HerStory of the Royal Opera House
HerStory of the Royal Opera House
HerStory of the Royal Opera House
Immerse yourself in the history and stories of the Royal Opera House through the experiences of the incredible women who made it.
Explore the Royal Opera House through a behind-the-scenes tour celebrating pioneering women with access to rehearsal and design spaces.
Explore the Royal Opera House through a behind-the-scenes tour celebrating pioneering women with access to rehearsal and design spaces.
If you have any access requirements for your tour, please contact tours@roh.org.uk after booking so we can deliver the necessary arrangements.
Looking to have this tour as private experience for you and your group? Or perhaps you need this tour run in a different language? We offer bespoke private tours to suit you. Find out more about booking private tours.
On the day of your tour, you will receive 10% off in the Royal Ballet and Opera Shop and Royal Opera House café. Simply show your tour ticket at the till, valid on the day of your tour. After your tour, you'll receive an email providing one month's access to RBOStream for £1.00.
Discover more tours, how to get to the tour venues and in-depth accessibility information.
Background
Immerse yourself in the rich history of the Royal Opera House and discover the stories of the remarkable women who have shaped its legacy since its earliest days. This tour explores the lives and achievements of those who have influenced the Royal Ballet and Opera, helping to mould it into the artistic powerhouse it is today.
Alongside access to the theatre’s stunning historic spaces, you will step behind the scenes into exclusive areas rarely open to the public, including the Chorus Rehearsal Room and the Draughting and Design Studio, offering a unique glimpse into where productions are rehearsed, imagined and brought to life.
From Lucia Vestris, the pioneering 19th-century theatre producer and manager, to Ethel Smyth, the groundbreaking composer and conductor, and of course Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet, uncover the inspiring stories of women who defied convention and left an enduring mark on the stage.
Join us in celebrating the lasting impact of these trailblazers on our artistic heritage.
This tour is available all year round. New dates are added on a rolling basis. Please check back in the coming months for updated availability.
Important information about your tour
- The meeting point for this tour is the Ground Floor cloakroom of the Royal Opera House.
- Latecomers will not be admitted.
- As the Royal Opera House is a working theatre each tour provides unique experience and content may vary according to what spaces are available on the day.
- Children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of five are not allowed on our tours, this includes babies and children in pushchairs.
- We may be using headsets on our tours to amplify the voices of our guides so you don’t miss any information. All equipment is fully sanitised after each tour. You can use your own headphones if you wish. Please note headphones need to have a standard jack connection to be used with our devices.
- Contact-free bag checks will be in operation when you enter the building.
Access
This tour takes you through different areas of the Royal Opera House, including long corridors, stairs, escalators and lifts. The flooring is also different depending on where you are in the building – some floors are smooth and tiled or wooden, some are carpeted.
Because we are a working theatre, there are areas that won’t always be available to us, which means each tour will take a different route. The spaces we travel through can sometimes be busy and loud.
Our tour guides use descriptive language which helps to paint a picture for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Please get in touch at boxoffice@roh.org.uk after booking to let us know your access requirements so we can make sure you have the best experience on your visit. We can help plan the tour if you require step-free and wheelchair access, if you prefer to avoid areas with views from a height, if you need to use the hearing loop or if you need to take regular breaks. Unfortunately, our hearing loops aren't compatible with Bluetooth.
Donate
The Royal Ballet and Opera is a charity and relies on your support. No matter the size, every gift is critical to our work and helps us to secure the future of ballet and opera.
Your donation will enable us to keep extraordinary work on our stages, inspire the next generation and support the Royal Ballet and Opera's community of artists, technicians and craftspeople.
For people, not profit. Making world class ballet and opera for everyone.
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