£45050 (Non JG member)
Overview
Some 300 army veterans live at the Royal Hospital today, including those who have served in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and World War II. Others may not have served in campaigns, but all understand what it means to be a soldier and the potential sacrifice that it entails. The Royal Hospital is a Grade I and II listed site, a beautiful architectural legacy left to us by Charles II and Sir Christopher Wren. Maintenance of the site continues today with ongoing restoration work to ensure that this legacy lives on into the future. You will discover the history behind this unique national institution with a guided walking tour of the Royal Hospital led by a resident Chelsea Pensioner. You will marvel at Sir Christopher Wren’s stunning buildings, hear the captivating stories of our inhabitants – both past and present – and learn about what life is like for today’s veterans at the Royal Hospital. We begin the day at the National Army Museum next door. The National Army Museum Collection is the world’s largest, and most significant, accumulation of objects and archives relating to the British Army and other Land Forces of the British Crown (including the former Indian Army until 1947). It consists of over one million items, spanning a 600-year period, and is likely to hold items or references that will be of use to your research into British military history. Time to tour the museum at leisure and use the café which serves the best whole-leaf tea and hand-roasted coffee along with tasty, seasonal food. Choose from a wide range of freshly-made sandwiches, salads, soups and cakes, or order hot food from the kitchen. Our tour at the Royal Hospital begins at 2.00pm.