Essential Information
| Location |
Queen's House
|
|---|---|
| Price | Prices vary | Book places at the Admissions Desk |
The Queen’s House is often referred to as Greenwich’s hidden gem.
A former royal residence, architectural masterpiece and renowned art gallery, England's first Classical building has a long and varied history.
Our programme of tours and talks bring the stories of the Queen's House to life, led by our friendly and knowledgeable guides. Check out the details below to find out what’s currently on offer.
All tours and talks are subject to staff availability and operations capacity. Please ask at the Admissions Desk to see what we have to offer on the day.
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The Queen's House Treasures Tour
Explore the unique architecture of the Queen’s House and uncover its history on this guided tour.
Join our passionate team and learn about the history of this former royal residence. Gaze upon the Great Hall, wander down the Tulip Stairs and discover the stories within our collection.
- Timings: Tours run daily at 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
- Duration: 50-60 minutes.
- Meeting point: Undercroft, located through the door between the curved exterior staircases.
- Prices: £3.50 for adults; £2.50 for students; £1.75 for children; free for Members.
- How to book: Tickets can be bought at the Admissions Desk, located in the Undercroft.
- Suitability: Suitable for adults.
- Audio headsets: You will be provided with headphones and an audio headset, which allow you to clearly hear the guide and adjust the volume if required. The headphones and headset will be collected at the end of the tour.
- Tour size: Each tour has a maximum capacity of 25 people.
- Accessibility: The tour passes through several galleries located on different floors of the House. Step-free access is available via lift and access ramps.
Gallery Favourites
From the iconic Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I to the artists who created artworks for the ceilings of this former royal residency, dive deeper into stories about the Queen’s House and our collection during our free gallery talks.
- Timings: Daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
- Duration: 25-30 minutes.
- Location: Talks take place in various rooms around the Queen’s House. Ask a member of our team for more information.
- Price: Free. Donations welcome.
- Suitability: Suitable for adults and children.
- Accessibility: Step-free access to the rooms where the talks take place is available via lift and access ramps.
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Talks include:
- The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I: Discover more about the iconic and powerful portrait of Queen Elizabeth I.
- The ceilings of the Queen’s House: Learn about the artists who created artworks for the ceilings of the Queen’s House. The former royal residence was at the cutting edge of art and architecture when it was completed for Queen Henrietta Maria in the 1630s.
- The Escape of Charles II: Uncover the dramatic events which led to the escape of Charles II from the country after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
- Jack Cornwell VC, the boy hero of Jutland: Discover more about Jack Cornwell VC, the boy hero of the Battle of Jutland and the third youngest person to win a Victoria Cross, which made him a national hero during the First World War.
- The Fall of James II, the last Catholic King of England: Dig deeper into the fall of James II (pictured), the last Catholic King of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the last king to be overthrown in British history; in what has been remembered as the Glorious Revolution.
- Olaudah Equiano: Discover important facts about the life of Equiano, a key figure in the fight to end the slave trade within the British Empire.
- Queens Consort: Learn more about Queens Consort and their roles in the history of the Queen’s House.
- The Siege of Malta: Dig deeper into the paintings illustrating the dramatic moments of the Siege of Malta, when the Knights of St. John stopped the unstoppable might of the Ottoman Empire.
- The View from One Tree Hill: Discover more about Greenwich in the 1680s and the shaping of the Greenwich we know today.
- Women in Uniform: Find out about the story behind Portrait of a Wren Officer and the contributions of women during both World Wars.
- The Battle of Lepanto: Explore the painting of the Battle of Lepanto, when the Holy League under Don Juan of Austria and the Ottoman Empire fought in one of the fiercest battles in maritime history.
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Volunteer Tours
Highlights of the Queen’s House
Join one of our volunteers for this free tour exploring the architecture and early history of the Queen’s House, the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I and other paintings from our permanent collection.
- Timings: Mondays at 12pm and 1.30pm. Thursdays at 12pm and 2pm.
- Duration: Approximately 45 minutes.
- Meeting point: Undercroft, located through the door between the curved exterior staircases.
- Price: Free.
- Suitability: Suitable for adults.
- Accessibility: The tour passes through several galleries located on different floors of the House. Step-free access is available via lift and access ramps.
More information
For bespoke tours and for larger groups, please contact the bookings office at bookings@rmg.co.uk
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