Visitor Information
Your Visit
- Our building opens at 12 noon Monday to Sunday and closes after the evening performance.
If there is not an evening performance, we close at 10pm Monday – Saturday, and 6pm on Sunday. - The Royal Ballet and Opera Shop is open from 12noon Monday to Sunday and closes at the start of the evening performance, or at 6pm.
- We are a cashless venue so please bring a payment card to make any purchases.
- Our cloakrooms are open for those attending a performance or going on a tour. We cannot store pushchairs, e-scooters or e-unicycles, even if folded, so please do not bring those into the building. Larger bags, suitcases and backpacks must be checked into our complimentary cloakrooms upon arrival.
- We prioritise the safety of our guests and staff. All visitors are subject to bag searches on-entry, with random in-depth checks. Please open your bag for security and avoid bringing unnecessary or large items.
- Water refill stations are available on all levels of the building. Feel free to bring a reusable bottle with you or purchase a refillable bottle from our shop or café. Please note that glass bottles cannot be taken into the auditorium.
- 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.
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
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.
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. 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 priority booking for upcoming accessible performances.
For more information on accessibility, including accessible performances and our Access Scheme, please visit our Accessibility page.
Dining and Drinking
Things to do
Take a guided Tour
Private tours and tours in other languages are available by request. Contact tours@roh.org.uk.
Visit our Shop
Open daily from 12 noon until the evening performance or 6pm.
Attend with children or families
Children age five and above are permitted into our auditoria. Some events are open to families with children younger than five.
Attending a Performance
Quick Facts
Please bring a device to display your e-ticket, or pre-print. Auditoria open 30 minutes before each performance. The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday from 12pm until the evening performance or 6pm, and on Sundays, 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.
Performances start promptly. 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, visit our Accessibility page.
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.
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.
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.
We have a zero tolerance policy for disrespectful or aggressive behaviour. If you encounter or witness any form of discrimination or intimidation, please speak to any member of our team, or by contacting us online, who will ensure it is addressed promptly.
Attending with Children
Children aged five and above are 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.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)