Cookie Policy
Read this cookie usage policy to help you understand how we use cookies.
Digitally speaking, cookies are rather ingenious little things. And that’s why we’ve got a policy on them. First of all, let’s clear up one thing; what is a cookie?
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers sent to your computer when you visit a web site. It’s stored in your web browser (that’s the program you’re using to see this page). Whenever you visit the same web site again, the information stored in the cookie can be retrieved to notify the web site (and only that web site) of your previous activity. A cookie cannot give us access to your computer or to information beyond what you provide us. And they’re definitely not viruses, spyware or Trojans that damage your computer.
What’s in a cookie?
A cookie contains the name of the server it came from, the lifetime of the cookie, and a value, usually a randomly generated unique number.
This cookie usage policy should be read in conjunction with the Royal Opera House Privacy Notice. Please read this cookie usage policy carefully to understand how the Royal Opera House uses cookies.
When you visit www.roh.org.uk the Royal Opera House may store some information commonly known as a ‘cookie’ on your computer. A cookie helps you get the best out of the website and helps the Royal Opera House provide you with a more customized service.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact the Data Protection Manager by emailing: dpm@roh.org.uk
The below table shows the types of cookies which are frequently used by websites today, together with their purpose:
Cookie Purpose | Description |
|---|---|
Essential cookies | A site may use a limited number of cookies essential to particular services a user has requested or for security purposes. For example, a site may use a cookie for a shopping cart function when a user makes a purchase. In particular, if a user has registered to a site or uses a customer portal. A cookie will be used to authenticate the device that a user is using. |
Performance cookies | Performance cookies are set to collect and report on aggregate non-identifiable information, which can then be used to report on the performance of the website and provide insights on how the site is currently used and how it can be improved for your audience. |
Functional cookies | Functional cookies support how a website functions. For example, by identifying a user’s device on a unique but anonymous basis, a website can identify the user’s language preferences. |
Third party cookies - advertising and social Media | Third party cookies are placed on a user’s device. These are cookies from an alternative domain to the one the user is visiting. Third party cookies are often allowed by a web browser, however, they may be blocked, as they are widely used by advertisers to track browsing history. |
Our cookies policy
Cookies help us arrange our web site content to match your preferred interests more quickly. They also allow us to deliver the full features of our web site; these are features like smoother log-ins, your preferences and shopping baskets.
The following table sets out which cookies the Royal Opera House uses, their purpose and how intrusive they may be considered.
Cookie Name | Duration | Type | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
cookie consent | 20 years from set / update | roh.org.uk first party | This cookie is necessary in order to ensure compliance with current Data privacy laws. This cookie is used to record if a user has allowed cookies to be placed on their computer. | Essential: without these, purchase activities may be compromised and we cannot reliably ensure compliance with privacy laws. |
sessionkey | When a visitor ends the session (leave the website) | roh.org.uk first party | This cookie is necessary because it enables the Royal Opera House to sell tickets, goods and other services. This cookie is used to keep track of a user’s session when logged onto the site. | Essential: without these, purchase activities may be compromised and we cannot reliably ensure compliance with privacy laws. |
_ga | 2 years from set / update | google analytics first party | Stores the unique ID of the user. | Non-essential but helps improve the service we provide. |
_gali | 1 year from set / update | google analytics first party | Used to monitor performance of the website. | Non-essential but helps improve the service we provide. |
_gat | 24 hours from set / update | google analytics first party | Used to throttle the google analytics request rate. | Non-essential but helps improve the service we provide. |
_qca | 5 years from set / update | Quantcast | Used to monitor visitor behavour for reports that are made available on the Quantcast.com Site, to enable web publishers and advertisers to deliver audience segments that are appropriate for their products or services. | Non-essential but helps improve the service we provide. |
Third-party cookies
Google DoubleClick
We use anonymized age, gender and interests data gathered from Google’s DoubleClick cookie. Google uses the DoubleClick cookie on AdSense sites, partner sites and certain Google services. More information on Google’s Privacy policy and what information they collect.
Hotjar
Hotjar’s tools allow us to analyse what users do on our website. This cookie is set as soon as a user loads a page which contains the Hotjar code. The cookie contains a universally unique identifier (UUID) which allows Hotjar to track the same visitor across multiple pages and sessions. Find out more about Hotjar on their privacy policy page.
Rakuten
This cookie allows us to better understand the effectiveness of our advertisements by tracking which marketing channel users arrive from when purchasing items on www.roh.org.uk. Opt out details in the Managing Cookies section below.
Sizmek
These help us understand how well our online adverts are encouraging browsers to view more information about particular events on www.roh.org.uk. When a Royal Opera House advert is displayed on a third-party website, a Sizmek cookie is placed on their machine, providing this is enabled by their browser settings. If that browser then visits www.roh.org.uk, we can see that the advert has been effective. More information about Sizmek’s own privacy policy and how to opt out can be found here on the Sizmek website.
Cookie Name | Duration | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
_gads | 1 month from set / update | doubleclick.net | An advertising cookie used by Google Doubleclick. |
IDE | 2 years from set / update | doubleclick.net | |
_gads | 1 month from set / update | doubleclick.net | |
bx | 2 years from set / update | flickr.com | Cookies commonly associated with the use of Flickr photo galleries embedded in a site. |
flrbcr | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
flrbgdrp | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
flrbp | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
flrbrst | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
flrbs | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
flrtags | 6 months from set / update | flickr.com | |
localization | 2 years from set / update | flickr.com | |
xb | 2 years from set / update | flickr.com | |
APISID | 2 years from set / update | These cookies install certain Google utilities as they store various preferences, for example, the number of results per page or the activation of the SafeSearch filter, as well as customizing the advertisements shown in the Google search | |
HSID | 2 years from set / update | ||
NID | 6 months from set / update | ||
OGPC | 1 month from set / update | ||
SAPSID | 2 years from set / update | ||
SIDCC | 2 years from set / update | ||
SID | 2 years from set / update | ||
SSID | 2 years from set / update | ||
_hjClosedSurveyInvites | 1 year from set / update | Hotjar | This cookie is set once a visitor interacts with a Survey invitation popup. It is used to ensure that the same invite does not re-appear if it has already been shown. |
_hjDonePolls | 1 year from set / update | Hotjar | This cookie is set once a visitor completes a poll using the Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the same poll does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. |
_hjMinimizedPolls | 1 year from set / update | Hotjar | This cookie is set once a visitor minimizes a Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the widget stays minimizes when the visitor navigates through your site. |
_hjIncludedInSample | 1 year from set / update | Hotjar | This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. |
A6 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | Monitoring and optimizing online advertising campaigns cookie. |
Activityinfo2 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
C6 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
D3 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
G2 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
OT2 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
TargetingInfo2 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
u2 | 3 months from set / update | serving-sys.com | |
OT_324 | When browsing session ends | bs.serving-sys.com | Advertising Information from booking process |
APISID | 2 years from set / update | youtube.com | These cookies allow the correct Youtube video playback and store User’s preferences when viewing YouTube videos |
CONSENT | 20 years from set / update | youtube.com | |
HSID | 2 years from set / update | youtube.com | |
PREF | 1 year from set / update | youtube.com | |
SID | 2 years from set / update | youtube.com | |
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | 1 year from set / update | youtube.com | |
YSC | When the browsing session ends | youtube.com | |
s_gl | When the browsing session ends | youtube.com |
Managing cookies
Cookies cannot be used by themselves to identify you. You can easily control and disable cookies through your browser settings.
All browsers are different – for more information on cookies in general, visit the following external links:
Depending on the browser you are using, cookies can be managed according to the steps shown in the below table.
Please be aware that by limiting or deleting cookies you may not enjoy as good an experience on our website. If you have any questions about cookies, please contact the Data Protection Manager dpm@roh.org.uk
Browser | How to check cookies are enabled |
|---|---|
Google Chrome | Click on the menu icon at the top-right of your browser and select 'Settings'. Click the ‘Advanced’ tab, locate the ‘Privacy and Security’ section and select the ‘Content settings’ button. Select ‘Cookies’ menu item and locate 'Allow sites to save and read cookie data' |
Microsoft Explorer 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 | Click on ‘Tools’ at the top of your browser window and select ‘internet options’, then click on the ‘Privacy’ tab. Ensure that your Privacy level is set to Medium or below, which will enable cookies in your browser. Settings above Medium will disable cookies |
Mozilla Firefox | Click on the menu icon at the top-right of your browser window and select 'Preferences'. Then select the 'Privacy and Security' tab. Locate the 'History' section, then select 'use custom settings for history' |
Apple Safari | Click on the cog icon at the top of your browser window and select the ‘Preferences’ option. Click on ‘Security’, check the option that says ‘Block' |
Cookie Policy updated 19 February 2019
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)