Painted Hall
Greenwich
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Sir James Thornhill’s Baroque masterpiece at the Old Royal Naval College: more than 3,700 square metres of painted walls and ceilings, with daily talks and tours included in the ticket.
The Painted Hall is the highlight of any visit to the Old Royal Naval College, and one of the most breathtaking interiors in Britain. Designed by Sir James Thornhill and painted between 1707 and 1726, it covers more than 3,700 square metres of walls and ceilings in Baroque decoration. Thornhill spent 19 years planning and painting it, and his epic scheme draws on a cast of around 200 figures, allegorical, mythological, historical and contemporary, to tell a story of political change, scientific and cultural achievement, naval endeavour and commercial enterprise.
At its centre is a pivotal moment in the nation’s history: the creation of the United Kingdom and its rise as a power in Europe, together with the Protestant accessions of William III and Mary II in 1688 and George I in 1714. The hall was built as a dining hall for the Greenwich Pensioners and naval officers, later became the National Gallery of Naval Art, and in 1806 was the setting for the lying-in-state of Lord Nelson before his funeral. More recently it has become a dramatic backdrop for films and television.
A General Admission ticket includes expert talks every half hour, daily 600 Years of History tours, a multimedia guide available in eight languages including British Sign Language, free family activities, the Skittle Alley and the Discover Greenwich museum, and can be converted into an Annual Pass at no extra cost. Children go free. The hall sits in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, cared for by the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, a registered charity, and it can also be explored online through a virtual tour.
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General Admission ticket
Entry to the Painted Hall with talks, tours, a multimedia guide, family activities, the Skittle Alley and the Discover Greenwich museum. Adults £19; children go free. Convert to an Annual Pass at no extra cost.
Painted Hall talks and 600 Years of History tours
Painted Hall talks every 30 minutes from 11am to 4pm and hourly 600 Years of History tours from 11am to 3pm, included in the ticket.
Group and coach visits
Group pricing and coach visits for parties visiting the Old Royal Naval College.
Venue hire
Corporate and private events and weddings in the Old Royal Naval College's historic indoor spaces.
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Tickets, visits or bookings are handled directly by Painted Hall through its own website or booking provider.
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