How do I get seats for a sold-out performance?
Call the box office on 020 7304 4000 or check the website regularly in the week or so before the performance for returns. The box office sometimes have seats which are shown as unavailable on the website.
67 Day Seats are available from the ROH from 10am on the day of performance. Click here for details. The seats are in the upper amphitheatre (rows U to V) and side stalls circle (row C). Most have distant or restricted views, and are typically priced around £20 to £30 (amphitheatre), £30 to £50 (side stalls circle). There are also a handful of standing places at around £10 to £15. These seats are often popular, and you might need to start queuing at 8am or earlier to be sure of getting one. Phone the ROH box office for queuing advice the day before. Note that, contrary to myth, day seats are not discounted, so they are no cheaper than regular seats.
People (including the occasional tout) may sometimes offer tickets outside the Piazza entrance before the performance, but this is not as common as in some other countries, so don't count on it.
Ebay, Gumtree and other resale sites may have tickets, but the usual warnings about fakes apply.
Ticket agencies are a last resort - they generally hold the most expensive seats only, and often charge double or more the face value.
Note that standbys, discounts and special offers are only ever available on shows that aren't selling well.