Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
▲
Old Royal Naval College
The college was originally a hospital founded by Queen Mary II and King William III in
1692 as a charity to care for retired or injured naval officers (called pensioners). Willi-
am and Mary spared no expense, hiring the great Christopher Wren to design the complex
(though other architects completed it). Its days as a hospital ended in 1869, and it served
as a college for training naval officers from 1873 to 1998. Now that the Royal Navy has
moved out, the public is invited to view the college's elaborate Painted Hall and Chapel of
Sts. Peter and Paul, which are in symmetrical buildings that face each other overlooking a
broad riverfront park.
Cost and Hours:
Free, daily 10:00-17:00, sometimes closed for private events, ser-
vice Sun at 11:00 in chapel—all are welcome,
www.ornc.org
.
Tours:
Guides give one-hour tours covering the hall and chapel, along with other
areas not open to the general public (
£
6, daily at 12:00, departs from Discover Greenwich,
call ahead to check availability, tel. 020/8269-4799).
Self-Guided Tour:
Each building sells a descriptive guide (50p-
£
1), or you can
buy the fun
Nasty Naval College
brochure (made for children, but with entertaining off-
beat facts about the place;
£
1). Volunteers are often standing by to answer questions. Visit
the highlight—the Painted Hall—first, before touring the chapel.
Painted Hall
Originally intended as a dining hall for pensioners, this sumptuously painted room was
deemed too glorious (and, in the winter, too cold) for that purpose. So almost as soon as it
was completed, it became simply a place to impress visitors.
