Groups Direct launches new art tour in Greenwich

Groups Direct has announced a new experience for groups called the Painted Hall: Ceiling Tour & Lunch, which is running at The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The tour has been launched in response to a major transformation project taking place at the Painted Hall at The Old Royal Naval College Greenwich over the next two years.

What can groups expect from the tour?

The ceiling and hall within the building have been described as ‘the Sistine Chapel of the UK’, and the new experience includes a 60-minute guided tour that focuses on the beauty of the ceiling. Groups can view it from a newly constructed observation deck.

The hall itself was painted between 1707 and 1726 and has many hidden secrets which groups will discover for the first time when taking the tour.

Following the tour, groups will get to enjoy a two-course lunch with tea and coffee also provided.

The tour involves around 67 steps, so group members should note this before booking.

Groups looking to book this tour should contact reservations@groupsdirect.co.uk or phone 0800-049 8309.

The tour is currently available until September.

The story behind the Painted Hall

The Painted Hall’s ceiling and wall decorations were created by the British artist Sir Thomas Thornhill when the United Kingdom was created and became a dominant power in Europe.

The paintings depict the British maritime power at the beginning of the 18th century, a story told with the help of more than 200 historical, allegorical and mythological figures. It celebrates the royal founders of the Hospital, William III and Mary II, together with successive monarchs, Anne and George I.

Over the next two years the 40,000 square foot painted ceiling will be worked on in order to preserve it and bring vibrancy and colour back into it after decades of decay.

For more information, visit www.groupsdirect.co.uk.