Individuals and small groups of visitors of 10 or less are welcome to visit the Royal Hospital Chelsea for free. Larger groups must book a tour by calling 020 7881 5516.


HOURS OF OPENING

Museum and Souvenir Shop    

The Souvenir Shop is open to the public on Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm excluding Bank Holidays and official Royal Hospital events such as Founder's Day. The Museum is open 10am - 12noon and 2pm - 4pm on Monday to Friday.

They are not currently open at weekends. Products from the Souvenir Shop are available online. To visit the Online Shop please click here.

Royal Hospital Chelsea Grounds

Lighthorse Court, Figure Court, College Court and The Chapel are open Monday to Saturday:

10:00 to 12:00noon and 14:00 to 16:00 throughout the year.

The Great Hall is open Monday to Saturday:

11:00 to 12:00noon and 14:00 to 16:00 throughout the year.
 

- Please click here for directions to the Royal Hospital.

- Guidebooks are available from the Souvenir Shop.

Please note - Visitors are not allowed on the Long Wards.

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TOURS

All tours are taken by one of our Chelsea Pensioner Tour Guides and last approximately 2 hours.  One tour guide can cater for a maximum group size of 30 people. In the case that the group recruited is larger than 30 people, multiple tours must be booked, where by the group is split and the tour is led by 2 Chelsea Pensioner tour guides.

All tours must be booked in advance by calling 020 7881 5516 or emailing elizabeth.brown@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk.

Tours begin at 10.00am and 1.30pm, Monday to Friday. The Infirmary Café is available to tour groups for lunch (including paninis, jacket potatoes and soup) or delicious cream tea but must be booked in advance.

Please contact 020 7881 5516 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to make a booking or for further information.

Next to The Royal Hospital is the The National Army Museum and a little further down the road is the Chelsea Physic Garden.

A visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea can also be a valuable educations experience and can offer a particularly real historic experience. Topics that may be supported by a visit are:

• Social history - the development of care in society
• Great people - Sir Christopher Wren, scientist and architect
• Late 17th and early 18th Century English history
• The Victorian age and colonial rule
• Living history over the last hundred years

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SOUTH GROUNDS AND RANELAGH GARDENS OPENING HOURS

The South Grounds and Ranelagh Gardens will be closed from the 24th April. Ranelagh Gardens will reopen in June (date tbc) and the South Grounds will reopen in August (date tbc).

South Grounds And Ranelagh Gardens

 All Sunday opening times begin at 14:00