Theatres · Northern Ireland
Grand Opera House
In or near Belfast.
Grand Opera House is a theatre in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Belfast Grand Central · 0.3 km
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Grand Opera House in Belfast, the nearest railway station is Belfast Grand Central, located 0.3 km away. The postcode is BT2 7HR. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Grand Opera House is a working theatre in the United Kingdom, listed in OpenStreetMap as a public performance venue. Records date its origin to 1895. Designed by Frank Matcham. Address: 2-4, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR. Limited wheelchair access (per OpenStreetMap). Coordinates: 54.5954°, -5.9352°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
The Grand Opera House is a theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by the most prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham. It opened on 23 December 1895. According to the Theatres Trust, the "magnificent auditorium is probably the best surviving example in the United Kingdom of the oriental style applied to theatre architecture". The auditorium was restored to its former glory, and the foyer spaces and bars were reimagined and developed as part of a £12.2 million project in 2020/2021, generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The venue hosts musicals, drama, ballet, opera and comedy performances as well as educational events and tours.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
The Grand Opera House is a historic theatre in Belfast, showcasing a variety of performances including musicals, plays, and special events. Visitors can enjoy guided tours that offer insights into the theatre's rich history and architectural beauty.
From the Wikipedia article
The Grand Opera House is a theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by the most prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham. It opened on 23 December 1895. According to the Theatres Trust, the "magnificent auditorium is probably the best surviving example in the United Kingdom of the oriental style applied to theatre architecture". The auditorium was restored to its former glory, and the foyer spaces and bars were reimagined and developed as part of a £12.2 million project in 2020/2021, generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The venue hosts musicals, drama, ballet, opera and comedy performances as well as educational events and tours. The theatre's annual pantomime, which has been performed since its opening in 1895, remains the most popular show each year. The theatre's capacity is 1,058.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Originally called the New Grand Opera House and Cirque, it was renamed the Palace of Varieties in 1904, changing its name to the Grand Opera House in 1909. Charlie Chaplin performed there in 1908, and although Variety programmes dominated the pre-war years, entertainers as diverse as Nellie Melba, Sarah Bernhardt, Ralph Richardson and Gracie Fields performed there regularly. It became a repertory theatre during World War II and at the celebrations to mark the end of the war, Eisenhower, Montgomery and Alanbrooke attended gala performances at the theatre. Lena Horne performed here in the 1940s on her way to and from her travels to France. After the war, stars of stage and screen returned to…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.5954, -5.9352
- District
- Belfast
- Postcode
- BT2 7HR
- Parliamentary constituency
- Belfast South and Mid Down
- Established
- 1895
- Nearest railway station
- Belfast Grand Central — 0.3 km
Sources
- osm: w488274000 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Grand Opera House, Belfast (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Belfast, Grand Opera House - geograph.org.uk - 611500.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Grand Opera House
Open-air theatres · 0.0 km
Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker
Public art & sculpture · 0.0 km
Europa Hotel, Belfast
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Great Victoria Street
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Crown Liquor Saloon
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Crown Liquor Saloon
Historic pubs · 0.1 km
Cannon Belfast
Theatres · 0.1 km
Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station
Natural landmarks · 0.1 km
Deanes
Natural landmarks · 0.2 km
Eipic
Natural landmarks · 0.2 km
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Natural landmarks · 0.2 km
Black Man Statue (Henry Cooke)
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
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📷 4Frequently asked questions
- Where is Grand Opera House?
- Grand Opera House is in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (postcode BT2 7HR).
- What is Grand Opera House?
- Grand Opera House is a theatre in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Grand Opera House?
- The nearest railway station is Belfast Grand Central, about 0.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode BT2 7HR.
- When was Grand Opera House built?
- Built or established in 1895. Designed by Frank Matcham.
- Who owns Grand Opera House?
- Grand Opera House is owned by Grand Opera House Trust.
- Is Grand Opera House a listed building?
- Grand Opera House is officially recognised as Grade II listed building listed.
- How do I get to Grand Opera House?
- The nearest railway station is Belfast Grand Central, about 0.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BT2 7HR.