Best Seats in London Coliseum

Introduction

The London Coliseum on St Martin's Lane is the largest theatre in the West End, with 2,359 seats across four levels. Home to English National Opera, it features stunning Edwardian architecture including the famous revolving globe on its roof. Finding the best seats in the London Coliseum depends significantly on what you're attending—opera has different requirements than musicals or dance.

Quick Reference

Best for opera: Dress Circle centre (acoustic sweet spot)

Best for musicals: Stalls centre or Dress Circle front

Best value: Balcony front (excellent for price)

Avoid: Upper Circle sides, Stalls under overhang

For Opera

ENO performs with surtitles, so sightlines to the title screens matter. The Dress Circle offers ideal views of both stage and titles, plus superior acoustics for unamplified singing.

Best seats: Dress Circle rows C-G centre—the opera sweet spot.

For Musicals and Other Shows

When the Coliseum hosts musicals or other productions, standard theatre seat selection applies:

Stalls: Rows F-M centre for immersion.

Dress Circle: Rows A-E centre for overview.

The Balcony

The Coliseum's Balcony is famous for offering excellent views at the lowest prices. The theatre's design means even the highest level feels connected.

Best seats: Balcony front rows centre—genuine value.

The Space Challenge

This is a big theatre. Intimate moments can feel distant from the upper levels. For emotional connection, Stalls or front Dress Circle work best.

The Bottom Line

The best seats in the London Coliseum are in the Dress Circle rows C-G centre for opera, offering the ideal acoustic and sightline balance.

For musicals, Stalls rows F-M centre or Dress Circle rows A-E centre work well.

The Balcony front rows offer remarkable value in this beautiful theatre.

Avoid Upper Circle extreme sides and rear Stalls under the substantial overhang.

The Coliseum is a magnificent venue—worth visiting for the architecture alone.