My experience at the Royal Opera House was everything and more! The entry process was smooth. I saw…read moreCinderella with a friend! It was such a beautiful show. Let's not forget that the venue itself is beyond gorgeous!!!

Saturday September 28th 2024 wife and I attended Alice's adventures in wonderland at the Royal…read moreOpera House. Purchased months in advance two tickets two upper stalls otherwise known as the nosebleed balcony area with head on view of the stage. The web site showed us the view of the stage from each of the seats we were considering. Very lavishly decorated building, with beautiful interior and lovely curtains with royal emblem. In the United States this would be the equivalent of having a company sponsored logo on the curtains. Very hot inside with huge crowds . Wife had to check in her coat for 3 GBP or $3.30. Easy to find the women's restroom as there were the longest lines although the men's restroom far away had their own lines. They didn't charge for use of the bathrooms as our $100 tickets covered that. These upper upper balcony seats had no armrests, so they could squeeze in more seats. Fortunately I was seated next to a normal size lady and not an NFL guard size man, so no fighting for elbow room. Cost us about $100 for each ticket, and there were at least 20 rows behind us. Bring binoculars, as we sat at least 200 feet from the stage. To my surprise I enjoyed the play as I'm not usually too crazy about ballet. But this was a ballet story and easily understandable and easy to follow spectacular dancing cinematography and costume design. . Very expensive production with all those extras. Afterwards walked around the upper stories area with views of the cafe below and outside views of Covent gardens. Very spectacular even if we didn't buy the outrageously overpriced ice cream and other sundaies let alone the 15GBP cocktails.

Incredible performance by the actors of his Majesty's theater, the longest running show for phantom…read moreof the opera in West End over 40 years. In this case, the show aged well, and the props and costumes have clearly had time and money invested as this was the best rendition of Phantom I've seen to date. There was fire, light effects, great structures and hidden trapdoors, fake balconies, even a mysterious Houdini chair (no spoilers) and the production of Phantom here is clearly worth the full house it had tonight. Standing ovation at the end and tons of fun souvenirs to takeaway memories of the show. I sat in A21, center of the front row of balcony, and the view was perfect, showing just the bottom of the stage up. If I leaned forward, I could see into the pit which the ground floor seats could not. All the music was played by the incredible orchestra in the pit, Four private boxes at the front sides were filled with two persons each, which could be a fun return trip. I hope to definitely be back for another viewing some day. Incredible!

We had a fantastic visit to His Majesty's Theatre to attend "Phantom of the Opera". His Majesty's…read moreTheatre is a historic West End theatre located at 57 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4QL, best known as the long-time home of the musical The Phantom of the Opera. The theatre's name changes with the gender of the reigning monarch, reverting to His Majesty's Theatre in May 2023 following the accession of King Charles III. The history of His Majesty's Theatre has a rich tale spanning over 300 years and four different buildings on the same Haymarket site in London's West End. It is one of the few theatres whose name changes with the gender of the reigning British monarch. First Theatre (1705-1789): Opened as the Queen's Theatre in April 1705 by architect and playwright John Vanbrugh during the reign of Queen Anne. Due to licensing laws, it quickly became an opera house, and George Frideric Handel premiered over 25 of his operas there. Upon the accession of George I in 1714, it was renamed the King's Theatre. This building was destroyed by a fire in 1789. Second Theatre (1791-1867): A new, larger theatre, also known as the King's Theatre, opened in 1791. It hosted London premieres of operas by Mozart and Beethoven, and in the mid-19th century became renowned for romantic ballet, with famous ballerinas performing the works of Jules Perrot. When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, it was renamed Her Majesty's Italian Opera House (later just Her Majesty's Theatre). This building also fell victim to fire in 1867. Third Theatre (1868-1896): A third structure was built within the shell of the old one in 1868. After remaining dark for several years due to a rent dispute, it was used for a period by a Christian revivalist movement before returning to theatrical use, hosting the first complete English performance of Wagner's Ring cycle and appearances by Sarah Bernhardt. It was eventually demolished in 1892 as it had become technically outmoded. Fourth (Current) Theatre (1897-present): The current French Renaissance-style building was commissioned by actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and opened on April 28, 1897, as Her Majesty's Theatre. Tree produced spectacular Shakespearean plays and literary adaptations and even established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in an apartment he built for himself in the theatre's dome. The current theatre is very well organized. The audience was very respectful during the show and did not seem overly crowded. However, you should be aware the restroom facilities are very small (remember, it's an old building) so plan accordingly! We both look forward to to going back when we return to London!

Spectacular venue to watch a musical in London! I recently visited to watch The Great Gatsby…read more(which is a STELLAR production in this gorgeous space). I had a seat in the Dress Circle row A at the end of the row and it was cozy... if you're tall it might be a bit tight but that is the joy of this theater... worth experiencing! I was in awe of all the features and interior, it made the full experience spectacular and the acoustics were top top notch. I did manage to get a glass of wine at intermission before the lines got busy so I didn't have issues there but I could see how this might be challenging for other guests.

I came here last week to watch the west end production of now you see me…read more I did not have the best seats, but it was a good experience nonetheless. This show was quite immersive and had wonderful audience interaction/collaborations. I have seen multiple illusionist shows but this one stumped me for sure. The ambiance was warm, inviting and lively.

I sat in the stalls and had a ball…read more I saw Back to the Future: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre while I was in London for a week. I went after my first night in town, and it was so good that if someone offered me a ticket to see it again, I'd say, "I'm down." I was really puzzled by how they got the car to flip all the way around. Some of the songs are still stuck in my head. I even sing them right before going to bed. I'm so glad I saw this show. It felt like a gift wrapped up in a bow.

We came for the Sunday matinee of Back to the Future. Fresh off our flight from LAX, I never waste…read moreanytime fitting in as many shows as possible when in town. We had soooo much fun! This production is outstanding! We saw Back to the Future, Cabaret and Crazy for You this trip. I can't compare the three since all of them are completely different but I highly recommend this show for something fun and casual. You will not be disappointed. This is also a very family friendly show, the kids in the theatre seemed to enjoy it even if they aren't an 80s baby like me :) Very fun time! Can't ever do theatre in London without ice-cream at intermission, it's mandatory for me. This theatre doesn't have vegan options as our Cabaret production did but I'm consistently on mint chip as a little intermission refresher. If you get tix and haven't seen the movie in awhile I think it'd be fun to watch it first. I didn't have a clue about the movie since it's been forever since I've seen it, but still had a blast - so many laughs and so enjoyable.

An excellent venue. Comfortable seating. Courteous and efficient staff…read more Oliver! was a terrific production. The Sprague Terrace is an excellent add-on option for a quiet space, quality cocktails, and top notch bar staff. Plus, dedicated bathrooms usually with no line.

Nice theatre, common complaint of mine not enough bathrooms and smallish bar. Good acoustics…read more Saw to kill a mockingbird. It is a good play but so disappointed with the actors trying to speak with an American southern accent. Just speak in British English. I also cringe when American actors try to speak in English.

One of the highlights of our trip to Europe, we purchased box seats as it was our 20th anniversary…read more If you're not familiar with the musical: The Phantom of the Opera is a seminal gothic romance and horror story that originated as a 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux. It has since evolved into a global phenomenon, most famously through Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical. Webber's version is the famous version today which premiered in London in 1986. Since this was the 3rd time I saw Phantom, this one did not disappoint at all! The actors were phenomenal and all great theatrical effects were outstanding! A must see when you visit London!

Wow, wow, wow, what a show, I am absolutely flabbergasted and in awe of what I witnessed, I…read morecouldn't tear my eyes away for a second, never in my life have I seen anything quite like this before and doubt anything will ever come close again. The performance, the music, the costumes, the effects, it was all out of this world amazing!

THE premiere artistic theater company in London and one of the best in the world…read more Its rare to see plays produced at this quality and on this scale. If you're a theater lover, you will love whatever you see here.

We dined at Lasdun before attending a performance of "Nye". The food and service at the restaurant…read morewere excellent. Salad, main course and dessert were all wonderful. Add a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and that's a perfect prelude to an evening of theater. "Nye" and Michael Sheen were wonderful. A deeply moving account of the man behind the founding of the National Health Service. At the conclusion, when they projected the improved health statistics since the inception of NHS, there were many watery eyes, including mine. "WELL DONE" cast and crew!

My recent visit here was to see the 'Nutcracker' and it was magical indeed. Being in London on the…read moreChristmas weekend with friends and family to see what to me is the quintessential Christmas story is what it's all about. Always difficult to review a theatre rather than the normal places we visit as a theatre experience always includes a performance which may or may not be to your liking due to production or performers or, as it once was at the Royal Opera House, a poorly played score (YES it does happen peepz, I kid you not). I suspect the conductor had his baton on warp factor 10. Beam me up Spotty. I think what has always appealed to me about the ENO is it's working class origins and how it originated from the Old Vic theatre in 1889. This is a theatre for the people not the 'Toffs' who attend the Royal Opera House and I am more than chuffed that it has always refused all attempts to merge it with The Royal Opera. In the case of the ENO I could happily sit here with the curtain down and just soak up the ambiance. It is a special place and if you swing a ticket in the Orchestra stalls then you are laffin' My favourite spot is row 'O' Seat 1 as it is 2 steps away from the bar and come the interval you can be face down in a Vodka and Tonic in seconds. Shssss ... curtain up :)

We had a hard time finding this theatre. The signage for the street and for the theatre itself is…read morepractically non-existant so look for bright lights and a brick building and matching multiple doors across the street from the Starbucks. Yeah sorry for the lack of address. 1600 Pennsylvania is the White House address but evidently this theatre is so famous it doesn't need a proper numbered address. Nope. Not even at their website. 2 different GPS's had us in 2 nearby alleys. Once we found it we loved their self check kiosk machine for online purchases. Swipe your card and it will print out your ticket like at the airport! Love it! I welcome any modernisation to London. Bring it! Like many theatres in London, it's small so it's hard to have bad seats. But third row aisle was ridiculously good. Yup bragging. Sorry. The seats were cushy and comfortable for the 3 act Cinderella ballet and for me at 5'6" I was just peachy. But if you're tall, you'll be suffering like the guy 2 seats down. He seem 6'2" maybe? He was performing his own ballet in his seat trying to find space for his knees. Poor guy. Stretch beforehand and not into my girlfriend please. =) i feel would feel neglectful if I didn't mention that I deeply enjoyed the ballet Cinderella with Momoko Hirata as Cinderella. I hope to see more ballets here in the future.

We saw Les Misérables and it was phenomenal!! I cried and laughed and was so taken by the voices of…read morethe entire cast! My friend has seen this show on broadway (NEW YORK) and she said this cast and theater was SO MUCH better! Even after the show finished and the cast were taking their bows it brought tears to my eyes again because of how amazing they were. Standing ovation was the least the audience could do after this breath taking performance!!

It was almost surreal to be able to purchase last minute tickets to see Les Mis at Queen's Theatre…read more I was in town for a few days and couldn't let the opportunity slip away. First of all, the theatre is beautiful. We had seats with limited view. I wasn't able to see the front, left portion of the stage but it really didn't take away anything from the performance. The staff members were very helpful. They were plentiful and led everyone to their seats. The line and security went rather quickly. Everyone had an opportunity to use the toilet during the intermission and didn't miss a second. I loved how everything started on time...I say this because this never happens in the US haha. If you're ever in London, take a few hours and watch a show at this theatre. Extremely worth it and forever memorable.

Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, which was completed in 1997. I…read morevisited with my husband on a recent trip to London earlier this month and had a great time. There are a couple of ways to experience the Globe. You can attend a performance (they typically have 1-2 performances per day at a range of rates) or you can tour the theater. The performance times didn't work well with our schedule (such a short trip), but we were able to fit in a tour, which was great. Our tour guide was wonderful. We started the tour inside the attached visitor/admission center, where he provided some context. Then we walked over to the theater itself and sat on each of the three levels to get a sense of the different individuals who attended Shakespeare's plays and how they would have experienced the performances they attended. We learned that the theater was built in 1599, when there was only bridge connecting Bankside and London. People either took barges across the river or - if they didn't have the money for a boat - walked to and across the bridge. We learned how much a performance cost for people sitting in different sections of the theater. We learned that the Globe burned down during a performance of Henry VIII in 1613 (the theater was rebuilt the following year but closed by 1642 and torn down in 1645). The modern recreation you can visit now is close to the original site (you can find the original site just a few steps away) and based on historical drawings and designs. It's as close to Shakespeare's Globe as we can get, and it's an incredible thing to see and experience. If you can fit in a performance, I'm sure it's amazing. But the tour was pretty great, too. I learned a lot about Shakespeare, the Globe, and London. We had a pretty tight schedule due to it being a shorter trip, and a tour of the Globe was a great way to take in such a historic and important site.

Even if you're not planning on seeing a show here, do the tour!…read more William Shakespeare's company built The Globe Theater very close to this spot in 1599. This is a replica of Shakespeare's theater which was built in the late 1990s. Originally, the idea was to mostly perform Shakespeare plays during the summer months, demonstrating exactly how those plays might have been seen in Elizabethan/Jacobean London. So, all-male casts, no modern technology, etc. Nowadays they make a lot more concessions with the aim of putting on enjoyable shows, but this is still an outdoor venue with a courtyard "groundlings" area that has no seats. The outer ring is covered and has wooden bench seating, with cushions available to rent. If you're a tourist who has spent the day hoofing it around this great city, you should probably make sure you have a seat. Furthermore, you might consider that a back-row seat would allow you to lean back, which you can't do in the other rows. This is very much a true professional theater experience. It's not just a gimmick; the original artistic director was no less than Sir Mark Rylance so you know you are going to see a high-quality production. However, the expertise on hand regarding the history of William Shakespeare makes for a very informative tour. I've done it multiple times and always loved it. But the production I saw of A Midsummer Night's Dream was lots of fun, easy to recommend. They involve the audience a lot, even bringing people on stage during actual scenes. Anyone who considers themselves a theater nerd owes themselves a visit. I strongly recommend the tour, and if you can make it to an actual show, you won't regret it. There are concession stands with a decent selection of snacks and drinks, alcoholic and otherwise. And there's a very large gift shop which was closed at the end of the show I went to, sadly. I would have bought something. But that's normal. NOTE: a second stage has been added to this complex, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. It's a traditional indoor theater. If you're booking tickets, you might want to make sure you know which stage it's on, as that greatly impacts the experience. ANOTHER NOTE: I spoke to some people who believed the final scene of the movie Hamnet was filmed here. Although that might sound right, it is incorrect. That sequence was all done at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.