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The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich
Don’t miss the breath-taking Painted Hall, known as the UK’s Sistine Chapel, located in the heart of the Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site – no need to pre-book with Go City®.
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- 10% pub discount
What you'll do
Visit The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich with Go City®
- Your pass includes access to the breath-taking 17th-century Painted Hall with a descriptive audio guide available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German and Japanese.
- Option to join regular tours telling the 600 year story of this magnificent part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Your pass also gives you access to the Greenwich Museum in the Visitor Centre, the stunning Chapel and Victorian Skittle Alley.
The jewel in the crown of a visit to the Royal Borough of Greenwich is the magnificent Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, which is one of Europe’s most impressive interiors.
This iconic landmark is steeped in 600 years of history and was the birthplace of Henry VIII. In addition to the fascinating history behind the site, it is Britain’s no.1 Heritage film location, with the opportunity to step behind- the-scenes to discover how this stunning site has featured in everything from Bridgerton to Bond.
Departing hourly from the Visitor Centre, your pass also includes the award-winning site tour, which is optional. Covering the Visitor Centre, the grounds and the stunning Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, you can learn the estate’s fascinating 600 year history from its origins as a 1420s manor house, rebuilt as Greenwich Palace for Henry VII; to the commissioning of Sir Christopher Wren in 1694 for the design of a Royal Hospital for Seamen which it remained, up until 1873 when it became the Royal Naval College.
Old Royal Naval College highlights
- The Nelson room – see where Admiral Nelson was laid in state after the Battle of Trafalgar.
- The Painted Hall – often referred too as the UK’s Sistine Chapel, the magnificent work of art took 19 years to complete.
- The Chapel – uncover one of Britain’s finest 18th-century interiors.
- Greenwich Palace – glimpse the remains of the palace where Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Mary I were all born.
- The Skittles Alley – try your hand at one of the last remaining Victorian Skittle Alleys (open daily 12PM - 3PM).
Helios in the Painted Hall
From 25 January to 25 March, visitors to the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College can experience "Helios," a stunning seven-metre celestial installation by renowned British artist Luke Jerram. This awe-inspiring artwork, scaled at 1:200 million, is named after the ancient sun god Helios and offers a radiant 'winter sun' escape in one of London's most iconic settings. Don’t miss this temporary exhibition that brings light and wonder to the heart of Greenwich.
Old Royal Naval College history
In 1694 the English architectural heroes Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor were approached to redesign Greenwich Palace which was at the time thought to be an eyesore. Once home to Britain’s iconic monarchs Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the medieval palace was a building project taken on by Charles II when he was restored to the throne in 1660. However as the finances of the notorious spendthrift waned, so did his enthusiasm for the redesign and as a result, only one new wing was actually built, forming what is now the eastern range of the King Charles Court.
In 1694 this wing and the grounds were donated by William III as a Royal Warrant to become a site for invalid and elderly soldiers and Wren and Hawksmoor were asked to help. Queen Mary had requested to preserve the view of the river from the Queen’s House so Wren’s final design laid out the buildings into two halves, with twin domes inspired by his recent work at St Paul’s Cathedral. It was Hawksmoor however who carried out most of the work and drew up the working designs, as Wren’s extensive commitments kept him too busy. Work finally commenced in 1696 to create the four courts, and to finish their creation which went on to house over 2,000 veterans of the Royal Navy.
Where you'll be
Operating hours
Grounds of the College
Daily: 8AM - 11PM
The Old Royal Naval College Visitor Centre and Painted Hall
10AM - 5PM (last entry to the Painted Hall is 4.30PM).
Public Tour Schedule
The Old Royal Naval College runs a number of tours that are included with admission. Details of tour titles and departure times can be found here.
Closings & holidays
The Painted Hall can be subject to closure for events and filming. Please check the website for the most up-to-date information.
25 & 26 December annually.
The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich
020 8269 4799
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