Old Royal Naval College: A Journey through 600 Years of History
4.6
102 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
(102 Ratings)
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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.
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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.
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Sabriina2024
Feb 4, 2024
Good experience - Amazing experience! Had an excellent time during the tour. We happen to join Jim’s last tour of the day, it was very educational. Would highly recommend doing the tour. Thank you Jim!
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Jennieh658
Jan 28, 2024
A fabulous place to visit. - An amazing visit. I had booked to go and see one of the exhibitions but that also gave us access to all the buildings. The painted hall is beautiful and we were lucky enough to join a tour given by Jim of the hall. He then offered to take us on a tour around the other buildings too (as an extra to his day). He was so knowledgable and approachable to ask questions about the history. If you can get on one of his tours definitely do it. Well worth a visit.
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753samirac
Jan 28, 2024
Excellent, must do - Had an excellent time during the tour. It was engaging inclusive and very educational. We happen to join Jim’s last tour of the day at 3:30 and then without planning also joined his second tour of the 600 year history. It was a pleasure, would highly recommend.
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A2410afmatthewb
Nov 7, 2023
Excellent - Our tour guide Jim was absolutely fantastic - so informative, knowledgeable and funny. He made for a very memorable day.
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A2982qarobb
Nov 2, 2023
Jim The Great - Jim our tour guide was probably the best guide I've ever had on any tour I've done. His knowledge was faultless, he kept everyone so engaged and interested and had a great sense of humor too! He didn't skip a beat and was absolutely, 100% worth it.
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Cjbailey3
Nov 2, 2023
Tour of The Old Royal Naval College - Our tour guide Jim was enthusiastic, well informed and his presentation was slick and fascinating. Really recommend doing the tour of The Old Royal Naval College, and with Jim if you can!
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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.
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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