With inviting new entrances, extended foyers and terraces and a new café, bar and restaurant, together with an extensive programme of ticketed and free daytime events, activities and festivals for people of all ages, the Royal Opera House is now, for the first time, open to the public every day from 10am.

At the heart of this project is a brand new Linbury Theatre, the West End’s newest and most intimate theatre, which provides an additional world-class stage for The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and a host of internationally celebrated artists and partners. In its inaugural Season, the Linbury Theatre showcases an astonishing range of work, from an 18th-century rarity to 21st-century world premieres - with 25 per cent of seats priced at £25 or less.

The project, designed by award-winning architects Stanton Williams, unites 19th-century grandeur with 21st-century elegance. The new bar and restaurant provide delicious food and drink in beautifully designed spaces, and are open to both performance goers and other members of the public.

Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, Alex Beard, said:
“We are delighted to open the doors to a transformed Royal Opera House, with our new Linbury Theatre, new entrances, foyers and terraces, a new café, bar and restaurant and refurbished Clore Studio, as well as an extensive programme of daytime events, activities and festivals. The Royal Opera House is now open every day from 10am, and we want as many people as possible to visit one of the world’s most beautiful theatres, to experience our art forms and to get a taste of the remarkable creativity at play here.”

The final construction cost is estimated at £50.7m, with all of the funds raised from philanthropy.

The elegant, newly-created spaces will be brought alive with a year-round daytime programme of events, activities and festivals for audiences of all ages: events will range from workshops demonstrating the magic of backstage theatre crafts to guest artist performances and immersive events. The new front-of-house displays will include stunning costumes charting some famous episodes in the history of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera.

The new Royal Opera House Shop, open Monday-Saturday from 10am until after the last interval on a performance evening, and on Sunday 10am-6pm, boasts a diverse range of specially designed products inspired by our theatre and art from some of Britain’s most exciting designers.