Royal Opera House

Three Centuries of Performance

The Royal Opera House sits on a site that has hosted theatrical performance since 1732, when the actor-manager John Rich opened the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. That first building staged plays, pantomimes and Handel's operas — the composer directed several premieres here. Fire destroyed the original in 1808; a second theatre opened the following year, only to burn down again in 1856.

The current building was designed by Edward Middleton Barry and opened on 15 May 1858 with a performance of Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots. The Grade I listed auditorium retains its mid-Victorian horseshoe shape, with four tiers of balconies, ornate plasterwork and a seating capacity of 2,256. It is one of London's finest surviving Victorian theatres.

The 1990s Renovation

The most significant transformation came with the major renovation completed in 1999. Designed by Dixon Jones architects, the project added the Paul Hamlyn Hall — a soaring public space created within the Victorian cast-iron and glass structure of the old Floral Hall, once part of the Covent Garden flower market.

The renovation also added the Linbury Theatre for smaller-scale productions and greatly improved backstage facilities and rehearsal rooms. The Paul Hamlyn Hall is open to the public as a bar and cafe, while the Amphitheatre Restaurant on the upper level offers a terrace with views across Covent Garden piazza. The project cost £178 million and took over two years.

What to See and Hear

The Royal Opera stages around 15 productions each season, from core repertoire like La Traviata and Carmen to new commissions and rarely performed works. The Royal Ballet presents full-length classics such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker alongside contemporary choreography. The Linbury Theatre hosts a more experimental programme of opera, dance and music.

Backstage tours running 75 minutes take visitors into rehearsal studios, through the costume department where thousands of outfits are stored, and onto the stage itself. Lunchtime recitals, talks and live screenings are held regularly in the Paul Hamlyn Hall, making the ROH accessible to visitors regardless of budget.