Every so often London has a cultural landmark so spectacular that the fact most people walk past it without going inside becomes genuinely baffling.
The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is that landmark. Over 40,000 square feet of Baroque walls and ceilings.
Around 200 painted figures spanning kings, queens, mythological creatures, and allegorical scenes.
Nineteen years of one man’s life dedicated to painting it. And in 2026, it turns 300 years old, which means this is genuinely the best year to finally go.
What is the Painted Hall?
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and painted by Sir James Thornhill between 1707 and 1726, the Painted Hall was originally intended as a dining hall for the Greenwich Pensioners, retired sailors living at what was then the Royal Hospital for Seamen.
Thornhill spent 19 years on the project, working in an Italian Baroque style that draws on mythology, history, and political allegory simultaneously.
He was paid £1 per square yard for the walls and £3 per square yard for the ceiling, which came to a total of £6,685, around £1.4 million in today’s money.
He was also the first English artist to be knighted, in 1720, by George I, who appears in the paintings himself.
The result is a room so extraordinary that it quickly became a tourist attraction rather than a dining hall, used for eating only on special occasions.
It has since served as a naval art gallery, a state room for the lying-in-state of Lord Nelson in 1806, and the filming location for Bridgerton, James Bond, and over 200 other film and television productions.
Not bad for a room that was technically built for sailors to eat their dinner in.
The 300th anniversary
2026 marks three centuries since the Painted Hall was completed, and the Old Royal Naval College is marking it properly.
The anniversary celebration includes Peace Doves, a large-scale participatory artwork by renowned sculptor Peter Walker, running from 21st November 2026 to 7th February 2027.
Visitors can make their own peace doves at stations in the Painted Hall and Chapel, contributing to a final mass artwork that will become part of the building’s history.
The kind of thing that sounds like a nice touch until you’re actually there doing it, at which point it feels like participating in something genuinely significant.
The social media Mondays
Every Monday, the Painted Hall runs a dedicated social media session with reduced capacity (more space, less jostling), and the usual photography policy is relaxed to welcome visitors who want to dress up, bring ring lights, or use phone tripods.
First Sundays
On the first Sunday of each month, entry to the Painted Hall is just £5, the full experience at a fraction of the standard ticket price. The single best-value cultural visit in Greenwich and one of the best in London.
What else is included?
Your ticket covers more than just the Painted Hall.
Also included: the Nelson Room (documenting the lying-in-state of Admiral Nelson), the Victorian Skittle Alley (bowling balls dating from 1864, which is exactly as charming as it sounds), the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, and the Visitor Centre with its Greenwich Museum.
Expert talks run every half hour from 11am to 4pm.
Multimedia guides are available in eight languages, including British Sign Language.
The grounds are some of the most beautiful in London and are free to walk through any time between 8am and 11pm.
Practical Information & Map
General admission: £19 (converts to an annual pass at no extra cost). Kids under 16 go free (up to four children per paying adult). First Sundays: £5. London Pass included.
Opening times: Daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4.30pm. Grounds open from 8am to 11pm.
♿ Important note: the lift to the Painted Hall is currently out of order. Access requires steps: 20 to the Lower Vestibule, 16 to the Main Vestibule, and a further 7 to the Upper Hall. Worth checking the website for the latest accessibility update before visiting.
Location: Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN. Eight minutes by train from London Bridge, or a short walk from Cutty Sark DLR.
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