Royal Opera House Live at Lunch

Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House is one of London’s most iconic performance venues, pulling in crowds of more than 600,000 each year. But while tickets for its world-leading programme of operas and ballets tend to cost a pretty penny – top-price tickets for its biggest shows can set you back upwards of £250 – that’s not the case for its Live at Lunch performances. Taking place on select Friday lunchtimes throughout the year in the Opera House’s magnificent glass conservatory, the free performances feature a surprise line-up of performers from the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, alongside a range of guest artists. There’s no need to book; simply turn up nice and promptly on the scheduled date and pick up an entry token on arrival. At around 45 minutes long, you can squeeze one in during your lunch hour if you work nearby, which sounds way more interesting than mindlessly scrolling through Facebook while you wolf down a meal deal at your desk. The Time Out office is just around the corner, so you might even spot an editor or two in the wild. See you there!