The Old Royal Naval College Greenwich, home of the Painted Hall

The Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, London, UK

Getting to the Old Royal Naval College is easy, whether by bus, train, DLR, river or coach. Located next to the Ferry Stop with regular shuttle services into London, in the heart of Greenwich and adjacent to the Cutty Sark & Maritime Museum.

Luke Jerram’s astonishing installation Mars is coming to the Painted Hall this winter. Following the sell-out success of Gaia and Museum of the Moon, Mars will complete the trilogy of Jerram’s out-of-this-world installations at the iconic Old Royal Naval College.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, this spellbinding artwork features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface recreated to scale. Slowly rotating against the spectacular backdrop of the Painted Hall, this unique pairing will bring two breathtaking works of art together, merging science with history, myth and allegory.

The unique architecture of the Nelson Room has been carefully conserved, including its imposing roof lantern, monumental stonework, and Swedish marble flooring – the marble flagstones were selected by Sir Christopher Wren himself.

A ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ display illuminates Nelson’s lying-in-state. At the same time, a bronze sculpture called Breaking the Line, by Antony Dufort, pays tribute to the many sailors who fought at Trafalgar and later became ‘Greenwich Pensioners’ at the Royal Hospital for Seamen.

Take a tour of this magnificent 17-acre riverside estate in the heart of the Greenwich Maritime UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tickets include access to the breath-taking Painted Hall, which took 19 years to Paint, known and ‘the UK’s Sistine Chapel’.

Your visit includes the award-winning site tour, during which you’ll learn about the fascinating 600-year story of this site, including its birthplace of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.

Meet at the Visitor Centre for a 45-minute tour of the spectacular grounds. The tour leaves daily at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm (and finishes at the entrance to the Painted Hall).

Over 200 fascinating characters are assembled on the ceiling and walls of the Painted Hall. Join one of our experts for a 30-minute talk explaining the history and stories behind the painting.

Talks run regularly between 11 am and 4 pm. Gather at the meeting point in the Painted Hall Vestibule to join the next talk.

Painted Hall tickets also include entry to the Chapel and Skittle Alley, a rare example of an early Skittle alley that offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the Greenwich Pensioners who inhabited the site.

Please note the following upcoming Painted Hall closures and notices:

• Friday 22 November – full closure
• Thursday 12 December – early closure at 4pm
• Tuesday 24 December – Thursday 26 December – all-day
• Wednesday 29 January 2025 – full closure

The Chapel will close:

• Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November – all-day

All opening times are subject to change. Please check before visiting.