A Journey Through Time in Lights: Luxmuralis Transforms the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

As someone who used to live near Greenwich, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Old Royal Naval College. Its grand baroque buildings are impressive at any time of day — but seeing them come alive in light and sound for Luxmuralis’ Time was something else entirely.

The Exterior gets lit up too

The show transforms this familiar riverside landmark into a glowing canvas of colour, movement and music. From the moment you step into the Painted Hall, you’re pulled into a journey through the centuries — from the birth of the universe to the tick of the modern clock. It’s an experience that feels perfectly at home in Greenwich, the historic home of GMT.

Your Country Needs You

The projections dance across ceilings and columns, turning the architecture into a storytelling medium. Moving from space to space — through the Ripley Tunnel, the Queen Mary Undercroft, and into the Chapel — you’re surrounded by shifting images and a rich soundtrack that ties it all together.

Beautiful seahorses in the Chapel

The Chapel was a highlight for me. The music and vocal narration gave the light show an almost spiritual feel, and the way the colours played across the ornate ceiling was mesmerising. The sound seemed to echo through the stone, giving the sense of time itself unfolding around you.

The Beautiful exterior of the Royal Naval College

Outside, the experience continued beneath the colonnades and across the courtyard, where the exteriors glowed with deep blues, golds and silvers. I’ve always thought the Old Royal Naval College was beautiful, but this made it feel truly majestic — as if the buildings were breathing light.

The show’s creators, artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper, have brought their magic to other iconic sites like St Paul’s and the Tower of London, but there’s something especially fitting about exploring time here, in Greenwich.

For me, it was a treat to see a much-loved London landmark transformed into something so fresh and imaginative. If you’re looking for an evening that’s equal parts art, history and pure wonder, this is absolutely worth the trip.

The walk through doesn’t take that long so I’d see a visit here as part of an evening out.

Luxmuralis: Time runs at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, from 14–22 November 2025, with timed slots from 5pm–9pm.

Tickets