Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

Old Royal Naval College Painted Hall

Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

About this venue

The Old Royal Naval College is Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece and one of London's most popular attractions. The iconic buildings stand on the site of Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII's favourite royal residence, and were originally designed as a refuge for old and injured sailors. The buildings and grounds are open daily and include the Painted Hall, Chapel and Visitor Centre.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Introduction

  • Comments View
    • At the time of our visit (March 2018) the Painted Hall was undergoing extensive renovation work to the painted ceiling.
    • This work is expected to continue until early 2019.
    • During the work there is limited access to the main hall but guided tours are available to the scaffolding level observation deck for a close-up view of the ceiling restoration work. .
    • The deck is about 18m (60ft) above the level of the Painted Hall floor.
    • These tours are accessible to visitors with mobility difficulties and wheelchair users by platform lift.
    • Only one wheelchair user is permitted per tour due to fire escape regulations and pre-booking is strongly recommended.
    • During the works, the accessible route into the hall is via a secure area escorted by a member of staff. Details will be given to ticket holders.

Opening Times

  • Monday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Tuesday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Thursday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Friday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Saturday 10:00 - 17:00.
  • Sunday 10:00 - 17:00.

Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Greenwich.
  • The nearest underground station is North Greenwich.
  • The nearest DLR station is Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich.
  • Comments View
    • Visitors with a visual impariment or disability who require support or an escort from Cutty Sark DLR station should contact the access team.
    • The venue is also very close to Greenwich Pier for riverboat services.

Parking

  • The venue does not have its own car park.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
    • The name of the car park is Cutty Sark Gardens Public Car Park.
    • The car park is located off Welland Street.
  • Blue Badge On Street Parking View
    • On street marked Blue Badge bays are not available.
  • Standard On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and / or standard marked parking bays are not available.
  • Drop off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The Cutty Sark Gardens Car Park is to the west of the ORNC site and is the nearest for the visitor centre and the Old Brewery.
    • There is also a public car park off Park Row, to the east of the site, which is closer to the Chapel and Painted Hall.

Grounds

  • There is no vehicle access for the public into the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College.
  • There are several pedestrian entrances to the site, all with level access or easy slopes.
  • The gates from King William Walk to the west (shown in photographs 1 and 2) and Romney Road are off busy roads.
  • The east entrance, off Park Row, would be in a quieter road for vehicle drop offs.
  • The Lewin Gate (shown in photograph 3) enters the site from the public footpath which runs alongside the river bank to the north.
  • The site is over 350m from east to west.
  • The main routes are wide and level with a surface of stone slabs or resin-bound gravel (shown in photographs 4 - 6).
  • There is a map to download from the accessibility page of the ORNC website to show the step-free routes around the site.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The main doors open away from you (push).
  • The doors are double width.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The door opening is 180cm (5ft 11in) wide.
  • Second set of doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The doors open away from you (push).
    • The doors are double width.
    • The doors are permanently held open.
    • The door opening is 180cm (5ft 11in) wide.

Level Change (Main Entrance)

  • There are steps to access this area / service.
  • The steps are located at the front of the building.
  • There is / are 3 step(s) to the area / service.
  • The steps are not clearly marked.
  • The steps are medium.
  • The steps do not have handrails.

Outside Access (Side Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the side of the building.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The bell is in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
  • The intercom is in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
  • The main doors open towards you (pull).
  • The doors are double width.
  • The doors are heavy.
  • The door opening is 180cm (5ft 11in) wide.

Level Change (Side Entrance)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp/slope is located at the side of the building.
  • The ramp/slope is easy.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.

Outside Access (Lift Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the side of the building.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
  • The door(s) is / are double.
  • The door(s) is / are heavy.
  • The width of the door opening is 160cm (5ft 3in).
  • Comments View
    • The entrance doors are automatic and are operated by a push button.
    • Please note this information shows the entrance before the renovation work started.
    • This entrance is not available during the works and it is not known if the access will be altered by the work.

Level Change (Lift Entrance)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp or slope is located in front of the entrance.
  • The ramp/slope is easy.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does not have handrails.

Inside Access

  • There is not level access to the service(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • The lighting levels are low.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 2 shows the main hall level from the entrance hall with the temporary scaffolding in place for the restoration work.
    • Photograph 3 shows the upper hall during the works.
    • Visitors on the ceiling restoration guided tours are provided with a headset to better hear the guide.
    • Tour visitors are required to wear a high-visibility jacket and hard hat.

Level Change (Upper Hall)

  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are located going to the upper hall.
  • There is/are 6 step(s) to the area/service.
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are low.
  • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • During the tours, the upper hall is generally used for the pre-tour safety briefing, but this will be changed if there is a wheelchair user in the party.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is not a landing.
    • The lighting levels are low.
  • Comments View
    • G - Main Entrance
    • 1 - Lower and Upper Hall
    • Photograph 2 shows the same stairs during the renovation works.
    • There is protective covering on the stairs and floor and plastic wrap around the handrails.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located at the lift entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are LG and 1 (Hall).
  • The lift is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the lift entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 100cm (3ft 3in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 160cm x 140cm (5ft 3in x 4ft 7in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.

Lift (Temporary Lift - Ceiling Renovation Tours)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located with the exhibition area of the painted hall.
  • The lift is a platform lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are hall and observation deck.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 7in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.
  • Comments View
    • This lift is in a secure area and all visitors needing the lift will be accompanied by a member of staff.
    • The lift bypasses 50+ steps from the hall level up to the observation deck.
    • This lift will be removed when the restoration work is complete.

Accessible Toilet

  • Accessible toilet facilities are not available.
  • Comments View
    • The toilets at lower ground level of the building have been closed during the renovation work and are expected to be re-opened after some improvements in early 2019.
    • The nearest accessible toilet is outside, at the rear of the Old Brewery and Visitor Centre.
    • There is also a smaller accessible toiilet within the Visitor Centre.
    • Please see the guide to the Visitor Centre for more details.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • Comments View
    • The toilets at lower ground level of the building have been closed during the renovation work and are expected to be re-opened after some improvements in early 2019.
    • The nearest toilets are outside, at the rear of the Old Brewery and Visitor Centre or within the Visitor Centre.
    • Please see the guide to the Visitor Centre for more details.

Additional Info

  • Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are not available in large print.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.
  • This service cannot be requested.
  • Staff are Text Relay aware.