The Royal Opera House is delighted to be featured as part of this year’s Open House Festival. Taking place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September 2023, the festival celebrates the greatest architecture across London. The Royal Opera House will be open from 10 am across the Open House Festival weekend and we encourage everyone to explore the public spaces of our iconic venue.
As part of the festival, we’ll be offering a series of free tours of the Royal Opera House. Led by our expert guides, these tours will showcase the incredible history of the theatre, focusing on how the Royal Opera House has transformed from the 18th century to now. Please note, this tour does not enter the backstage areas of the theatre.
There will be 16 tours running across the weekend which, though free, must be booked in advance. Each tour will be 30-minutes, with the first session at 12:30 pm, and the last session at 4 pm on both days. The tour will include highlights such as the stunning Grand Staircase, the Royal Box, Paul Hamlyn Hall and an exclusive look at the Royal Retiring Room.
All visitors to the Royal Opera House across the weekend can enjoy a 10% discount at our delicious café and Piazza restaurant, as well as our shop. We’ll also be offering visitors the chance to book some of our most popular tours for £17. This discount is available for anyone who books in-person over the Open House weekend, and applies to tours including the HerStory Women’s History tour, Pride tour, and our Behind the Scenes tour. These Open House Festival discounts will be available until 5 pm on Saturday 9 September, and 6 pm on Sunday 10 September.
Elle Docx, Tours Manager of the Royal Opera House, said:
‘We can’t wait to share our knowledge about the history and architecture that makes the Royal Opera House such an iconic venue. Each stop on the tour will highlight how our theatre combines contemporary and Victorian architecture to create a truly unique space, bringing to life the incredible theatre we have today. From looking at 19th century facades to discussing the brilliance of our set productions, this tour will be a fantastic opportunity to experience our Covent Garden home in a new way.’
Alex Beard, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, said:
‘We’re very excited to open our doors as part of this year’s Open House Festival, inviting everyone to enjoy our beautiful theatre in the heart of Covent Garden. We’re delighted to share the rich history of the Royal Opera House, and showcase the theatre’s extraordinary journey since we completed our Open Up renovation in 2018 – which transformed the way audiences and visitors experienced our iconic home, welcoming daytime visitors, and helping to create a new generation of ballet and opera lovers.’
The Royal Opera House Open House Tours will run from Saturday 9 September – 10 September 2023.
