The Painted Hall

About

The beautiful Painted Hall is the highlight of any visit to the Old Royal Naval College. People’s reaction when they see the Painted Hall for the first time is something to behold. Designed in the early 18th century by Sir James Thornhill, the Painted Hall features more than 3,700 square metres of Baroque walls and ceilings. These surfaces are covered in striking images depicting 200 figures including kings, queens and mythological creatures. It was originally intended as an eating space for the Greenwich Pensioners who lived at the Royal Hospital, as it was called then, but it soon became a tourist attraction and was used for dining only on special occasions. The Painted Hall reopened in 2019, following a two year long, award-winning conservation project and is now open for visits, tours and to hire.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes