Royal Opera House

I'm a fan of the ballet, a fan of London and a fan of striking architecture. I was on to a winner going here wasn't I?! The building does what I appreciate the most - melds traditional with modern to create a striking feast for the eyes. Inside, the auditorium is ornate, pretty and comfortable - even up in the amphitheatre where the price of the tickets is really affordable. The age old chaos during intervals just doesn't happen here. The plethora of bars and eateries are plentiful and intelligently positioned so that the whole audience can be provided with refreshments in a civilised and cultured manner. And it's just as fulfilling to marvel at the views from the various levels of the building , from hidden balconies, escalators and mezzanine bars. And when have you ever been to the washroom in a theatre without having to queue? So many facilities, that even an interval visit to the washrooms was stress-free! AMAZING that they have thought of everything. So from a building point of view it is as spectacularly functional and user friendly as it is visually appealing. Now for the performance. We went to see La Bayadere, and it was jaw-droppingly magnificent. The talent of the dancers of the Royal Ballet is a sight to behold, the staging, lighting, orchestration etc etc were faultless. I just didn't want to leave my seat. It was an experience that will stay with me for years and years.. A memory making evening out of stellar proportions. Do yourself a favour - help yourself to some culture in London.

We noticed the Royal Opera House tucked away in the corner of Covent Garden on our way to the market. We discovered that they do a backstage tour for the very reasonable price of L9.00 a ticket. As very non-opera people, I was a bit worried we might be a bit out of place but it was fascinating. We sat in the magnificent auditorioum whilst they set up for the opening night of Carmen and were given a really interesting history of the theatre and its recent refurbishment. We were able to view the backstage area, props department and even got to watch the ballet dancers from the Royal Ballet rehearse an upcoming performance. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful, and the building itself is amazing. We came away with a great insight into the most used working theatre in Europe and wanting to go and see a performance. Well worth a visit!