.
Everyone is welcome at the Royal Ballet and Opera. We have a zero-tolerance policy for disrespectful or aggressive behaviour and will address any violations per our terms and conditions of sale. If you experience or witness any form of discrimination or intimidation, please speak to any member of our team, who will ensure it is addressed promptly.
SECURITY
To help keep the Royal Opera House safe and welcoming for everyone, all bags are checked on arrival. Please have yours open and ready for our security team. We kindly ask that you bring only what you need and avoid large bags or luggage, as these cannot be taken inside our auditoriums.
Bag checks are in place to identify items that could pose a risk or breach our policies. If something cannot be brought inside, it may need to be stored securely in the cloakroom until the end of your visit. In some cases, entry may be refused. Illegal items will be confiscated and reported to the police.
If you would prefer not to take part in a bag check, we regret that we won't be able to admit you.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and for helping us ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
Photography and Filming
Photography and filming are prohibited during performances in any of our auditoriums. You are welcome to take pictures throughout the rest of the building and before performances and share them with us through social media.
Commercial photography and filming must be agreed in advance with our press team.
Attending with Children
Children under the age of five are not permitted into our auditoria. Children aged five to fourteen must have their own ticket and sit next to an accompanying adult. Some events are open to families with children younger than five. This will be clearly stated on the production or event web page.
Please check the production web page for show-specific age guidance and content warnings.
Help Centre
If you require further information regarding your visit, please visit our Help Centre. You’ll find detailed information on our help pages for ticket booking and availability, detail on performances and productions, and information on RBO Stream, our streaming service.
If you are unable to attend a performance and would like to return your tickets for re-sale, please visit our ticket refund page for more information.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)