Old Royal Naval College
- Maritime history enthusiasts
- Architecture and design enthusiasts
- Families with children
What Visitors Say
I love this place and keep returning with family members and friends for a slightly alternative experience to typical London tourist spots. Their free tours are pretty good (can be very dependent on the guide) but the venue itself is SO impressive, I love going there to stare at the ceiling and walls.
Old Royal Naval College is an absolutely stunning historic site in Greenwich. Even just visiting the outside is already very impressive, with magnificent architecture, grand buildings, and beautifully designed open spaces. The area by the River Thames adds even more charm, making it a perfect place for a relaxing walk and taking photos. The whole atmosphere feels elegant and peaceful. A must-visit spot in Greenwich, even if you only explore the exterior.
We visited the Painted Hall for an event celebrating its 300th anniversary. Its majestic architecture and paintings were truly impressive, and theatrical dances and Tudor-era music added to the atmosphere.🙏👍
Amazing historical series of buildings set on the banks of the Thames in Greenwich, just down the hill from the Observatory. Lots of open spaces to sit and admire the views. Lots of facilities - pubs, gift shop, gin distillery Experience and a lovely cafe, perfect for afternoon or high tea. The Painted Hall is magnificent and breathtaking. You can spend a lot of time in there with a guide going through the significance of the paintings. I loved the skittle alley downstairs too. Well worth a visit and plenty to do and see nearby. Easy access to the city, train and Thames clipper. If you have time visit the Cutty Sark too
Walking through this place feels like stepping onto a movie set. It is breathtaking to see such a majestic architectural complex being used today by the University of Greenwich and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. The design by Sir Christopher Wren is imposing, and the atmosphere is filled with history and art at every turn. If you are in Greenwich, this is an absolute must-visit. Make sure to check out the Painted Hall often called the "Sistine Chapel of the UK" it is truly spectacular. I also highly recommend taking a walk around the grounds to soak in the views. It is easily one of the most beautiful and iconic spots in London!
Highlights
Painted Hall
Britain’s grandest Baroque interiorJames Thornhill spent 19 years (1707–1726) painting a ceiling-and-wall epic celebrating navigation, monarchy, and scientific discovery—think allegory meets star chart.
King William Court (ticketed entry)
Chapel of St Peter & St Paul
A serene Neoclassical counterpointRebuilt after an 18th-century fire, the chapel’s light interior blends crisp columns, an exquisite Coade-stone pulpit and a rippling anchor-motif ceiling for seafarers’ prayers.
Queen Mary Court
River Court & Domes
Wren’s axial planning with a viewTwo domes open a view corridor from the river to the Queen’s House and Observatory—the campus is basically a ceremonial telescope pointed at time.
Along the Thames frontage
Skittle Alley
Victorian leisure beneath Baroque grandeurHidden below the chapel is a 19th-century skittle alley used by pensioners of the Royal Hospital for Seamen—conviviality under the stones.
Undercroft, by tour only
Film & TV Spots
A chameleon for cinemaFrom ‘Les Misérables’ barricades to ‘Bridgerton’ balls and Marvel’s Asgard, the courtyards shape-shift with astonishing ease.
Site-wide (check daily map)
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
Before the Baroque, this was the Tudor Palace of Placentia—birthplace of Henry VIII (1491) and Elizabeth I (1533).
Admiral Nelson lay in state in the Painted Hall for three days in January 1806—over 30,000 mourners filed past.
Thornhill was paid by the square yard for the Painted Hall and later knighted—the first British-born artist to receive a knighthood (1720).
Those crisp sculptural details in the chapel? Many are Coade stone—a near-mythical, frost-proof ‘artificial stone’ perfected in Georgian London.
There really are beehives on site; Greenwich honey from the Naval College’s gardens turns up seasonally in the shop.
Similar Museums
Nearby Places
Old Royal Naval College
1 min 👣
Greenwich Visitor Centre
2 min 👣
Cutty Sark Museum
3 min 👣
National Maritime Museum
3 min 👣
Queen's House
3 min 👣
Fan Museum
5 min 👣
Royal Observatory Greenwich
10 min 👣
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
10 min 👣
Ranger's House (Wernher Collection)
14 min 👣
Art in Perpetuity Trust
15 min 👣