Britannia Royal Naval College

Britannia Royal Naval College sits high on a hill above Dartmouth, its terracotta and red brick buildings forming a grand Edwardian statement about British naval power. Designed by Aston Webb and opened in 1905, it replaced the old training ships moored in the harbour below. The college is still active as the Royal Navy's officer training establishment, which means public access is limited, but tours are run periodically and the exterior can be seen from various points around town.

The building is visible from almost everywhere in Dartmouth and from much of the river, giving the town its most prominent architectural landmark. The view from the town quay, with the college on the hill above and the river in the foreground, is the one Dartmouth uses on its postcards for good reason.

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A story
King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and King Charles III all passed through Britannia Royal Naval College. Prince Philip trained here too, and met Princess Elizabeth — then fourteen — during a 1939 visit to inspect the college. Whether the meeting was love at first sight is debated; that it was their first significant encounter is not.