What’s in store at the ORNC in 2025

In 2025, the Old Royal Naval College reaffirms its place as a cultural hub, offering a vibrant programme of events that blend history, culture and wellbeing.  From awe-inspiring installations and heritage tours to dynamic festivals, family days out and activities that stimulate wellness, the UNESCO World Heritage Site continues its mission to provide enriching cultural experiences for all. 

To kick off the year, visitors to the magnificent Painted Hall will have a final chance to bask in the beauty of Luke Jerram’s Mars installation, before it closes on January 20, 2025.  To mark its departure and combat January’s Blue Monday with the perfect night out for Dry January, the Old Royal Naval College will host Eyes on Mars: A Cultural and Scientific Exploration, where Imperial College’s Professor Gupta will delve into the Mars Rover mission, complemented by opportunities to observe Mars through telescopes on a dry January evening.  For those seeking mindfulness, the Old Royal Naval College’s ever-popular wellbeing programme offers a serene Mars Flow: Yoga & Brunch session under the planetary installation.   

This dedication to wellbeing continues throughout the year, with regular initiatives designed to uplift and inspire. Feel Good Fridays, held on the last Friday of every month provide a dose of joy and relaxation. Meanwhile, in its commitment to opening access to wider audiences and offering free entry for children every day, First Sundays invite visitors to engage with the site’s rich history for a £5 admissions entry.   

Foodies will also be able to savour a sustainable dining experience on January 25 in the Painted Hall with celebrated chef Douglas McMaster, world-renowned for his pioneering zero-waste restaurant, Silo. 

In addition to the site’s cultural programme, the Old Royal Naval College, the UK’s number 1 heritage film location, celebrates 100 years of filming in 2025.  The 1925 silent film, Sons of the Sea by H. Bruce Woolfe about two boys in the Royal Navy was the first production on site.  

From spring 2025, visitors will have the opportunity to book onto new film tours. Wigs, Weddings, Palaces and Powder will showcase the many period dramas filmed in Greenwich including Bridgerton and The Crown. Spies, Supersleuths and Superheroes, launching later in the year will look at thrilling action TV & movies shot on location. These new tours for cinema and TV fans will complement the Old Royal Naval College’s extensive historic offering including their 600 Years of History Tour. Visitors can also try their hand at Victorian extracurricular in the charming Victorian Skittle Alley, a hidden gem beneath the Painted Hall offering traditional bowling.  

The summer season brims with life at the Old Royal Naval College, welcoming back some of its most popular activities and presenting new and unmissable events. Back by popular demand, the best of London’s furry friends will return for the beloved Greenwich Dog Show on May 25 and nautical history takes centre stage during the Golden Age of Piracy weekend, with sword demonstrations, 18th century music, food, and a thrilling firepower display. The Three-Inch Fools and Summer Court Theatre will also offer captivating productions for the whole family.

In autumn, a collaboration between Imperial War Museums and the artist collective Sweet Patootee Arts will present a new artist film, Cornwallis Cloth. This piece explores the transformational impact of the Second World War on Black men, women, and children of the British Caribbean, drawing on oral histories from community participants. This innovative project will form part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund 2025 programme. 

Adding to London’s vibrant music scene, a new music festival presented by Labyrinth Festivals will be hosted on the iconic riverside grounds in August. With the line-up soon to be announced, this unmissable celebration of sound will span two weekends, providing a festival experience that blends cutting-edge music with the timeless beauty of London’s riverside – a perfect summer highlight for music lovers everywhere. 

The Old Royal Naval College will also once again open its spaces to the London Design Festival, the capital’s largest festival of art and design, before sculptor and artist Peter Walker presents his thought-provoking installations Connection and Identity in 2025. Featuring interactive suspended light columns and a striking pair of two-metre sculptures of female hands, this piece will invite audiences to connect with what makes us human.  

Kate Miners, Director of Public Engagement and Commercial, comments, With a steadfast commitment to offering cultural and wellbeing-focused programmes all year round, the Old Royal Naval College remains a must-visit destination for those seeking inspiration, entertainment, and a sense of connection.  With offerings for families, film enthusiasts, yogis and history lovers, there’s something to delight every visitor. In 2025, the Old Royal Naval College reaffirms its place as a cultural hub, offering a vibrant programme of events that blend history, culture, and wellbeing.  From inspiring installations and heritage tours that stimulate wellness to dynamic festivals and family days out, the UNESCO World Heritage Site continues its mission to provide enriching cultural experiences for all.