How to do opera in London on the cheap

Opera is shedding its notoriously expensive reputation, with special reduced-price schemes, new low-cost venues and, of course, the old standby ticket trick. For more ways to enjoy this revered art form on the cheap, read on.

Matinees and dress rehearsals

Matinees are always cheaper than evening performances, so look out for those or, if you want to pay to become a member of the Covent Garden Royal Opera House, you’ll then be granted access to watch open rehearsals. Budget-friendly accommodation in central London is hard to come by but Dingley Place is a studio with easy access to the West End.

Standby tickets

Most venues in London offer ‘Standby’ tickets. These are tickets which haven’t been sold, and are released online for as little as £10 usually around 24 hours before a performance. These tickets are usually available to students first but the circumstances vary, so check to see if you’re eligible. Right in the middle of the theatre district, staying in this Soho Apartment will make it easy for you to get to whichever venue you find a standby seat for.

British Youth Opera

The British Youth Opera is a great option if you don’t mind missing out on some of the pomp and ceremony of the more traditional operas. Showcasing emerging operatic talent, this Opera performs in London every autumn at various venues for affordable prices. Stay at the central Z Hotel City to have easy access to a number of London productions.

OperaUpClose

A novel take on this historic art form, OperaUpClose takes over pubs and other casual venues with a performance where the audience are mingled with the actors. It’s arguably even more impressive to feel the reverberations of powerful voices up close, without the orchestra and acoustics as support. And it’s considerably cheaper. For opera-goers on a budget in London, Lorenzo Street Apartment is an apartment in Islington, where OperaUpClose often hosts its shows.

Restricted view

At Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, as well as many other venues around London, you can sit in restricted view seats for a fraction of the normal price. By ‘restricted view’, the ROH means that part of the stage is obscured by a pillar or the ceiling overhang in high-up seats, but you’ll still be able to see just fine. And the acoustics of the main auditorium mean the sound rises straight to you, so you’ll be able to hear beautifully. This contemporary, bright apartment in the middle of theatre district has an enviable roof terrace with views of Covent Garden.

Standing tickets

Standing tickets are a great option for young, not-too-tall (if you’re under five foot four you may not get such a good view) opera-goers on a budget. At the ROH, the standing area comfortably spacious with a bar to lean on, so standing through a four acts of Wagner isn’t such an endurance test. And at Glyndebourne, the English stately home just outside London, which hosts the prestigious, eponymous annual opera festival, you can experience the most refined of opera experiences for under £25 if you’re happy to stand. Book a night at The Granary Barn, an enchanting cottage-style accommodation with beautiful gardens, just a 5-minute drive from Glyndebourne.

Discounts

There are so many schemes dedicated to making this high-brow art form more accessible for everyone; Glyndebourne (just outside London) has exclusive nights for opera-goers who tick the under-30s box, where tickets cost just £30.

Another stately home opera venue, Grange Park, (also just outside London) has a Musical Chairs scheme, where under-25s can apply for free seats on selected nights, while Opera Holland Park’s Inspire scheme allows you to buy tickets for just £18 tickets via its online waiting room.

Students are able to join ROH Student for free and thus gain access to tickets ranging from from £1 to £25 for all performances. The ROH also sells tickets for performances on ‘Family Sundays’ at heavily discounted rates. At the ENO, if you are aged between 16 and 30, you can sign up to the free membership scheme and you’ll be kept in the loop for very affordable discounted tickets. The sophisticated but small Hammersmith Apartment is close to Holland Park, with easy access to central London.