Covent Garden in London: history of the Royal Opera and backstage tours
The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is known even to people far removed from opera.
This is the third building on the same site, and both previous ones burned to the ground. Handel worked here, his operas and oratorios were first performed here, and this stage has hosted productions of Macbeth and The Sleeping Beauty.
You can go inside without a ticket to a performance (as of 09/2026, official website). Below is the history of the three theaters, backstage tours, and practical details for your visit.
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History of the theater
💡 In short:
- The first theater opened on December 7, 1732 (as of ROH Collections).
- The second building burned down in 1808, and the current one opened in May 1858 (as of theater history).
- Backstage tours run year-round (as of 09/2026, ROH tours page).
The first theater and Handel
The first Theatre Royal on this site was built by actor and impresario John Rich, funded by the success of The Beggar's Opera (as of official ROH history). The design was by English architect Edward Shepherd (as of ROH collection).
The opening took place on December 7, 1732, with the comedy The Way of the World. The actors carried Rich onto the stage on their shoulders, hailing him as the founder of a major cultural institution.
From 1735 until his death in 1759, Handel was closely associated with the theater (as of theater archive). Many of his operas and oratorios, including Alcina and Semele, were first performed here. The composer bequeathed his theater organ to John Rich.
© Ilya Grigorik · CC BY-SAPhoto: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe 1808 fire and the second theater
In 1808, the building was completely destroyed by fire, and 23 firefighters died in the collapse (as of history page). Construction of a new theater began immediately, to a design by Robert Smirke.
The first stone was laid by the Prince of Wales on December 31, 1808. The theater opened in 1809 with Shakespeare's Macbeth, starring John Philip Kemble and Sarah Siddons (as of: ROH historical background).
To recoup construction costs, the management raised ticket prices. The public was outraged and disrupted performances until the old prices were restored. In April 1847, the theater was relaunched as the Royal Italian Opera with Rossini's Semiramide (as of: official ROH history).
The third theater and E. M. Barry
On March 5, 1856, the theater burned down for the second time (as of: theater chronicle). The third, current building was designed by E. M. Barry and opened in May 1858 with Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots. Barry also designed the Floral Hall, a glass-and-metal hall conceived as a flower market.
In 1892, as the repertoire expanded, the theater was renamed the Royal Opera House. Between seasons, it hosted film screenings, balls, cabarets, and lectures.
© Russ London ( talk ) · CC BY-SAPhoto: Russ London ( talk ), CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe theater during the wars
During World War I, the building served as a furniture warehouse, and during World War II it housed the Mecca dance hall (as of: museum chronicle).
The theater reopened on February 20, 1946, with a gala premiere of Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty. Margot Fonteyn danced the role of Aurora, and from that evening Covent Garden had a permanent ballet company.
© Matt Brown · CC BYPhoto: Matt Brown, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe 1990s redevelopment
By the 1980s, it was clear that the facilities were insufficient for two companies. The redevelopment project was designed by architect Jeremy Dixon together with Bill Jack (as of: theater sources).
The theater received £58.5 million from the National Lottery. A farewell gala was held in July 1997, and the entire redevelopment cost £178 million. Three years later, the theater emerged fully transformed, and today you see exactly that building.
What to see inside
Even without a performance ticket, you can enter the theater and explore the public areas (as of: visitor section, 09/2026).
Worth seeing is the Floral Hall, a glass-and-metal hall that was converted in the 1990s into a public space with bars and dining areas (as of: official ROH history). The second venue, the Linbury Theatre, is dedicated to chamber and experimental productions.
Several bars, cafes, and a restaurant are available for audience members, where you can eat before a performance. After the tour, you get a 10% discount at the theater shop and cafe on the day of your visit (as of: official tours).
Royal Opera House tours
You can only go backstage on a guided tour. Public tours are conducted in English (as of: tour schedule).
© wasd42 · CC BY-SAPhoto: wasd42, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe route goes through long corridors, staircases, and elevators. Rehearsal rooms, costume departments, and production workshops may vary from tour to tour, because the theater remains a working venue and is sometimes occupied for performances.
- Who it's for: guests who want to see a working theater from the inside, not just the auditorium during a performance.
- Not for: families with children under five, as they are not allowed on the tour (as of: tour admission policy).
- The catch: public tours are only in English, and the route includes many stairs and corridors.
The meeting point is on the ground floor in front of the cloakroom. Private tours are also available in French and Spanish, and there are separate programs for school groups.
If you want to add city walks to your visit, check out London tours on GetYourGuide.
Opening hours and tickets
The theater is open to visitors daily from noon, verified on 09/14/2026 on the official website. Tours run year-round, with new dates added gradually.
What | Duration | When | Starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
Behind the Scenes Tour | 60-75 minutes | year-round | foyer, by the cloakroom |
As of: tour guide, 09/2026.
Check tour prices on the official website: tickets should be purchased in advance, as places are limited. Children under five are not allowed on the tour, and those aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Opera and ballet tickets depend on the production and seat location. If you are going to an evening performance, compare dates in advance: popular evenings sell out first.
Tours and tickets in London
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Covent Garden without a performance ticket?
Yes. The theater is open to visitors daily from noon (as of: visitor page, 09/2026), and you can freely enter the foyer, Floral Hall, bars, and cafes. The backstage tour must be booked separately and in advance, because groups are small.
How much does the backstage tour cost?
The price depends on the tour type and date, so check the exact cost on the official website before purchasing. The public Behind the Scenes Tour lasts 60-75 minutes and runs year-round (as of: tour information). Tickets sell out quickly, especially on weekends.
How many times has the theater in Covent Garden burned down?
Twice, in 1808 and 1856. Both previous buildings were destroyed by fire, and the current, third one, opened in May 1858 with Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots" (as of: ROH fire chronology). Today it is an updated building after the 1990s reconstruction.
What language are the tours in?
Public tours are in English. The guide speaks into a microphone, and you're given headphones, so you can hear even in noisy areas. Private tours can be booked in French and Spanish, and schools book separate programs (as of: ROH tourist page).
What to see near the theater?
Covent Garden is in central London, near the square with street performers and the market. A walk around the area is easy to combine with a visit to the theater: a ready-made multi-day itinerary is in our London guide.
In short: what's worth booking
Covent Garden wins you over either with its history or with an evening performance, and both options are available year-round (as of: ROH tours page).
The choice matrix is simple. If you have two free hours during the day: take the Behind the Scenes Tour and stop by the Floral Hall. If you're going to an opera or ballet: check the schedule and buy tickets in advance. If you're traveling with kids: choose family and school programs.
Before your trip, compare tour dates and prices on GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.