Where: Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded in 1682 by Charles II as a retreat for army veterans who had become unfit for duty, either through injury or long service. Today veterans still live here, exchanging their army pension for accomodation and meals.
For visitors, the buildings are of architectural interest as they were originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren, with Sir John Soane adding tweaks later on. You can wander through the Chelsea Pensioners Museum to learn about the history of the hospital and its pensioners through the years, and join guided tours led by the Chelsea Pensioners themselves — these provide an insider’s perspective on what it's like to live as part of this community. The Wren Chapel, also designed by Sir Christopher, is a great example of his style and has services every Sunday that are open to all.
