Royal Opera House

The grander of London's two major opera houses, Covent Garden [as it is commonly known] attracts international singing superstars. The building is a stately, cream-coloured 19th-century monolith, whose adventurous 1990s extension features the high-ceilinged and decorative Floral Hall — a pleasing space for drinkees and perambulations during intervals. Covent Garden is home not only to the Royal Opera, but also to the Royal Ballet and a resident top-drawer orchestra. Productions are, on the whole, top-notch, though modern-agenda tampering with the classics has alienated many. Friday Rush deals and heavily discounted tickets for the under-25s are available, but affordable tickets at this relatively pricey institution can be difficult to come by. Depending on the production, prices range from under £20 to more than £200. A five-minute walk away, the English National Opera is decidedly the cheaper (and potentially less snooty/stuffy) option, though all of its productions are sung in English and the quality of singing does not always match the international standard normally heard at Covent Garden. Should you crave a gay drink afterwards, Soho is a mere seven minutes away.