The 10 best ballet, opera and dance shows in London

Telegraph

17-07-2025

Whether you're an aficionado or hoping to attend your first dance or opera performance, the capital is the ideal place to look. There are numerous ballet shows in London, not to mention a wealth of contemporary dance. Opera shows in London are world renowned.
There are productions to suit all tastes, featuring incredibly talented artists in wonderful venues in the theatre district.
You will find everything from Matthew Bourne's glamorous The Red Shoes and the festive Nutcracker to the Royal Opera's mighty production of Puccini's Tosca and their bold reinvention of Handel's Semele.
If you're on the hunt for the best ballet performances, best opera shows and best dance shows in London, then check out our top picks below and book your tickets now.
Best ballet and dance shows in London
Toe-tapping and toe-pointed entertainment in London includes classical ballet, contemporary dance, circus, children's shows and more.
See all shows via Tickets | Telegraph Media Group provided by London Theatre Direct
Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes, Sadler's Wells
In a nutshell: devotion, obsession, art and sacrifice collide as Matthew Bourne's stage adaptation of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's Academy Award-winning movie makes a triumphant return to Sadler's Wells. The fairy-tale story follows passionate ballerina Victoria Page, who becomes torn between the great impresario Boris Lermontov and suitor Julian Craster. Which will she choose: her love of dance or the love of her life?
Featuring stirring music by Bernard Herrmann, Bourne's Olivier Award-winning dance drama features a range of sumptuous 1940s' designs as it twirls between Covent Garden and Monte Carlo. It's an enchanting, glamorous spectacle – perfect for a Christmas outing that transports you to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Booking: Dec 2 to Jan 18, 2026
Nutcracker, London Coliseum
In a nutshell: it simply wouldn't be Christmas without this popular festive ballet, which sees a young girl's nutcracker doll come to life (think Toy Story with more pointe shoes). Clara helps her nutcracker battle the Rat King and is transported to the Land of the Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, her dance set to the famous part of Tchaikovsky's gorgeous score. Performed in the majestic London Coliseum, English Ballet's new version brings fresh magic to this enduring and beloved story.
Booking: Dec 11 to Jan 12, 2026
Akram Khan's Giselle, London Coliseum
Ballet meets kathak in Akram Khan's thrilling re-imagining of an iconic work, which weaves in Indian classical dance as part of its distinctive storytelling style. Khan also puts a contemporary spin on the tale of a peasant girl who falls for a dishonest duke: here, Giselle is a migrant factory worker, and Albrecht is a privileged landlord who deceives her.
But Albrecht gets his comeuppance in the otherworldly second half of the show, which sees the vengeful Wilis – spirits of women who have been betrayed – descend upon him. Khan's atmospheric production features an ominous score by Vincenzo Lamagna, combining acoustic and electronic music, which is perfect for this modern version of a legendary fable.
Booking: Jan 15-18, 2026
In a nutshell: ballet really can rock. The Who's iconic 1973 album Quadrophenia (written by Pete Townshend) and the subsequent cult-classic movie of the same name have inspired an explosive dance show. Set in the 1960s, it follows disaffected youth Jimmy who falls in with the sharply dressed mods and winds up caught in their famous 1964 battle with the rockers on Brighton Beach.
This exciting, adrenaline-fuelled piece of dance theatre features an all-star creative team: it's choreographed by Paul Roberts (who has worked with Harry Styles and Robbie Williams), directed by Rob Ashford (Tony and Olivier winner), and boasts stylish costumes by British fashion house Paul Smith. It's a Swinging Sixties sensation.
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, Sadler's Wells
In a nutshell: there is a new chapter in the epic turn-of-the-century Birmingham crime saga, which unfolded over six ferocious seasons on the BBC – and it comes in the form of a swaggering dance drama. Benoit Swan Pouffer and his company, Rambert, have joined forces with the show's creator, Steven Knight, to present a unique theatre event, featuring jaw-dropping athletic dance and a live on-stage band playing the series' incredible score.
The show delves into the backstory of Tommy Shelby, who fought in the trenches with the Peaky Blinders gang, and then follows his intoxicating affair with nightclub singer Grace, and his fight to survive in a murky postwar criminal underworld.
Booking: Aug 5-16
Best opera shows
London is the home of world-leading companies such as the Royal Opera and English National Opera, producing performances of both brand-new and classic works, with homegrown talent and visiting international superstars.
See all shows via Tickets | Telegraph Media Group provided by London Theatre Direct
Il Trovatore, Royal Opera House
In a nutshell: Adele Thomas's powerful 2023 production of Verdi's great opera follows the grisly tale of a gypsy woman who commanded her daughter, Azucena, to avenge her death by placing the infant son of Count di Luna on her funeral pyre. Years later, the new count is locked in a love triangle with lady-in-waiting Leonora and a mysterious troubadour, Manrico. A battle between the gypsies and the count's military forces is juxtaposed with a gripping saga of passion, revenge and love.
Booking until: Jul 19
Semele, Royal Opera House
In a nutshell: Handel's riveting opera, first seen in 1744, blends darkly comic and tragic elements in its telling of an ancient Greek myth. The mortal Semele is romanced by the arch-seducer Jupiter, king of the gods, but Jupiter's jealous wife, Juno, plots to destroy Semele by tricking her into desiring to see Jupiter in his divine form – with horrifying results.
Oliver Mears's bold production updates the action by setting the tale in a mid-century luxury hotel, and tapping into contemporary themes around power dynamics and toxic masculinity. The excellent cast features Pretty Yende, Ben Bliss, Alice Coote, Brindley Sherratt and Carlo Vistoli, while the music is conducted by Christian Curnyn.
Booking until: Jul 18
Tosca, Royal Opera House
In a nutshell: Puccini's operatic thriller is back in Covent Garden in an exciting new production directed by Oliver Mears and conducted by Jakub Hrůša. The epic story is set in war-torn Rome in 1800, where painter Mario Cavaradossi and singer Floria Tosca are desperately in love. But when escaped prisoner Cesare Angelotti seeks Cavaradossi's help, they are both put in grave danger.
Their enemy is the terrifying Baron Scarpia, chief of police, who craftily manipulates the two lovers in an attempt to uncover Angelotti's hiding place. Anna Netrebko, Aleksandra Kurzak, Freddie De Tommaso and Gerald Finley lead the company for this shattering production of Puccini's mighty portrait of ardour, faith, revolution and political intrigue.
Booking: Sept 11 to Oct 7
More booking information to come soon.
Carmen, London Coliseum
In a nutshell: Bizet's irresistible work has one of the most compelling heroines in all of opera: the femme fatale, Carmen. Soldier Don José falls for the free-spirited gypsy girl, and, when she's arrested for attacking another woman, the beguiled José agrees to free her. But Carmen abandons him when she meets a more exciting prospect: mysterious bullfighter Escamillo.
Calixto Bieto's acclaimed production, which transports the Spanish action from the 19th century to the end of Franco's regime in the 1970s, returns to the Coliseum to thrill audiences once again. Add in famous arias like the Toreador Song and Habanera, and this is a night of fiery passion, jealousy, obsession and glorious music.
Booking: Oct 8 to Nov 5
More booking information to come soon.
Turandot, Royal Opera House
In a nutshell: Andrei Serban's celebrated production of Puccini's China-set final work makes a welcome return to the Royal Opera House. Three acclaimed opera stars, Anna Netrebko, Maida Hundeling and Anna Piroazzi, share the title role – the cold-hearted Princess Turandot – who will only marry a suitor who can solve three riddles. Those who try and fail are ruthlessly beheaded.
The Prince of Tartary is dazzled by the princess's beauty and takes on the deadly challenge, despite pleading from onlookers, including slave girl Liù and her master, who is actually the vanquished King of Tartary. A battle of wills ensues, during which the prince sings one of the most famous arias in all of opera, Nessun dorma, and Turandot finally understands love.
Booking: Dec 15 to Feb 4, 2026
More booking information to come soon.
FAQs
What is the best ballet in London?
The capital is teeming with incredible dance shows, ranging from traditional classical ballet to more modern and cutting-edge productions. Experience ballet at its most magical and festive at Nutcracker, dramatic and glamorous at The Red Shoes, and reborn into a new mystical form at Akram Khan's Giselle.
Where is the best place to see ballet in London?
There are several world-class dance venues in London. Sadler's Wells hosts a range of leading companies and productions, while the Royal Opera House is home to the Royal Ballet, and the London Coliseum is the base for English National Ballet. All of these thriving venues are well worth a visit.
Where can I see opera in London?
Opera is also extremely well represented in the city, giving audiences their choice of thrilling, brilliantly performed, sometimes heart-breaking productions of legendary work. Venues include the Royal Opera House, which is home to the Royal Opera, and the London Coliseum, where you'll find English National Opera.
What is the dress code for opera in London?
There is no set dress code for attending the opera, unlike in its early days when formal wear was definitely required. However, if you're attending a show at a magnificent venue like the Royal Opera House or London Coliseum, it's fun to dress up and make your visit feel even more special.