London Coliseum
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £25
WHERE
London
What it’s like
Opera and ballet on a grand West End stage, with a strict under-5s rule and an 86-step climb to the cheap seats.
This is a proper sit-down night at the opera or the ballet, not a hands-on kids' activity. Under-fives aren't let into most performances, so this is one for the slightly older child who can sit still through a couple of hours in a plush seat rather than a toddler outing.
Tickets start at £25, which sounds fair for a West End house until you remember that's the starting price, and booking is required, there's no just turning up on the night. If your seat's up in the Balcony, know that the lift access is limited and there's a staircase of 86 steps to get there, worth thinking about if you've got a child who tires on stairs or you're carrying a sleepy one out afterwards. There are no booster seats either, so a younger child might struggle to see over the row in front.
Food-wise there are bars and food and drink options dotted about, and they open 75 minutes before the performance starts, so turning up early gets you a proper interval-free browse rather than a queue. If you or your child use a wheelchair, there's an Access Scheme that gets tickets at half price or less, which takes some of the sting out of the cost.
Booking online means you can exchange your tickets for another date up to 24 hours before the show if you can't make it, though it's not clear you'll get your money back rather than just a swap. You can also book by live chat Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, if you'd rather sort it that way.
What’s on here
- FRI16
Angel's Bone
from £25 · 15 more dates
- FRI30
Tosca
from £25 · 42 more dates
- FRI6
Iphigénie en Tauride
from £25 · 8 more dates
- SUN8
The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition - Final
The final of the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition, showcasing emerging young ballet talent from around the world.
- FRI13
Sessions at the London Coliseum: Black Country, New Road
from £39
- SAT28
Adriana Mater
from £25 · 14 more dates
- SUN29
To Die For [A Comedy]
from £25
- THU17
Nutcracker
24 more dates
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age children and up; under 5s aren't admitted to most shows
- Booking
- Tickets exchangeable up to 24 hours before performance if booked online
- Food
- Multiple bars and food/drink options
- Wheelchairs
- Access Scheme available for wheelchair users and customers with access needs to purchase tickets at half-price or less
- No booster seats, so a smaller child may need a boost of their own to see properly
- Balcony seats mean 86 steps if the lift access doesn't suit you
- Booking online keeps your options open with a 24-hour exchange window
- Bars open 75 minutes before curtain up, handy for a relaxed pre-show drink
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
They start from £25, and booking is required rather than turning up on the door.
Can under-fives come?
Most performances don't admit children under 5, so this one's for the slightly older kids.
What if we can't make the date?
If you booked online you can exchange for another performance up to 24 hours before, though a straight refund isn't guaranteed.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
There's an Access Scheme offering tickets at half price or less for wheelchair users and those with access needs, though lift access to the Balcony is limited and there's an 86-step staircase.
What about food and drink?
There are bars and food and drink options, and they open 75 minutes before the performance.
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