The Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich 

(Originally Greenwich Hospital)

King William Walk, Greenwich , London SE10 9NN  Telephone: +44 [0]20 8269 4747

• Entrance close to Cutty Sark

The Painted Hall and Chapel are generally open to visitors daily between 10am (12.30pm on Sundays) and 5pm.   Last admission is at 4pm. 

In the Chapel, Choral Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday at 11am, to which all are welcome.

The Old Royal Naval College is the great baroque masterpiece of English architecture.  Set in landscaped grounds on the River Thames in the centre of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it will be at the heart of Millennium celebrations.  The UNESCO designation recognises the site as being of "outstanding universal value", as Greenwich comprises the finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles.

Greenwich Hospital was established in 1694 by Royal Charter for the relief and support of seamen and their dependants and for the improvement of navigation.   Sir Christopher Wren planned the site, described as "one of the most sublime sights English architecture affords", and during the first half of the eighteenth century various illustrious architects, such as Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh, completed Wren's grand design.  The elaborate ceiling and wall paintings in the Great Hall (known as the "Painted Hall") were executed by Sir James Thornhill between 1707 and 1726.  The chapel was restored by James "Athenian" Stuart after a fire in 1779. 

In 1869 the Hospital was closed, and in 1873 the complex of buildings became the Royal Naval College , where officers from all over the world came to train in the naval sciences.  In 1998 the Royal Navy left Greenwich and handed over responsibility for the site to the Greenwich Foundation.  In the Autumn of 1999 the University of Greenwich will begin to take up residence in two of the four great Courts.

Copyright 1999 Greenwich Foundation (Reproduced with permission)