Glyndebourne Festival Opera — held each summer at Glyndebourne House near Lewes in East Sussex — is the most civilised way to spend a summer's evening in England. Founded in 1934 by John Christie and his wife, soprano Audrey Mildmay, Glyndebourne has produced some of the finest opera performances in the world for ninety years, in a setting of extraordinary rural beauty.
The evening at Glyndebourne follows a particular ritual that has changed little in nine decades. Guests arrive in the late afternoon dressed in evening dress — black tie for gentlemen, long dresses for ladies. The performance begins at around 5pm and breaks for a long interval of approximately 90 minutes. During this interval, picnic hampers are spread on the lawns of the country house, champagne is poured, and the East Sussex evening light falls gently on the Downs.
The journey from London is approximately 90 minutes each way — south through South London, over the North Downs, and into the gentle countryside of East Sussex. In a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, with the evening's performance to anticipate, it is among the most pleasurable journeys in our annual calendar. We have been making it since 1983.
Depart London in the late afternoon for the journey south to East Sussex. Arrive at Glyndebourne with time to collect your picnic hamper and settle before the performance begins.
Enquire →Your chauffeur waits in the Glyndebourne area throughout the performance and interval, and returns you to London when the final curtain falls — typically arriving home by midnight.
Enquire →The complete Glyndebourne experience: your chauffeur waits from departure to return, available if required during the interval. The most popular choice for first-time Glyndebourne visitors.
Enquire →Both outward and return transfer, chauffeur on standby throughout. Available in Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Mercedes, depending on the occasion.
Enquire →Black tie is the expectation at Glyndebourne — one of the last remaining occasions in England where evening dress is not merely permitted but actively encouraged. Ladies wear long dresses; gentlemen wear dinner suits or, occasionally, white tie for the most formal performances.
The long interval — approximately 90 minutes — is the heart of the Glyndebourne evening. Picnic hampers are spread on the immaculate lawns, champagne is poured, and the conversation turns from the first act to the beauty of the evening. The Glyndebourne kitchen provides hampers by arrangement; alternatively, we are happy to coordinate with your preferred London delicatessen.
"The interval at Glyndebourne is worth the drive from London alone."
Glyndebourne transfers since our fifth Season of service.
South through the Downs, arriving in East Sussex for the performance.
Available throughout — from arrival to the final curtain.
The Festival runs May to August; popular dates sell out early.
For a 5pm performance (the most common start time), we recommend departing London at 3:30–4:00pm. This allows approximately 90 minutes for the journey and 30 minutes to collect your picnic hamper and settle before the performance. We can advise precisely once we know the performance time.
Black tie is the convention at Glyndebourne and is very strongly observed. Ladies wear long dresses; gentlemen wear dinner suits. Arriving in black tie in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce is, we might suggest, precisely the right way to begin a Glyndebourne evening.
Yes — our Wait service has your chauffeur remaining in the Glyndebourne area throughout the performance and interval. They will be at the agreed collection point when the curtain falls.
Glyndebourne performances occasionally run slightly longer than scheduled. Your chauffeur is aware of this and will wait. There is no additional charge for reasonable overruns.
Glyndebourne House is near Lewes, East Sussex — approximately 55 miles from Mayfair. Journey time is typically 80–90 minutes by private car, depending on evening traffic south of London.
Evening dress. East Sussex. The finest opera in England. Your chauffeur awaits.