Accessibility at the Royal Opera House

At Royal Opera House, we believe that world-class art forms should be accessible to everyone.

We strive to create equal access to, as well as opportunities in, ballet, opera and music for all.

The Royal Opera House is committed to following the Social Model of Disability which upholds the belief that people are disabled not by their impairment, but by physical and attitudinal barriers in society.

You can get all our access information detailed in a large-print format on request. Our restaurant menus are also available in large print. Request large-print information

Planning your visit

The main stage auditorium of the Royal Opera House. Taken from the Stalls of the auditorium, the house is full with patrons waiting for that night's performance to begin.

We recognise that, for many people, visiting venues can be a challenge.

We have collated some information on accessible travel routes, step-free access and navigating our building that we hope will help make your journey and experience with us a positive one.

For general information on your visit, including opening times, box office information and our values please see our Visitor Information page.

ACCESS SCHEME

REGISTER FOR OUR ACCESS SCHEME

We encourage anyone with access requirements to join our free Access Scheme. This gives you personalised assistance throughout the booking process, as well as other benefits. This includes free companion tickets if you require support when attending a performance.

Access registration helps us ensure that we meet your accessibility requirements and can tailor our booking processes to you.

To register for the scheme, first sign up for a free Royal Opera House account, or sign in to your existing account. After you have signed in go to the 'Accessibility' tab in Your Account and complete the Access Scheme registration process as instructed.

Please contact our Access Box Office team if you have any questions or have any issues when completing this form. You should also get in touch you would like to book tickets before submitting your application.

BENEFITS

Our Access Box Office team is always available to help you book tickets online, by phone or in-person. We offer:

  • Priority for accessible seating
  • Priority booking and reduced price tickets for British Sign Language interpreted, audio described and relaxed performances
  • Reduced price tickets for anyone in receipt of disability state benefit
  • One complimentary access companion ticket if you require assistance or support during your visit
  • Information about performances, booking periods and our annual Season Guide in your preferred format

Navigating our building

Wheelchair access

Use the power assisted doors at the ground level entrance on Bow Street for wheelchair access to the building. There is also step-free access and a power assisted door available via the Piazza entrance in Covent Garden. Our Front of House team will be available to assist and direct you whilst navigating our building.

LIFT ACCESS

The lift on the left-hand side of the Main Stage auditorium provides access to the Paul Hamlyn Hall, Crush Room, Linbury Foyer and Balconies Restaurant. 

The lift on the right-hand side of the Main Stage auditorium provides access to the Level 5 Bar, Piazza and the Crush Room. 

All lifts provide access to the main foyer Café.

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

All accessible toilets are gender neutral and have an alarm pull cord in case of emergency. We do not currently have changing facilities. Accessible toilets can be found on:

  • Ground floor
    Go straight ahead after entering the building via the Bow Street entrance. The toilets are found next to the lift on the left-hand-side of the Main Stage auditorium.
  • Linbury Foyer
    Take the corridor behind the Linbury Bar on the lower floor, or by lift down from the ground floor (left-hand side of the Main Stage auditorium).
  • Level 5
    Take the lifts on the right-hand side of the Main Stage auditorium to get to Level 5. The toilets can be found by following the corridor to the right of the bar.

Accessible toilets are located close to all wheelchair spaces in the Main Stage auditorium. Our Front of House teams will be available to guide you if you need.

We offer waiter service in all of our bars and restaurants for wheelchair users. Please speak to a member of staff to organise this when you arrive. Find out more about our Bars and Restaurants.

If you require any further information for your visit, please contact:
Bars and Restaurants

PERFORMANCE SPACES

Select a performance space to find more information about wheelchair spaces, step-free seating and exits and entrances that may be helpful to consider when booking.

VISIT WITH AN ASSISTANCE DOG

Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere in the Royal Opera House. 

If you are coming to a performance, you can leave your assistance dog with a member of staff, or keep it with you through the performance. Please let us know which you prefer if you are attending. If you are booking online, please email boxoffice.access@roh.org.uk to let us know your preference.

WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY

There are refuge areas for customers with limited mobility at every level throughout the Royal Opera House. If the building needs to be evacuated, you will be escorted to the nearest refuge area by a member of staff. 

If your assistance dog is with Front of House staff, you will be reunited with your dog at the earliest opportunity.

Accessible performances

We offer a range of accessible performances every Season that are open to everyone.

Select a performance type to find out more about what to expect when attending a sensory adapted, relaxed environment, audio described or BSL (British Sign Language) interpreted performances. We have also provided a list of dates for upcoming accessible productions across our current 2023/2024 Season.

Further information

ASSISTED-HEARING FACILITY

Speak to a member of staff to borrow a free transmission receiver and headphones for performances. This will amplify the performance sound in the Main Stage auditorium or Linbury Theatre.  

To reserve this equipment please email boxoffice.access@roh.org.uk

SURTITLES

We offer additional surtitle translations for all opera performances, including those sung in English. Surtitles are text displayed on a screen above the stage, or on a monitor close to your seat.

TOUCH TOURS

Occasionally, before audio-described performances, we provide additional Touch Tours designed to help audience members familiarise themselves with the set, props and performance space. Touch Tours are free and can be requested when you book a ticket for an audio described performance. For more information on Touch Tours please email boxoffice.access@roh.org.uk.

AUDIO SEASON GUIDES

We produce audio introductions for all Royal Opera House Main Stage productions. You can listen to these on headsets from the Duty House Manager’s desk in the main entrance foyer. Please reserve these in advance please email boxoffice.access@roh.org.uk.

The audio introduction is broadcast 15 minutes before the start of the performance and five minutes before the end of each interval. You can also listen before your visit on the Royal Opera House SoundCloud. You can also set alerts to notify you about new audio introductions for upcoming performances.

We send out audio Season Guides to members of our Access Scheme who have asked for them. The audio introductions and audio Season Guides are produced for the Royal Opera House by the company Sightlines. Find out more about Sightlines here.

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Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)