Old Royal Naval College Celebrates 100 Years On Film And TV

From H. Bruce Woolfe’s 1926 film Sons of the Sea to Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming film Fountain of Youth, around 300 productions have been shot at Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, which was heralded as the UK’s leading heritage film location. To celebrate 100 years of filming, the site is holding a new walking tour for film and TV buffs, called “Wigs, Powders and Weddings”.

Led by an expert guide, the 1h 15min tour focuses on buildings and key exterior areas featured in films and TV shows in the romance, royalty, and period drama genres such as Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and Academy Award winner The King’s Speech. Notable spots include eye-catching spots such as the colonnades, the Grand Square and even the Painted Hall, aka ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’, which has been used in films such as Disney’s 2015 live-action adaptation of Cinderella and 2007 fantasy film The Golden Compass. 

Fans who love a good romance will also enjoy a look around the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, which was featured in the hilariously memorable wedding between Bernard and Lydia (and a scene-stealing Rowan Atkinson as Father Gerald) in British rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral. As a Bridgerton fan, seeing the chapel is a personal highlight, as it was used as the site of Colin and Penelope’s glamorous wedding in season three.

Furthermore, the tour includes small notes of trivia about popular productions filmed at the Old Royal Naval College, which include how the extravagant Painted Hall was recreated at Pinewood Studios so Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) can swing from a chandelier to evade capture in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. In addition, a short yet sweet fan etiquette class where Regency aficionados can indulge in the language of love by fluttering more than their eyelashes.

Matthew Mees, chief executive of the Old Royal Naval College, said:

“The Old Royal Naval College’s rich history and breathtaking architecture continue to inspire storytellers from around the globe. This milestone highlights the enduring appeal of our site as a cultural and cinematic treasure in the UK.

“As screen tourism continues to thrive, the Old Royal Naval College is perfectly positioned to connect visitors to the magic of filmmaking while showcasing the site’s history.” 

If romance and royalty is not your thing, fear not – the Old Naval College is planning to hold a separate tour called “Spies, Supersleuths and Superheroes” so fans can explore locations used in the Marvel and James Bond franchises, to name just a few.

The “Wigs, Powders and Weddings” tour takes place on Fridays and Saturdays and tickets are available now.