English National Opera

London's ever-so-slightly less prestigious opera institution might not attract as many high-profile world-renowned singers as the Royal Opera House, but ENO compensates with not only terrific straightforward productions (boasting determinedly cheaper ticket prices than ROH Covent Garden) but often clever and risk-taking approaches to both repertoire staples and less well-known works (though sometimes marked by subtext overkill). And the Coliseum, built in 1904, is a lovely place to watch an opera. Though not a universally appealing concept, productions are sung in English (regardless of original language) and feature surtitles (because opera sung even in English can be indicipherable). In October 2022 there were rumblings that the company might have to relocate to Manchester in the North. Tube stations: Leicester Square and Charing Cross. Located just north of Trafalgar Sqaure.