Best Seats in Royal Opera House

Introduction

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is one of the world's great opera and ballet venues. With 2,256 seats across four levels, it combines Victorian grandeur with modern amenities following its 1990s renovation. Finding the best seats in the Royal Opera House requires understanding that different art forms have different requirements—and that some of the best experiences come from unexpected sections.

Quick Reference

Best for opera: Stalls centre or Grand Tier

Best for ballet: Grand Tier or Balcony (need to see feet and formations)

Best value: Amphitheatre front (surprisingly excellent)

Avoid: Slips (severely restricted), extreme side boxes

For Opera

Opera requires hearing voices clearly and seeing the stage. The Stalls and Grand Tier deliver both.

Best seats: Stalls rows F-N centre for immersion, or Grand Tier boxes for the traditional experience.

For Ballet

Ballet needs elevation to see footwork, formations, and corps de ballet patterns. Floor-level seats miss much of what makes ballet magical.

Best seats: Grand Tier centre, Balcony centre, or even Amphitheatre front—anywhere with elevation.

The Amphitheatre

The ROH's highest level is famous for devoted fans who queue for day seats. The acoustic is actually excellent up here, and sightlines are complete.

The verdict: Genuine value, not a compromise. Ballet fans particularly appreciate the bird's-eye view.

The Slips

Side slips have heavily restricted views. Only consider if you're attending for music only and don't care about staging.

The Bottom Line

The best seats in the Royal Opera House depend on art form: Stalls centre for opera, Grand Tier or Balcony centre for ballet.

The Amphitheatre front rows offer surprising value with complete views.

Avoid slips unless you only care about the music.

The ROH is a special venue. Even restricted seats in this building carry theatrical magic.