The Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich,a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, London, described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as being of "outstanding universal value" and reckoned to be the "finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles".
The Old Royal Naval College aims to make the site and our collections accessible to as many visitors as possible.
Visitor Centre
The entrances to the Visitor Centre are at street level. A lift provides access to the temporary gallery space and Clore Learning Centre.
Painted Hall and Chapel
There are 11 steps to climb from College Way (which runs east to west through the site) to Upper Grand Square where the main entrances to the Painted Hall and Chapel are situated. There is also a step-free route to the Chapel and you can reach the main body of the Painted Hall avoiding steps via a lift from College Way.
Once at the Chapel a Stairmate machine is used, by trained staff, to carry wheelchair users from the vestibule to the main body of the Chapel (which is 14 steps up). The maximum weight the Stairmate can hold is 200 kg. The maximum width of chair which will fit is 69.5cm (27”)- measured hand rim to hand rim. Please note that most electric wheelchairs will exceed this weight and therefore the Chapel may not be accessible for electric wheelchair users. If you are able to transfer to our manual wheelchair, we can facilitate your Chapel visit in this way -the wheelchair is not available to take out of the Chapel but a manual chair can be hired from the Tourist Information Centre if you would like a chair for the duration of your visit, please call 0870 608 2000 to reserve.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets in the Visitor Centre and the Old Brewery courtyard.
There are also accessible toilets in the King William Undercroft under the Painted Hall and the Queen Mary Undercroft under the Chapel. These can be accessed via the lift to the King William Undercroft, or, during the week via the ramp from College Way into the Queen Mary Undercroft.
Guide and assistance dogs
Your guide or assistance dog is welcome in all areas of the ORNC, including the Visitor Centre, Painted Hall and Chapel.
Large print versions
Large print versions of exhibits in the Visitor Centre permanent exhibition are available in English from the welcome desk in the Visitor Centre as well.
Magnifying glasses
Magnifying glasses are available from the welcome desk in the Visitor Centre.
Seating
There is permanent seating throughout the site. Benches are located at various points around the grounds and visitors are welcome to sit on the benches, chairs and pews in the Visitor Centre, Painted Hall and Chapel.
Tours
We can arrange for dedicated wheelchair assistants to help visitors during their guided tours at no extra charge. The Jacobean Undercroft is inaccessible to wheelchair users.
