Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich in London
London, United Kingdom

Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich

Outty Ranking 71 4.6 · 180 traveler reviews0.5 hoursFrom $18

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

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Age 12 and under

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From, per person$18
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Outty Ranking

71/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.6/5

Based on 180 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich worth booking?

Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich is a 0.5-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $18 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 180 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
71 / 100
Rating
4.6/5 (180)
Duration
0.5 hours
From
$18 per person

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is one of Europe’s finest interiors and located in the heart of Greenwich's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Luke Jerram’s astonishing installation Helios in the Painted Hall un

What you get

  • Helios is on display in the Painted Hall until 25th March 2025
  • Visitor Centre entry included and Skittle Alley (open 12-3pm)
  • Optional guided tours depart the visitor centre on the hour (11am - 3pm)
  • Multi lingual Audio guide of Painted Hall included. (in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German and Japanese). Guided Painted Hall talks run every 30 minutes from 11 -4pm

About this experience

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is one of Europe’s finest interiors and located in the heart of Greenwich's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Luke Jerram’s astonishing installation Helios in the Painted Hall until 25th March 2025. Included is a Painted Hall audio guide (in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German, and Japanese + British Sign Language) or take a guided Painted Hall talks which run every 30 minutes from 11am – 4pm. The site has a fascinating 600 years of history, including being the birthplace of Henry VIII, but is also Britain’s no.1 heritage film location, featuring in hits from Bridgerton to Bond. Tickets also include an optional guided tour of the Buildings and grounds which leaves the visitor centre hourly from 11am - 3pm. Included is entry to the Visitor Centre (Discover Greenwich Museum), Chapel and the Skittle Alley (usually open from 12-3pm) where you can try your hand at Victorian bowling.

What's included

Included

  • Helios is on display in the Painted Hall until 25th March 2025
  • Visitor Centre entry included and Skittle Alley (open 12-3pm)
  • Optional guided tours depart the visitor centre on the hour (11am - 3pm)
  • Multi lingual Audio guide of Painted Hall included. (in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German and Japanese). Guided Painted Hall talks run every 30 minutes from 11 -4pm

What you'll see and do

  1. Old Royal Naval College

    Don't miss a visit to the breath-taking Painted Hall (known as the UK's Sistine Chapel), which took 19 years to Paint, located in the heart of the Old Royal Naval College Grounds in Greenwich. Included is an optional tour of this magnificent 17 acre riverside estate, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn of the fascinating 600 year story of this site, formerly Greenwich Palace - the birthplace of Henry VIII. Included in the ticket is admission to the Visitor Centre, the Victorian Skittle Alley (open 12-3pm) and visit the Chapel. Tours depart from the Visitor Centre hourly throughout the day with expert guides. The stunning architecture means that this has become one of the most popular film locations in the world.

    Admission included

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

Old Royal Naval College

Cutty Sark Gardens, University of Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN, United Kingdom

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

Old Royal Naval College · Cutty Sark Gardens, University of Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN, United Kingdom

Options you can book

  • The Painted Hall

  • Mars In the Painted Hall

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
de, cmn, ja, en, it, fr, es
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Every day
Group size
Up to 9 travelers per booking
Operated by
Old Royal Naval College

Know before you go

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos

Painted HallPainted Hall - audio guide available in 7 languagesAerial View of the Old Royal Naval CollegeAward winning guided tours included in the ticketChapel of St Peter and St PaulWatergate view at the Old Royal Naval College

What travelers are saying

Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 182 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

The guide

7 mentions

Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

Knowledge and storytelling

4 mentions

Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

Photo opportunities

3 mentions

The views and photo stops come up again and again.

Traveler reviews

182 verified traveler reviews for Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

5 star
140
4 star
26
3 star
7
2 star
2
1 star
7
Sort
browniies · August 2026

Wonderful afternoon experience

My friend and I had a spare afternoon in Greenwich so decided to spend a few hours here and absolutely loved it! We went into the painted hall as Vincent’s guided tour was starting and we could not have asked for a better guide! He was so friendly and knowledgable - we really enjoyed spotting all the details of the artwork and learning about the history of the building.

via Tripadvisor

DaveTNZ · August 2026

Beautiful historic site and fantastic tour

We were lucky enough to stumble upon tour guide Jim as we entered the Painted Hall (which is absolutely stunning) and we were able to join his complimentary guided tour of not only the Painted Hall but the whole grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. It was an excellent tour - knowledgable and funny and gave us an understanding of the deeply layered history of the place. Highly recommend!

via Tripadvisor

William_M · August 2026

Painted Ceiling closes early

That the Painted Ceiling closes early. We missed seeing it. I would like a refund. Do not recommend.

via Viator

Elizabeth_W · July 2026

Beautiful but not much to see for price.

It’s quite a way out of central London, we got an Uber boat back which was much nicer than the Tube. It’s really beautiful, worth looking at the chapel too. Quite expensive for how much there is to see to be honest. Cutty Sark is right next door and Greenwich Village is really pretty too.

via Viator

daverandles789 · June 2026

Fabulous Venue - well worth a visit

Fabulous Venue - well worth a visit. Went with family and also visited the Chapel on site. Very little signage and hard to know what's what unles buying a guide book or joining one of their excelent conducted tours. Low light levels inside hall - if using digital SLR without flash you will need to increase ASA rating on camera controls as too dark to take good pictures without camera shake.

via Tripadvisor

Good to know

Duration
0.5 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
All ages
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Every day
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
63
Verdict
Strongly Recommended

Why this scores 71

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)72
Review evidence (18% weight)69
Booking momentum (14% weight)64
Value for money (12% weight)54
Listing quality (10% weight)100
Local standing (8% weight)42
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.

How much does Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich cost?

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Prices start at $18 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich take?

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Plan for about 0.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.

Is Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich worth it?

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It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 180 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich?

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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich suitable for kids and families?

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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

How far in advance should I book Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich?

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Around 63 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 0.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does Old Royal Naval College - home to the Painted Hall, Greenwich start and how do I get there?

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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in London?

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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs, The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit London?

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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in London?

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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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