Old Royal Naval College

01/10/2026

Day in 1869 the Greenwich Hospital for Seamen closed its doors, after serving as a retirement home for Royal Navy personnel for 164 years - a significant chapter in the 300 year history of the Painted Hall.

Four years after its closure, the site would become the Royal Naval College, a training college for naval officers.

Image from our archives: 'A Perspective View of the Colonades of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich'. Thomos Lawranson. Published by John Boydell, Engraver in Cheapside, London 1771. Black and white engraving.

30/09/2026

As the season turns and Halloween approaches, discover everything we have for you this October…

✨Discover our baroque site and Painted Hall for only £5 | Sun 4 Oct
🎬 Join writer-director Adjani Salmon for a talk and discover his secrets to success | Tue 6 Oct
🎼 Rest and reconnect with Lie Down and Listen in the Painted Hall | Fri 9 Oct
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Discover the mythical creatures of the Painted Hall at our Family Day | Sat 18 Oct
🧘‍♀️ Move your body and still the mind with Yoga in the Painted Hall | Fri 30 Oct
🔎 Solve a haunting Halloween murder mystery in Admiral’s House | Sat 31 Oct
🏛️ Explore the Dome of the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, with our weekly tours | Mon & Fri
🎥 Discover the backdrops of your favourite movies with our film tours | Sat & Sun

Book now at: https://ornc.org/

29/09/2026

in 1758, Lord Horatio Nelson was born in Norfolk, England, and would go on to become one of the most celebrated naval admirals in British history

As we celebrate 300 years of the Painted Hall, we’re remembering the people and stories that have helped shape this extraordinary space.

Did you know that after his passing, Lord Nelson's body came to the Painted Hall to lay in state, and you can still visit the room today? Tucked away within the Painted Hall, the Nelson Room offers a remarkable connection to one of the most significant figures in British naval history.

Next time you visit us, be sure to explore this historic space and discover more about this extraordinary story.

29/09/2026

We had the honour of welcoming the Laver Cup team to our historic site, ahead of this year’s tournament at the O2.

An iconic moment, which we won’t forget in a hurry!

A moment in time 🏆

Team Europe and Team World together at the Greenwich Meridian line for Laver Cup London 2026.

27/09/2026

Autumn trees, a coffee, and a walk around our heritage site? Yes please 🍂✨

26/09/2026

In its 300 year history, the Painted Hall has played host to many large scale events, from celebratory dinners and royal visits to weddings and dinners for naval officers.

We love this painting by Pointon Artist which beautifully captures the atmosphere of spending an evening beneath our celestial ceiling.

We love seeing our site through your eyes, so don’t forget to tag us and send us your artworks.

‘Royal Gala Dinner Celebrating the Conservation of the Painted Hall’, 140cm x 160cm, Greenwich (c. 2019), by Rob Pointon.

24/09/2026

If these walls could talk, what would they tell you? Stories of power and politics, myth and legend, love and loss – and of all the people who’ve walked through this astonishing space over the past 300 years.

Often cited as the UK's answer to the Sistine Chapel, there's never been a better time to explore the remarkable history of the Painted Hall than during its 300th anniversary year.

Swipe through and discover the moments that have shaped this iconic Baroque masterpiece across three centuries. ✨

23/09/2026

Our new display, A Journey Through the Stars, is now open in the Visitor Centre.

Centred around a unique 19th-century sextant, originally owned by Captain Guy Plantagenet, this display offers a fascinating insight into Britain's naval heritage and the lives of those who served in the Royal Navy.

Before going on display, this object was carefully restored by a dedicated team of experts, returning it to its original condition and helping to preserve an important piece of maritime history.

Learn more at: https://ornc.org/news/new-visitor-centre-display-sextant-stars/

22/09/2026

Autumn is finally here 🍂

Did you know that Sir James Thornhill painted the four seasons in the Painted Hall ceiling to symbolise the passage of time? Autumn is represented by Bacchus, the Roman god of w**e, agriculture and fertility.

This year, as we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Painted Hall, look up and discover the stories and details hidden in our celestial ceiling.

17/09/2026

Today we hosted the Royal College of Drawing on our historic site to draw inside the Painted Hall - and we absolutely love these beautiful drawings from some of their group!

This year, as we celebrate 300 years of this extraordinary space, we invite you to look up and experience 300 years of stories, art and history.

Next time you visit us, why not sit down and stay a while, and take some time to create your own artwork.

Find out more and book your tickets here: https://ornc.org/explore-whats-here/painted-hall/painted-hall-300/