Community Spotlight: The Painted Hall

The Painted Hall is one of the most breathtaking interiors in Britain. Sir James Thornhill spent 19 years planning and painting it, between 1707 and 1726, covering more than 3,700 square metres of walls and ceiling with around 200 figures that tell a story of political change, science, naval endeavour and trade. It was built as a dining hall for the Greenwich Pensioners, and in 1806 it was where Lord Nelson lay in state before his funeral.

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Painted Hall

Museum & Heritage · Greenwich

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 hall is cared for by the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, a registered charity, which looks after the whole site in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Visiting, booking an event or making a donation all help it preserve the College for the future.

This year the Painted Hall celebrates its 300th anniversary, and the winter programme is a good reason to go back:

6 to 8 and 11 to 15 November, evenings: Lost Worlds, a sound and light show by Luxmuralis

Thursday 12 November, 6pm: Cornwallis Cloth, on untold stories of WW2 in the Caribbean

20 November 2026 to 7 February 2027: Peace Doves by Peter Walker, a mass participation artwork in the Painted Hall

Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, 7.30pm: A Christmas Carol by The Three Inch Fools, in the Chapel

28 November to 22 December: Father Christmas at the Old Royal Naval College

Find out more

Our listing: Painted Hall

The Painted Hall: ornc.org/explore-whats-here/painted-hall

What's on at the ORNC: ornc.org/whats-on