Old Royal Naval College: A Journey through 600 Years of History
4.6
107 Ratings
London
Embark on a captivating journey through 600 years of history at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Explore stunning architecture, discover fascinating stories, and visit the breathtaking Painted Hall. Don't miss the chance to uncover the secrets of this iconic filming location!
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Old Royal Naval College - Embark on a journey through the grand 17-acre riverside grounds and delve into the rich 600-year history of the site, once known as Greenwich Palace, where Henry VIII was born. Marvel at the stunning Painted Hall, often referred to as Britain’s answer to the Sistine Chapel, which took 19 years to complete.

The prize-winning guided tour is part of your experience. Setting off from the Visitor Centre, tours leave on the hour throughout the day, led by knowledgeable guides. As you explore, you’ll be shown various locations that have been featured in films, or you can opt for the Blockbuster Film tour for a deeper dive into the reasons this location is among the most favored for filming in the world. The site has been a backdrop for over 100 movies in almost a century, including titles like ‘The Crown’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Thor: The Dark World’, ‘Cruella’, ‘Bridgerton’, and many others.

What's Included
  • Multilingual audio guide for Painted Hall in 7 languages.
  • Painted Hall talks every 30 minutes, 11 AM - 4 PM.
  • Access to the Visitor Centre included.
  • Hourly guided tours of the Estate, 11 AM - 3 PM.
Additional Information

The narrative of Greenwich begins with its 600-year chronicle. Experience the grandeur of this 17-acre riverside estate - part of the Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site - through an award-winning tour. Admire the striking designs of Sir Christopher Wren, discover the enthralling 600-year tale of this location, including being the birthplace of Henry VIII. Tour the magnificent Painted Hall (reputed as the Sistine chapel of the UK) that took 19 years to complete. Frequently used as a filming location for blockbusters like The Crown, Les Miserables, Thor: The Dark World, Cruella, Bridgerton and more - visitors can opt for a film tour to learn insider facts and secrets.

Tickets come with a guided tour departing from the visitor centre every hour from 11am - 3pm. This includes entry to the Painted Hall*, Visitor Centre, Chapel and the Skittle Alley (typically accessible from 12-3pm), where you can partake in a Victorian bowling game.

*Painted Hall entry includes multimedia guides (available in 7 languages) and guided tours take place every 30mins.

Location
Old Royal Naval College
King William Walk
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(107 Ratings)
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Teresa_c
May 20, 2024
Lovely experience - Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and the Painted Hall, Chapel, and grounds were Absolutely beautiful
Review provided by Viator
Atraveller363
May 12, 2024
From a time of beautiful buildings - The Old Royal Naval College is another masterpiece from Sir Christopher Wren and his assistant Nicholas Hawksmoor. The twin domes just shout Wren and look like 2 mini St. Pauls. A magnificent set of 4 buildings originally intended as a Naval hospital, built on the site of the old Greenwich Palace it still has some of the walls from earlier Royal buildings that are still visible. About 300 years old, grandiose in the extreme from the outside and the Painted Hall inside just shouts money. I'm not much of an art lover but I couldn't help be impressed, to say it's magnificently painted doesn't do it justice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
81asta_
May 4, 2024
Wort to visit - The guide Jim was extreemelly pleasant and inventive in his show. We like the tour very much. And so nice paintings definitelly worth to see!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
29gintar_
May 4, 2024
Historical, grand and a must see! - Very lovely place, lots to see. Our guide Jim was great and even took us on another short tour of the grounds after the painted hall. Would recommend a visit if you are in London
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patricia_l
Apr 12, 2024
I had Peter give me a... - I had Peter give me a personal tour of the hall(Because there was no one else there requiring a guided tour) and then the church Next Door. He was absolutely brilliant, personable and friendly. Couldn’t have had a better docent. Thank you so much, Peter. Patricia
Review provided by Viator
Rafpisa
Apr 8, 2024
Don't miss an 18th century Sistine Chapel - Splendid, little-known and little-advertised salon. I consider it a spectacle of frescoes from the ceiling to the walls which are well described with the use of free audio guides that allow you to enjoy every detail
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anncl4594pw
Feb 25, 2024
A good birthday treat - Five of us visited the Royal Naval College as a birthday treat for one of our group. We did both the Painted Hall tour and the 600 years of history tour with our guide Jim. He was very interesting and knowledgeable and managed to deliver a lot of facts with a good sense of humour. It was definitely worth doing the tour (which is included in the entrance fee) as it was so enjoyable and we found out so much more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
936sueh
Feb 24, 2024
Amazing place - We did a tour of the painted hall with Jim, who was excellent. Very engaging and informative. As we were the last tour of the day, he gave us an extra 30 mins of his own time to show us around the surrounding parts of the college. Very worthwhile and he had some great stories that really brought to life the history and understanding of the paintings and artwork. An amazing place, well worth a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arel410
Feb 14, 2024
Antonio’s super tour of the Painted Hall - Had a fantastic tour of the Painted Hall with tour guide Antonio that was included in the cost of the ticket. Antonio was very knowledgeable about the artwork and the history and made it a very interesting and engaging commentary. We met him again in the Chapel and he was equally friendly and generous with sharing his knowledge. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sstaley
Feb 25, 2024
A Spontaneous Visit - I paid a surprise visit to an old friend in Greenwich, and our impromptu decision turned out to be quite rewarding. The content of the building and the surrounding views were truly captivating. Notably, the iconic Painted Hall has earned the reputation of being the UK’s Sistine Chapel. If you happen to visit between December and February. They have an exhibition on 2023 "Museum of the Moon." This year features "Coalescence" by designer Paul Cocksedge, making its London debut against the stunning backdrop of the Painted Hall. The installation, crafted from over 2,500 pieces of coal – equivalent to the amount consumed by a single 200W light bulb in a year, is a unique spectacle. The venue also hosts diverse activities like Yoga & Brunch. I recommend checking their website for the latest updates on events and exhibitions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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