Chapel of the former Royal Naval College
King William Walk, Greenwich London SE10

The Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich is one of the capital's most significant buildings. 

The site and existing buildings were given by William III for use as a Naval Hospital to match the Royal Hospital for soldiers at Chelsea. 

The building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century, was built in two halves to allow an unimpeded view of Queen's House from the Thames and vice versa.  The Queen Mary Block on the east side, which contains the chapel, was named after King William's wife and co-monarch Mary II.   

The great domed tower stands above the entrance to the chapel.  This has eight bays and three tiers of windows (the lowest windows light the crypt). 

Wren's chapel was destroyed by fire in 1779 and the present Rococo interior was designed by James Stuart. This is marvelously light and airy and has delicate plasterwork decorations on the ceilings and walls. At the east end of the chapel are two pairs of vast Corinthian columns in imitation marble or 'scagliola'.  Between the columns is a huge painting by Benjamin West of St. Paul saved from a shipwreck on Malta.   This was obviously considered to be a very apt subject for Royal Navy pensioners!   The altar rail, communion table and candlebra are all gilded.  Beneath the west gallery is a bust of Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, who commanded the 'Victory' at Trafalgar. 

After 125 years of residence the Royal Navy vacated the buildings in 1998 and they now house the University of Greenwich.  

Admission charge              

Opening Times

Open:Mon-Sat; 10:00-17:00 Sun; 12:30-17:00 -Last entry 16:00