Open House Festival

Old Royal Naval College

museum, historical house, open site

Nicholas Hawksmoor, Sir Christopher Wren, 1696

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10 9NN

Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece in Greenwich, built as the Royal Hospital for Seamen and begun in 1696.

Getting there

Tube

Cutty Sark

Train

Greenwich, Maze Hill

Bus

129, 177, 180, 188, 199, 286, 386

Additional travel info

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service to Greenwich

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Step-free access is available to Admiral's House (ground floor only ) and to the Grand Square tour. See https://ornc.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/ for a pre-visit audio-description of the site, a BSL introduction to the site and an introduction for people with Autism. Our accessibility map is here: https://ornc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/200120-ORNC-Accessibility-Map.pdf

About

Admiral’s House

Sunday 10 September, 11.00-17.00, drop-in.

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. A rare chance to view this elegant space.

Grand Square

Saturday 9 September, 10.30-15.30, and Sunday 10 September, 10.30-15.30, pop-up talks.

Bookable in-person, on the day, from our Open House table in Grand Square.

The Grand Square of the Old Royal Naval College lies at the heart of one of the most spectacular architectural complexes in Europe. These short talks will explore the histories behind the sweeping vistas on view.

The Grand Square talk will last approximately 15 minutes and will be repeated at half past the hour from 10.30 to 15.30 on 9 and 10 September.

King William Courtyard

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, 11.00-16.00, pop-up talks.

Bookable in-person, on the day, from our Open House table in Grand Square.

Hawksmoor’s work in the King William Courtyard, with its massive scale and sculptural enrichment, is a quintessential example of English Baroque architecture. The Courtyard is overlooked by the Nelson Pediment, created in Coade stone to a design by the American-born history painter, Benjamin West. These short talks will explore the art and architecture of this unique space.

The King William Courtyard talk will last approximately 15 minutes and will be repeated on the hour from 11.00 to 16.00.

We regret there is no step-free access for this talk.

Jacobean Undercroft

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, 11.00-16.00.

Bookable in-person, on the day, from our Open House table in Grand Square.

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 Jacobean Undercroft visit will last approximately 20 minutes and will be repeated on the hour from 11.00 to 16.00.

The Undercroft is reached by a flight of steps: we regret there is no step-free access for this visit.

Nearby

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