Your Summer Agenda at The Old Royal Naval College

From family activities beneath the Painted Hall’s celebrated ceiling to outdoor theatre, live music, poetry and pirates, summer at the Old Royal Naval College offers an exceptional season of events. With immersive heritage experiences, cultural exploration and wellbeing at the core of its programme, the UNESCO World Heritage Site continues to be one London’s premiere destinations.

The Old Royal Naval College continues its celebration of 300 years of the Painted Hall, welcoming new generations to explore its rich history. Monthly Family Fun Days offer tailored activities to pique the historical curiosity of younger audiences with the chance to dress up, draw and learn about the rich stories of the past, all while celebrating Sir James Thornhill’s masterpiece. This Father’s Day (21st June), families are invited to explore this history through the lens of film and TV on the Spies, Sleuths and Superheroes film tour, with an exclusive discounted offer to mark the celebration.

Inspired by the Caribbean fish fry – a space of gathering and cultural expression – the Old Royal Naval College hosts a free evening of workshops, music and live spoken word inspired by the poignant themes raised in Cornwallis Cloth: The Second World War in the Caribbean. The Fish Fry Poetry Event (26th June) brings renowned poets, performers, writers and facilitators into the multimedia space to explore the Caribbean histories during the Second World War.

Drawing on Greenwich’s maritime heritage, the Pirates Takeover (4th July – 5th July) will transform the Old Royal Naval College into a swashbuckling adventure for all the family. With 18th century ballads, sword fighting performances, lessons in flags and real historical weaponry, and live firepower demonstrations from the pirate and marine reenactment actors, this weekend event promises to bring the Golden Age of Piracy to life for all to enjoy.

The programme also includes music, comedy and theatre throughout the summer. Those with a penchant for Agatha Christie or Sherlock may be tempted by an intriguing evening of Murder Mystery (10th July), held in Admiral’s House, an historic space not usually open to the public. Greenwich Comedy Garden (15th – 19th July) fills the site with live stand-up performances from the best in the business, while Four Forty Theatre stages an outdoor rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (27th August) in the Queen Mary Courtyard. Back for its second year, electronic music festival Labyrinth on the Thames (31st July – 16th August) brings three weekends of live music, blending heritage with cutting-edge live acts, including Moby, Overmono and Peggy Gou, while also welcoming back local group The Kooks. Put on your headphones as Silent Disco comes to The Old Royal Naval College (20th June and 25th September); this unmissable music experience is a highlight of the programme.

Celebrated as the UK’s most filmed heritage location, the Old Royal Naval College’s acclaimed film tours guide guests through iconic backdrops from blockbuster movies and quintessential period dramas, including Bridgerton, Les Misérables, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Crown, Slow Horses and many more. Both tours take in key locations across the site, including the Painted Hall and the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, with opportunities to get involved – from learning fan etiquette to outsmarting Naval Intelligence. Admirers of the site’s period architecture can also learn more with the Secret Dome Tours, venturing high up to Sir Christopher Wren’s impressive domes to enjoy panoramic views of London’s cityscape.

And it’s not all about sword fights and murder mysteries, the Old Royal Naval College continues a relaxing summer of wellbeing, inviting visitors to experience the healing benefits of art through a series of wellness sessions in the Painted Hall. Feel Good Friday offers monthly expert-led yoga sessions from Deptford-based yoga studio, Kindred Yoga Life, while Lie Down and Listen sessions offer rejuvenating sound healing, complete with live classical Baroque music. A brand new one day wellness retreat arrives this September in collaboration with the London House of Wellbeing, offering an immersive experience of rest and mindfulness.

Whether stepping into the world of pirates, solving a murder mystery, enjoying open-air Shakespeare, discovering untold wartime stories or unwinding with yoga beneath Sir James Thornhill’s masterpiece, the summer programme brings together the site’s rich heritage with contemporary cultural experiences.