The Visitor Centre

The Greenwich Visitor Centre is located in the Pepys Building beside the Cutty Sark entrance to the Old Royal Naval College grounds. The centre includes a shop and café.

This building is the only substantial addition to the complex and was initially designed for use as racquet courts and was constructed in two phases: 1874-75 and 1902-3.

Subsequently, in 1905-6, the building was converted to become the main mechanical engineering laboratory of the Royal Naval College. It included a 100-ton testing machine and a supersonic wind tunnel, both used for the officer training programmes.

The exterior of the building features Doric pilasters, paired Ionic columns and roundels that contain the busts of naval heroes: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Montagu, Rodney, Duncan, Collingwood, Howe, Nelson and Jervis. In view of the building’s function, such a degree of ornamentation appears unnecessary, but the prominent location of the building, close to the former Hospital and visible from the river, evidently inspired a desire for show.

In 2000, the Greenwich Foundation re-fitted the building for use as the Old Royal Naval College Visitor Centre and this year we will undertake a major redevelopment. Discover Greenwich is a new interpretation and education centre for the Old Royal Naval College and Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. For further information on the project and the latest news visit - Discover Greenwich

The Centre features a number of exhibitions about the history of the buildings and Greenwich as a World Heritage Site. It also houses the Shop which offers a wide selection of quality souvenirs and bespoke gifts including high quality china depicting imagery from the Chapel and Painted Hall and the Pepys Café.