About

The Old Royal Naval College will once again be part of Open House London, delivering special talks and giving access to several areas in the beautiful site, some of which are normally closed to the general public  - see the full programme here.

Grand Square - (15 minute Talk)
Time: at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm & 3:30pm (Saturday & Sunday)
The Grand Square of the Old Royal Naval College lies at the heart of one of the most spectacular architectural complexes in Europe. These drop-in talks will explore the histories behind the sweeping vistas on view.

* Visitor must collect a free ticket on day from the on-site gazebo.

King William Courtyard - (Talk)
Time: 11:00am, 12 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:000pm & 4:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Hawksmoor’s work in the King William Courtyard, with its massive scale and sculptural enrichment, is a quintessential example of English Baroque.  The Courtyard is overlooked by the Nelson Pediment, created in Coade stone to a design by the American-born history painter, Benjamin West. These talks will examine the art and architecture of this unique space.

Jacobean Undercroft - (Talk)
Time: 11:00am, 12 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm & 4:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)
A rare opportunity to visit the Undercroft of the Queen Anne Building, a survival from the early 1600s and the only remaining intact room from Greenwich Palace.

* The Undercroft is reached by a flight of steps: we regret there is no step-free access for this visit.
* Visitor must collect a free ticket on day from the on-site gazebo.

Admiral’s House & Morning Room - (Drop-in)
Time: 11:00am - 5:00pm (Sunday ONLY)
One of the oldest surviving parts of the site, Admiral’s House, overlooking the Thames, was once the residence of the Governor of the Royal Hospital for Seamen. Originally designed by John Webb for Charles II as part of a plan to create a royal palace to rival Versailles, it was later part of the complex to house seamen of the Royal Navy who could no longer go to sea. The Morning Room displays a collection of items relating to Admiral Nelson.

* Access will be to the ground floor only.

Undercroft Café
Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm

Enjoy a delicious cream tea and hot drink in the Undercroft Cafe in the King William Undercroft, underneath the Painted Hall.

Visitor Centre - (Drop-in)
Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm (Daily)

* The Visitor Centre features displays about the architecture of the site.

Painted Hall and Site Wide Tours - Find out more here
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm (Daily)

For this tour, you will need to purchase regular tickets for the Painted Hall, which includes an expert guided tour of the site will be avaialble as normal throughout the Open House weekend.

Smartify Virtual Tour
Discover the stories behind the site’s incredible architecture, from Royal Palace to Naval College. Explore the grounds at your own pace, and learn about the different influences and inspirations for these majestic buildings.

Click here, or download the Smartify app.

* Part of Open House London 2026