The Old Royal Naval College has introduced Kids Go Free tickets so children under the age of 16 can benefit from free entry meaning families can now enjoy this iconic Greenwich landmark with its peaceful and picturesque riverside setting without breaking the bank.
As well as Old Royal Naval College’s beautiful grounds and welcoming Visitor Centre, children can take part in a variety of interactive activities and events. Children visiting the beautifully restored Painted Hall are given free interactive packs with which to explore the magnificent paintings with toys, puzzles and games. Young visitors will be amazed by the majestic Painted Hall, often called ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’ and designed as the retired sailor’s dining hall! Children will be wowed by the kings, queens, gods and heroes depicted on the ceiling.
Treasure Chests in the Painted Hall, ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’, are perfect for visitors looking for a more sensory experience, with a collection of 13 exquisite touch objects inspired by characters and motifs depicted on the ceiling, such as a replica of Athena’s shield and King Louis XIV’s broken sword.
Visitors will be bowled over when they play skittles the old-fashioned way using practice cannonballs in the quirky Victorian Skittle Alley, used by Greenwich Pensioners living at the Royal Hospital for Seamen. Children and adults alike will love bowling in the same alley as the Naval Officers and retired sailors who used to live and play here.
The Visitor Centre has interactive exhibits for children to explore the rich history of the Old Royal Naval College, from its beginnings as a Tudor Palace to becoming the Royal Hospital for Seamen and providing homes to Greenwich pensioners, and it was later used as a training base for Naval Officers. Try on a knight’s helmet, investigate the interesting finds discovered during archaeological digs, and find out what it was like to be an eighteenth-century retired sailor.
Parents can bring their children to the newly restored King William Undercroft, with an interpretation gallery, shop and café where you can enjoy lunch or an ice cream, and there’s a large buggy park (hallelujah for like minded parents who seek to dump the buggy on arrival!).
Look out for the pop-up Activity Kart throughout the school holidays or venture into the lovely grounds and enjoy the glorious British weather and incredible views of the river with a picnic.
The Old Royal Naval College’s stunning gardens with a beautiful view of the River Thames, are free to visit and open daily, making them a relaxing and safe area to have a stroll and let the kids play.
Tickets are £11 for adults and free for children under 16 – book here.. For more information and opening times visit the website here.