Set in the Tower of London in the 16th century, "The Yeomen of the Guard" is the one opera that its authors carefully did not dub a "comic opera" and is the closest Gilbert & Sullivan got to a grand opera. Both composer and librettist had a high opinion of the work. Gilbert said he regarded it as "the best thing we have done", and Sullivan told the Strand Musical Magazine that it was his favourite opera.

It has always stood a little apart from the rest of the G&S canon and remains a favourite - in preference to the light, burlesque works of the first years of the team's careers - of many lovers of the musical stage, as well as those who prefer their opera light rather than bouffe.