Royal Naval College

In 1873 the Naval College in Portsmouth acquired the buildings of the old Royal Hospital for Seamen and the Royal Naval College was born. It became the most highly rated naval training college in Europe, with a reputation for academic rigour.

Who trained here?

The Royal Naval College provided state-of-the-art training for around 27,000 promising officers from Britain and beyond as the Navy made the transition from sail to steam power.

In 1939, with the start of World War II, women were able to join the newly formed Women’s Royal Naval Service and were trained at the Royal Naval College.

International students

Much of China’s navy throughout the twentieth century was built by graduates of the Royal Naval College – first by figures such as Yan Fu at the end of the Imperial dynasty, and then in Communist China by students who had fought alongside the Allies in World War II.

What happened to The Royal Naval College?

In 1983 the Government decided to amalgamate the training of armed forces and the Navy vacated the premises in 1997.

The Greenwich Foundation, an independent charity, was established to conserve the site for present and future generations, and create enjoyment, learning and unique cultural experiences for everyone.

The Old Royal Naval College opened its doors as a visitor attraction in 1998 enabling the public to enjoy this remarkable space.