London Coliseum

London Coliseum

33 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES

Getting here

Closest Tube Station

Leicester Square

Closest Train Station

Charing Cross

The London Coliseum Theatre (also known as the Coliseum Theatre) is a West End theatre on St. Martin's Lane, in central London. The theatre opened on December 24, 1904 as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties and was designed by architect Frank Matcham for Sir Oswald Stoll with the ambition of being the largest and finest ‘People’s palace of entertainment’ of the age. Frank Matcham also designed the London Palladium.

With 2,359 seats The London Coliseum Theatre is the largest theatre in London. It underwent extensive renovations between 2000 and 2004 when an original staircase planned by Frank Matcham was finally put in to his specifications. The theatre changed its name from the London Coliseum to the Coliseum Theatre between 1931 and 1968. During the Seond World War, the Coliseum served as a canteen for Air Raid Patrol workers, and Winston Churchill gave a speech from the stage. After 1945 the theatre was mainly used for American musicals before becoming a cinema in 1961, remaining so for seven years.  In 1968 it reopened as The London Coliseum Theatre, home of Sadler’s Wells Opera. In 1974 Sadler’s Wells became English National Opera and the Company bought the freehold of the building for £12.8 million in 1992. The London Coliseum Theatre underwent a complete and detailed restoration from 2000 which was supported by National Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, The National Lottery through Arts Council England, and a number of generous trust and individual donors.The auditorium and other public areas were returned to their original Edwardian decoration and new public spaces were created. The theatre re-opened in 2004.

The London Coliseum has the widest proscenium arch in London (55 feet wide and 34 feet high – the stage is 80 feet wide, with a throw of over 115 feet from the stage to the back of the balcony) and was one of the first theatres to have electric lighting. It was built with a revolving stage which consisted of three concentric rings and was 75 feet cross in total and cost Stoll £70,000. A range of modern features included electric lifts for patrons, a roof garden and an Information Bureau in which anyone expecting urgent telephone calls or telegrams could leave their seat numbers and be immediately informed if required. 

English National Opera is the full time producing company at The London Coliseum, presenting a uniquely wide range of opera with an emphasis on theatricality, originality and quality. All ENO productions are sung in English and surtitled.

Acknowledged internationally for its award-winning work, English National Opera is a creative and vibrant home for compelling theatrical productions staged by imaginative artists from the worlds of opera, theatre, dance, film and the visual arts and performed by the leading British and international singers and conductors of the day.

Each Season ENO produces a high proportion of new productions, some in close collaboration with international partners such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York, ensuring that new work is regularly presented to international audiences. With a strong commitment to contemporary opera and an emphasis on nurturing and developing British talent, ENO continues to invest in the future and reach out to new audiences. Affordable tickets, membership schemes, learning progrmmes and innovative online content help us develop and extend audiences for opera.

ENO is the largest employer in UK opera of British talent and has close associations with many major British singing actors. A number of ENO initiatives including Opera Works, the Young Singers Programme and ENO Evolve help develop young British talent.

For a full list of current London opera, visit our Opera page.

Please note, the London Coliseum does not have cloakroom facilities.
London Coliseum Seating Plan

The London Coliseum Seating Plan

The London Coliseum has the largest capacity of any London theatre with 2,359 seats across 4 levels: Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, and Balcony.

Nutcracker - London Coliseum is the current production at London Coliseum. The latest booking period for Nutcracker - London Coliseum at London Coliseum started 02/01/2018 19:30:00 and runs until 12/01/2025 14:00:00. Tickets for Nutcracker - London Coliseum start at £22 and are available to book now.

Duke Bluebeard's Castle is the current production at London Coliseum. The upcoming booking period for Duke Bluebeard's Castle at London Coliseum starts 21/03/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 23/03/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for Duke Bluebeard's Castle start at £13 and are available to book now.

Swan Lake is the current production at London Coliseum. The latest booking period for Swan Lake at London Coliseum started 03/01/2019 19:30:00 and runs until 01/09/2024 14:30:00. Tickets for Swan Lake start at £36 and are available to book now.

Spirited Away is the upcoming production at London Coliseum.

The Ballet Icons Gala is the current production at London Coliseum.

Giselle is the current production at London Coliseum. The latest booking period for Giselle at London Coliseum started 13/09/2022 19:30:00 and runs until 18/01/2025 19:30:00. Tickets for Giselle start at £22 and are available to book now.

Jenufa is the current production at London Coliseum. The latest booking period for Jenufa at London Coliseum started 13/03/2024 19:30:00 and runs until 27/03/2024 19:30:00. Tickets for Jenufa start at £31 and are available to book now.

The Magic Flute is the current production at London Coliseum. The latest booking period for The Magic Flute at London Coliseum started 14/03/2019 19:30:00 and runs until 30/03/2024 15:00:00. Tickets for The Magic Flute start at £44 and are available to book now.

Public transportation is recommended. The nearest underground station to The London Coliseum is Leicester Square Station (Northern/Piccadilly Lines). Charing Cross Station (Bakerloo/ Northern Lines) is also quite close the London Coliseum. If arriving by train the nearest railway station is Charing Cross. The theatre is serviced by bus lines 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 87, 91, 139, and from St. Martin’s Place (Stop K) and Bedford Street (Stop J). The nearest car park to The Duke of York’s Theatre is the NCP car park at London St Martins Lane Hotel.

Musical

Hairspray

You just can't stop the beat! Hairspray is still coming to London's West End in 2021.

Musical

The Mongol Khan

Discover the captivating culture of Mongolia with the immersive experience The Mongol Khan

Dance

English National Ballet 70th Anniversary Gala

Help the ENB celebrate 70 years!

Opera

Prince Igor

Opera

Thebans

Dance

Diaghilev Festival of Ballet Gala

Opera

Marvellous Miller

Come and help support a good cause - 40th Anniversary of Jonathan Miller at the ENO!

Dance

Ballet Folklórico de México

Dance

Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel)

Dance

Her Name Was Carmen

Dance

Jane Eyre

Opera

The Girl of the Golden West

Opera

The Perfect American

Phelim McDermott returns to ENO to direct the UK premiere of Philip Glass’s story of the final years of Walt Disney’s life

Opera

Shanghai Opera House: Thunderstorm

Opera

Marnie

Daughter. Liar. Wife. Thief. She has been running for so long, no one knows the real Marnie, least of all herself.

Opera

The Queen Of Spades

A new production of Tchaikovsky's powerfully dark masterpiece

Dance

Boston Ballet

Opera

Orpheus & Eurydice

Orpheus & Eurydice is set to run at the London Coliseum this autumn as part of a special Orpheus-themed ENO season!

Opera

The Gospel According to the Other Mary

Opera

The Indian Queen

Peter Sellars directs an exciting new production of Purcell’s final opera

Dance

La Sylphide

Opera

Rodelinda

Caught in a power play that could break a marriage and steal a throne, can Rodelinda stay true to love?

Opera

ENO Summer Gala

Dance

Diana Vishneva: On The Edge

Dance

Midnight Express

Peter Schaufuss presents the UK Premiere of his acclaimed ballet

Dance

Up & Down

One of the top ballet events of this year, Up & Down brings Francis Scott Fitzgerald's prose on stage - with unmissable charm

Dance

LAC (After Swan Lake)

Concert

Symphonic Beatles

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Dance

Ardani 25 Dance Gala

Ardani 25 Dance Gala features an all-star line-up which includes Natalia Osipova, Edward Watson, Ivan Vasiliev and Marcelo Gomes

Opera

Don Giovanni

"To be seen by him is to be seduced. But time is running out for Giovanni..."

Dance

Swan Lake Reloaded

Opera

The Pearl Fishers

Two friends love the same mysterious woman. Will turmoil follow in her wake?

Opera

War Requiem

ENO brings one of the greatest choral works of the twentieth century to London's West End.

Opera

The Mastersingers of Nuremburg

‘A peerless take on Wagner’s great comedy’ Daily Telegraph

Opera

Norma

Bellini's passionate masterpiece with a devastating love triangle at its heart.

Opera

Die Fledermaus

Johann Strauss's classic operetta in a new production from Christoper Alden

Opera

Wozzeck

New production of Berg's masterpiece, directed by Carrie Cracknell

Opera

The Winter’s Tale

When jealousy tears a family apart, can love redeem all? Perhaps, when winter turns to spring.

Dance

Chun Yi: The Legend Of Kung Fu

Opera

The Magic Flute

Magical comedy and spellbinding adventure – ENO’s five-star production returns

Dance

Solo for Two

Dance

Russian Seasons of XXI Century

Dance

Carmina Burana & Serenade

Dance

Anna Karenina

Dance

Le Jeune Homme et la Mort / La Sylphide

Hope turns to despair, love to betrayal and infatuation to tragedy in English National Ballet’s new double bill.

Opera

The Force Of Destiny

An action-packed drama of passion, war, honour and vengeance

Dance

Sergei Danilian presents Kings of the Dance

Concert

Phantom of the Opera - The Roy Budd score

“Roy Budd’s Phantom Of The Opera score is a masterpiece of film scoring.” John Mansell

Opera

Lulu

"Beautiful. Damaged. Seductive. Lethal. Lulu's whoever you want her to be..."

Opera

The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow is Franz Lehár‘s comic masterpiece, played out in a stream of memorable melodies.

Dance

Shanghai Ballet Company: Echoes of Eternity

Opera

Death in Venice

Deborah Warner’s production of Britten’s final opera celebrates the composer’s centenary year

Dance

Push

Opera

Lucia di Lammermoor

Love. Honour. Obey. Lucia di Lammermoor returns to the ENO after 8 years.

Dance

Diaghilev Festival of Ballet: Programme 1

Musical

When You Believe: The Musical World of Stephen Schwartz

A host of stars and the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrate the extraordinary songwriter Stephen Schwartz.

Dance

Men In Motion

Opera

The Pilgrim's Progress

Opera

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

A bored merchant’s wife seeks solace and excitement in an extra-marital affair, with tragic consequences

Dance

Irina Kolesnikova London Season: La Bayadère

Dance

Roland Petit's Coppelia

Dance

Los Vivancos

Opera

Tristan and Isolde

Dance

The Prince of the Pagodas

Dance

Song of the Earth / La Sylphide

ENO presents a magical double bill Song of the Earth/La Sylphide, performed for the first time in the UK.

Opera

Porgy and Bess

When a figure from her dark past returns, will her new life with Porgy be enough to save Bess from herself?

Opera

Partenope

One woman, four suitors? Love's complicated enough when it's a game for two...

Opera

The Pirates of Penzance

Pitiful pirates, blundering bobbies, and a fully grown five-year-old. It's all absurdly enjoyable!

Opera

Fidelio

Calixto Bieito's new production of Beethoven's only opera

Opera

Xerxes

Dance

In The Steps Of Ballet Russes

'Ballets Russes… the most sensual, daring and fashionable dance company in the world…' -- The Daily Telegraph

Dance

Carlos Acosta - A Classical Selection

Dance

The Mikhailovsky Ballet

Dance

Nutcracker Delights

Enchanting ballet treats for the festive season. Unwrap your Nutcracker Delights today!

Opera

Peace at Last

OperaUpClose and ENO present Peace at Last at the London Coliseum.

Opera

It's A Wonderful Life

Your favourite Christmas film comes to life in this new family friendly opera!

Opera

Così Fan Tutte

the ENO presents Così Fan Tutte at the London Coliseum

Opera

The Mikado

Wit, charm and catchy tunes in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado

Musical

The Glenn Miller Story

Tommy Steele returns to the London Stage

Musical

Carousel

Superstars Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe lead the cast of the brand new West End production of ENO's Carousel!

Dance

Against the Stream

A Gala Night performance presented by Ivan Putrov

Opera

The Rhinegold

Wagner's epic opera presented by the ENO

Musical

Rumi: The Musical

Rumi: The Musical at the London Coliseum

Dance

Manon

Kenneth MacMillan’s full-blooded ballet of love, decadence and passion.

Dance

The Sleeping Beauty

Kenneth MacMillan’s fairy tale classic The Sleeping Beauty presented by the English National Ballet

Dance

Napoletango

Musical

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady returns to London's West End!

Opera

Luisa Miller

Verdi's highly refined and artistic opera Luisa Miller has come to London's Coliseum

Opera

Peter Grimes

Britten's masterpiece lives on in this tale of isolation, persecution and societal power.

Opera

The Cunning Little Vixen

The ENO presents The Cunning Little Vixen at the London Coliseum

Opera

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Confused couples, lopsided loyalties and a terrible case of mistaken identity. Falling in love can make you lose your head.

Opera

Akhnaten

Phelim McDermott's Olivier Award-winning production of Glass's Akhnaten returns to the ENO

Opera

Mozart's Requiem

Mozart's Requiem at the London Coliseum

Opera

HMS Pinafore

The HMS Pinafore sails into the London Coliseum this winter

Musical

The Pirate Queen: A Charity Concert

An epic and timeless story from the creators of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon.

Musical

Notre Dame de Paris

With music by Richard Cocciante and lyrics by Luc Plamondon.

Opera

The Mask of Orpheus

Harrison Birtwistle's The Mask of Orpheus opera returns to London's West End after over 30 years.

Dance

Ballet Icons Gala 2022 celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sergei Diaghilev

One of the World's most impressive dance events.

Opera

Gloriana

ENO to stage special concert of Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana for the Platinum Jubilee.

Opera

Benvenuto Cellini

Terry Gilliam returns to ENO to bring his unique theatrical vision to Berlioz’s vibrant opera

Opera

La boheme

Jonathan Miller’s classic production of La boheme returns to ENO

Opera

Tosca

When passion and politics collide, love can prove a fatal weakness...

Dance

Amore / Svetlana Zakharova

Prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and étoile of La Scala, Svetlana Zakharova brings her new project Amore to the West End

Dance

Men in Motion

Ivan Putrov’s celebration of the male dancer returns for one night only.

Opera

Symphony of Sorrowful Songs

Gorecki's haunting symphony comes to London for a limited run

Opera

Blue

The UK premiere of this award-winning contemporary opera.

Opera

La Traviata

The ENO season presents one of the greatest operatic love stories of all time, La traviata

Opera

The Marriage of Figaro

Figaro’s marriage is becoming a merry-go-round. Can they get off before it’s too late?

Opera

The Yeomen of the Guard

Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta comes to the London Coliseum

Dance

Swan Lake

The famed Swan Lake, performed by St. Petersburg Ballet, will certainly be a ballet event of the season.

Opera

The Valkyrie

Wagner's epic opera The Valkyrie by the ENO

Musical

Sweeney Todd

Starring Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel

Dance

Scheherazade & Chopiniana

The Abay Kazakh State Opera and Ballet Theatre present Scheherazade and Chopiniana.

Dance

Raymonda

A new version by Tamara Rojo, after Marius Petipa.

Dance

Modanse starring Svetlana Zakharova

Modanse starring Svetlana Zakharova at the London Coliseum this December

Concert

Drag! Live at the London Coliseum

For the first time in West End herstory, drag is taking over the London Coliseum for one night only!

Opera

The Dead City

This cult classic opera comes to the London Coliseum for a limited run

Dance

Rodin

Opera

Satyagraha

Satyagraha comes to the London Coliseum this autumn

Concert

Friday Night is Music Night: 80's Classical

The best of the 80s and the BBC Concert Orchestra come together

Musical

Man of La Mancha

Michael Linnit and Michael Grade in collaboration with English National Opera presents Kelsey Grammer in Man of La Mancha

Play

Comedy at the Coliseum

Four popular comedians take to the stage at London's Coliseum for a one-off late-night comic spectacular!

Opera

Orpheus in the Underworld

Orpheus in the Underworld is set to open at the ENO London Coliseum this autumn!

Dance

Le Corsaire

English National Ballet performs this swashbuckling classic for a limited engagement at the Coliseum.

Opera

Orphée

Phillip Glass opera Orphée heads to the London Coliseum this November.

Opera

Iolanthe

The peers are getting restless and the fairies are in a frenzy. Can the Fairy Queen call Parliament to order?

Dance

Radio & Juliet | Faun | MсGregor + Mugler

A thrilling triple bill featuring a groundbreaking collaboration between McGregor and Mugler.

Concert

Friday Night is Music Night Celebrates David Bowie

Broadway superstar Tony Vincent pays tribute to the late pop idol David Bowie live on the London Coliseum stage

Musical

We Will Rock You

We Will Rock You the musical by Queen and Ben Elton returns to London!

Opera

Rusalka

Dvořák's Czech opera Rusalka based on fairy tales by Božena Němcová and Karel Jaromír Erben heads to the Coliseum in a rare London staging.

Opera

Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel

The world premiere of Iain Bell’s Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel comes to ENO

Opera

Iolanthe

The classic opera Iolanthe comes to London. Can the Fairy Queen call Parliament to order?

Opera

Madam Butterfly

Giacomo Puccini's world-famous opera Madam Butterfly is set to make its way to London's Coliseum in 2020!

Musical

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan

On Your Feet! congas its way to London's West End for a fun-filled summer of Gloria Estefan's greatest hits!

Dance

Oti Mabuse - I Am Here

World renowned dancer Oti Mabuse brings her new show I Am Here to the London Coliseum for one night only!

Opera

Carmen

Calixto Bieito’s acclaimed production of Carmen, a must-see opera, returns to the ENO.

Opera

The Handmaid's Tale

Resistance. Rebellion. Redemption. A dystopian world where hope prevails against all odds

Opera

The Barber of Seville

Jonathan Miller’s classic production of The Barber of Seville is a feast of frivolous fun.