About

The Painted Hall is a true masterpiece, boasting one of the most spectacular Baroque interiors in Europe. The extraordinary ceiling and wall decorations were conceived and executed by British artist Sir James Thornhill.

The epic painting scheme, known as ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’ took nineteen years from the start of the commission to its completion in 1726. By turns extravagant, playful, thoughtful, naïve and politically shrewd, Thornhill’s scheme earned him a knighthood and payment of £6,685.

The grandeur of Thornhill's composition, which covers 40,000 square feet, reflects the importance of the new Royal Hospital’s main Hall. Originally intended as a grand dining room for the naval pensioners, it soon became a ceremonial space open to paying visitors and reserved for special functions. Perhaps the most significant of which was the lying-in-state of Lord Nelson in January 1806, drawing large crowds to view the hero’s body. The exact spot where the coffin lay is marked by a plaque on the floor.

For a hundred years from 1824 the Hall was given over to the first National Gallery of Naval Art, before becoming home to the Royal Naval College in 1869 after the last Greenwich Pensioners left the site. From 1937 to 1997 the Painted Hall functioned as a dining space for trainee officers of the Royal Navy.

In 2019, after an £8.5m restoration project to clean and conserve the magnificent 17th Century paintings, the Painted Hall was reopened to the public.

Guided Talks [Daily]
Join one of the expert guides as they introduce you to the cast of over 200 fascinating characters assembled on the Painted Hall ceiling. Discover more about the rich history and compelling stories behind Sir James Thornhill’s masterpiece, which took 19 years to complete.

Guided Talks run every 30 minutes from 11am to 4pm*, departing from the Painted Hall vestibule.

* Included in your general admission ticket, subject to change, please ask a member of staff what tours are available on the day.

Social Media Mondays - Book Now
To better facilitate those looking for the perfect shot or insta-moment, the Old Royal Naval College offer a social media session every Monday. The capacity during this session is reduced to allow more space for capturing images and creating content for personal social media use with a focus on the visitor experience. Additionally, our usual photography policy is relaxed during this time to welcome those who would like to dress up or bring equipment such as ring lights and phone tripods.

NOTE: 
- Social Media Monday sessions are designed for personal, non-commercial content creation. Activities involving product placement, promotional shoots, or brand-related content may require prior approval and a commercial filming agreement.
- Staff may intervene or restrict the use of equipment or behaviours that are considered disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate.
- For full details, refer to the Old Royal Naval College's Photography and Filming Guidelines, which outline permitted activities across personal, commercial, and editorial categories.