If you read Muddy regularly, you’ll already know that the Royal Opera House’s autumn opera and ballet programme is a vibrant mix of classic crowd-pleasers, exciting new works and a roll call of world-class performers (check out our curated top 5 things to see this season). What you may not be aware of is that Bow Street’s most beautiful building is open to the public, regardless of whether you’re watching a performance, with a whole raft of brilliant things to do with friends, family or even solo – many of which are available for the first time. Our advice? Put Royal Opera House on your Covent Garden hit-list for your next visit – here’s why you’re going to love it.

1. The relaunched Piazza is the hottest restaurant in town

Bragging rights alert! We went along to the relaunch of the stylish Piazza restaurant and its panoramic terrace – now open the public for the first time, having previously been exclusively available to ticket holders. Trust us, it’s very much worth hotfooting it in and getting the early adopter credit, because the space is a knockout, sitting high on the fifth floor with a covered, heated Terrace that offers stunning views out over Covent Garden’s piazza and the skyline beyond to the London Eye. Defo reserve a table for dinner, or if you’re in the area just drop in for lunch.

The Executive Chef is Richard Robinson, formerly of Tom’s Kitchen, The French Laundry and Per Se, who is overseeing the restaurant’s modern British dishes (think dishes like London burrata and heritage beetroots; or Lemon sole, English sparkling wine and mushroom and Pershore broccoli with citrus and pine nuts).

The restaurant’s interior, designed by Naomi Cleaver is feminine and warm, all earthy tones with dusky pink accents, with sketches of celebrated ROH costumes on the walls, costumes behind glass and a comforting display of Whispering Angel wine in the centre of the restaurant (just saying).

Our tip is to head for the heated outdoor seating, framed by pretty potted plants and that view – it feels cosmopolitan and very cool.

2. Go behind the scenes

Love the goss behind the gloss? The Royal Opera House puts on regular tours – everything from an access all areas behind-the-scenes tour of the building (until 30 Nov) to the female history of the site (HerStory, 8 Oct at 4pm); from the relationship between the theatre and crime (Stages and Cells of Covent Garden, until 18 Dec) to how LGBTQ+ icons have helped shape ballet and opera (Pride of the ROH, 29 Oct 12.15pm). There’s also a deliciously ghoulish Halloween inspired Spooktacular Special Effects tour on 31 Oct for visitors 18+ that takes you behind the scenes to show how to fake scars and wounds, create a severed head (because haven’t you always wanted to know?) and summon a thunderstorm on stage.

3. Take a selfie

ROH is IG catnip at every turn, but the most spectacular selfie spot is undoubtedly the Paul Hamlyn Hall on the first floor, originally designed in 1860 as a flower market during the day, and events venue by night. It’s actually jaw-dropping – not only the size of it, but the barreled roof, stunning glass and iron façade, and the huge, padded and curved champagne bar. For the best selfie view of all, head up to the fifth floor and look down on the hall with that window as your background. BOOM.

4. Go contemporary at the Linbury Theatre

An intimate space on offer at Royal Opera House with an emphasis on exciting contemporary work, pushing the boundaries between opera and dance. Looks awesome, doesn’t it? It’s primarily a stage for The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, but also offers brilliant visiting companies a venue to showcase their work.

Ballet Black and Acosta Danza will both be performing soon, and for those who combust at panto and sentimental Christmas offerings, Royal Opera House’s clever, witty ‘anti-festive’ production Ruination (1-31 Dec) is ideal – a dance-theatre show from Lost Dog (you might have seen their smart, subversive Juliet and Romeo) it’s a great show for older teens/young adults, based on the Greek myth of Jason and Medea, and promises Hades in a tutu. Not a sentence we get to write often!

5. Try ballet or opera for yourself

No, we’re not kidding. If you have a passion for singing, there’s a ‘Sing at the Royal Opera House’ workshop where you can be learn an opera chorus with others – you don’t need to be a professional singer, enthusiastic bathroom power-balladers also welcome. Or if you’re more tutu than trills, you can learn steps influenced by the ROH ballets in a dance class led by The Royal Ballet. Again, everybody is welcome – all ages and abilities – so it could be an amazing thing to do with your children. The next block of tickets goes on sale from 26 Oct and they sell out FAST, so keep an eye on the website.

6. Meet your new cocktail jaunt

Crazy for cocktails? You betcha – and trust us, from years of exhaustive research, when we say the Piazza Terrace Bar is your new bar crawl bestie. Thought has gone into making the cocktails here a bit more interesting than the usual Aperols and espresso martinis, with the likes of Tequila Beetroot Bramble using beet juice and the bourbon-based Parsnips & Pears (nailing two of your five-a-day right there).

The star of the show, though, is the view – a unique, direct eye-line into the bustling, glamorous heart of Covent Garden, either on stools directly by the window or a mix of tables and comfy seating. Idle bonus: you can half-watch the wardrobe department creating costume magic while you drink– they’re working behind floor-to-ceiling windows next to the terrace.

7. Bring the kids to a Family Sunday

Who knew? The Royal Opera House has a brilliant Family Sunday offering that only locals and insiders seem to have so far clocked. There’s a rolling programme of activities designed to instil a love of music and movement, including interactive singing and dancing, informal performances from famous dancers and musicians, stage combat demos, and design activities by professional set designers. New tickets go on sale on 26 Oct so keep an eye to the website, and time your family trip in for later this month.

8. Fancy a coffee?

Granted, Covent Garden isn’t short on places for a pitstop, but you won’t see one like this. Spacious, calm and with all the salads, sandwiches and sweet treats you need for a break from shopping, the Royal Opera House café open to everyone from 12pm daily. Whilst you’re there, make sure you have a wander around the building to catch the free costume displays and exhibitions.

Also worth knowing that a visit to the café will almost certainly result in a purchase at the ROH Shop opposite – it’s a slick space with a whole range of gorgeous books, stationery, production merch and gifts. If you can’t be bothered to lug your booty around all day, you can also buy online when you get home.

9. Get Insights from the artists

This is a fantastic, inclusive idea – a series of opportunities for anyone interested in the arts to sit down with the casts and creatives of the Royal Opera House’s spectacular productions and gain a new perspective on the inspirations behind their work. Like the productions themselves, there’s a diverse set of Insights on offer, from a dive into the fantastical world of Handel’s opera Alcina (Baroque Star, Performing Handel, 18 Oct, 7.45pm), to discovering more about the development of the witty, inventive anti-Christmas show Ruination (17 Nov, 7.45pm), or gaining a deeper understanding of Britten’s powerful chamber opera The Rape of Lucretia (3 Nov, 7.45pm).  

10. Dip in for a lunchtime recital

Do you sometimes head to a museum or gallery for an hour just to get a dose of calm? We’re definitely adding Royal Opera House’s lunchtime recitals to our take-time-out list. The opulent Crush Room with its chandeliers and gilt-framed paintings is the venue for intimate performances from artists from the Royal Opera House, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Jette Parker Artists and a range of accomplished guests. Each performance takes 45-60 minutes, so it’s an ideal time out from the bustle of Covent Garden. Leave feeling uplifted, and slightly smug that you knew about it!  Suitable for ages 14+.

Royal Opera House, Bow St, London WC2E 9DD. Tel: 020 7240 1200.