The Royal Opera House interior

The UK’s Best Opera Houses (& What To Watch In 2023)

Culture /


From London to Leicester, here are the 2023 seasons we're booking into right now...

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Whether you prefer Shakespearean classics featuring unhinged kings or Italian love torn tragedies of epic proportions, we have the very best opera houses in the UK and their must-see productions…

The Best Opera Houses in the UK

Best Opera Houses in the UK: Garsington Opera

Garsington Opera

Situated in the rolling Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire, and only an hour away from London, Garsington Opera offers a collection of great artistic talent and quality. The 2023 season commences with Il barbiere di Siviglia on 31 May 2023, with Mitridate, re di Ponto, Ariadne auf Naxos and The Bartered Bride also showing before the 23 July 2023. garsingtonopera.org

Grange Park Opera

Grange Park Opera

Grange Park Opera is housed in The Theatre in the Woods, a five-tier opera house at 500-year-old West Horsley Place, on the edge of London and close to the Surrey Hills. Known as a demi-Eden, visitors can enjoy the historic walled gardens, sun-dappled woodland, a 300-year old orchard and the sprawling ancient house, West Horsley Place. Not to mention the entertainment; Tristan & Isolde, Tosca and Werther will all be staged in the 2023 season. grangeparkopera.co.uk

Glyndebourne Festival

Glyndebourne

On 28 May 1934, the very first Glyndebourne Opera Festival began, and has since been the centre of growing talent and beautiful productions. The original, exuberant outdoor cultural opera extravaganza will present a 2023 summer programme from 19 May–27 August 2023, including Don Giovanni, L’elisir d’amore and Dialogues des Carmélites among much more. glyndebourne.com

The Best Boutique Music Festivals

Nevill Holt Theatre

Nevill Holt Opera

While it only had its first season in 2013, the Nevill Holt Opera has gone from strength to strength and provided continuous support to growing operatic stars. June 2018 marked the opening of the opera’s new theatre at the Nevill Holt estate – a 400-seat theatrical masterpiece, blending into the estate’s stable-block and espousing the interior characteristics of early courtyard theatre. In summer 2023, catch the likes of Leonavallo & Puccini’s Pagliacci & Gianni Schicchi and Rossini’s La Cenerentola. nevillholtopera.co.uk

opera houses: The Grange Festival

The Grange Festival

In the heart of Hampshire, The Grange Festival is situated in 17th Century country house The Grange, surrounded by beautiful countryside views. The festival boasts operas as disparate as Così fan tutte, Orfeo ed Euridice/Dido and Aeneas and The Queen of Spades. The season also features [email protected], where classical and modern ballet feature alongside contemporary dance. thegrangefestival.co.uk

opera houses: Opera Holland Park

Opera Holland Park

Regarded as one of the most exciting Opera events in London, Opera Holland Park is a one not to be missed. Grab a picnic, pop open some champagne and enjoy the likes of Rigoletto, Hansel and Gretel, La bohème and morePerfect for the whole family or a romantic evening for two. operahollandpark.com

Royal Opera House

Royal Opera House

A historic staple in London’s cultural scene, the Royal Opera House showcases a range of operas and ballets, too. The ROH is constantly updating its year-round schedule, with plenty of tours to enjoy to boot. roh.org.uk

Featured image: The Royal Opera House (c) Gabriel Varajay, Unsplash