The Queen's House is Greenwich's hidden gem.
Designed in the 17th century as a royal 'House of Delights', today it is an elegant art gallery and architectural masterpiece.
But the Queen's House creative spirit still burns bright. With a surprising programme of exhibitions, concerts, talks and performances, there is always something new to find within its refined white walls.
See a taste of what you could discover, and book your free tickets to the Queen's House today.
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Visit the Queen
The iconic Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I commemorates the most famous conflict of the Tudor monarch's reign – the failed invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in the summer of 1588.
Although the Queen’s House was not built until after she died, Elizabeth I was born in Greenwich and spent a lot of time here during her reign.
The Armada Portrait is one of the most recognisable images of the Queen, or of any English monarch. The work is on permanent display in the Queen's Presence Chamber, and is one of the jewels in the crown of the Queen's House art collection.
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Discover iconic architecture
Anne of Denmark, the wife of King James I, commissioned the Queen’s House in 1616. Her vision was for it to be a garden retreat set between the River Thames and Greenwich Park.
Inigo Jones, England's first great architect, was tasked with the project. His final creation was a piece of ground-breaking architectural design, the first fully classical building in the country. Set alongside the red brick Tudor palace nearby it was revolutionary, so much so that it was known simply as 'The White House'.
Inigo Jones's design was a game-changer, setting the blueprint for maritime Greenwich and establishing the Queen's House as one of the most important buildings in Britain's architectural history.
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See a rediscovered masterpiece
A long-lost portrait by the acclaimed 18th-century painter Thomas Gainsborough has been discovered in Royal Museums Greenwich’s collections.
The painting, one of the finest surviving examples of Gainsborough’s early portrait work, depicts naval officer Captain Frederick Cornewall.
In 2023 the Museum launched a public appeal to conserve this historic painting. Your support helped raise a remarkable £43,000, allowing us to save this missing masterpiece from obscurity.
Now the portrait is on public display for the first time in over three decades. From Museum store to gallery wall, visit the Queen's House to see this rediscovered masterpiece for yourself.
Climb the Tulip Stairs
Head in a spin? Take a breath and take time out to admire the beautiful Tulip Stairs.
When the staircase was installed in the Queen's House, it was the first unsupported spiral staircase in Britain. Even today the stairs seem to defy gravity, with its captivating spiral linking the upper floors with the dramatic Great Hall.
And if you were wondering why the stairs are known as the 'Tulip Stairs', look closely at the delicate flower pattern in the bannisters when you visit.
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See inspiring art from world famous artists
From Old Masters to cutting edge artists and designers, the Queen’s House is a treasure trove for art lovers. Works from artists such as Canaletto, Lowry and Kehinde Wiley sit alongside each other in a careful dialogue between old and new.
Experience the drama of the Solebay Tapestry
Once adorning the walls of royal residences, the 'Solebay' tapestry is the largest tapestry in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection.
Featuring burning ships, churning waves and columns of smoke, the tapestry depicts the events of the Battle of Solebay in May 1672, an inconclusive naval conflict between a Dutch fleet and a combined force of English and French ships.
Dating from the late 17th century, the work was originally part of a series of six giant tapestries commissioned by King Charles II to record the battle.
Following extensive conservation treatment, the tapestry is now back on public display in the King's Presence Chamber.
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Brush up on royal history
There's a reason this part of London is known as Royal Greenwich.
Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Mary were all born in Greenwich; Henry VIII even had two of his weddings here.
Stuart queens Anne of Denmark and Henrietta Maria meanwhile were key to the building of the Queen’s House, and helped to develop its reputation as a royal 'House of Delights'.
The Queen's House days as an official residence may be over, but it still has a gift for regal charm. Did you know for instance that it was one of the key filming locations for Netflix's The Crown?
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Follow the free audio guides
Listen to expert commentary on the history of the Queen’s House as you walk around – and find out more about the artworks on display using your phone.
We've partnered with Smartify, the world's most downloaded museum app, to make it easier than ever to explore the Queen's House.
The highlights audio tour is free to access and you can do it all using your own phone. To get started, click here to listen to the tour, or download Smartify for free from the Apple or Android app store.
As well as the main tour, you can also now discover the fabulous 'Fierce Royals' audio tour, led by queer historian and performer Christian Adore. The guide shines a light on often hidden LGBTQ+ histories and influences, and opens up the unique stories of the Queen's House past and present.
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Freshen up with Feeling Blue
Feeling Blue is a new contemporary art commission for the Queen's House, now hanging in the Queen's Presence Chamber opposite the Armada Portrait. It was created by multidisciplinary artist Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh.
Weaving together themes including migration, melancholy and mythology, Feeling Blue responds directly to Royal Museums Greenwich’s sites and collections. The tapestry features more than 150 different colour combinations, incorporating materials such as rope and pearls as well as cottons and linens.
“I wanted to think about how collections speak to us as audience members, and how artworks talk to each other,” Whittle says.
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Gaze out at the view
When the Old Royal Naval College was being built, Queen Mary stipulated that the new buildings should not block the view of the Thames from the Queen’s House - a request that Sir Christopher Wren fulfilled.
Despite not spending time at the Queen’s House herself, Mary’s decision has defined this stretch of Greenwich, creating one of the most beautiful views of London. While this side of the river has altered little since the 18th century, the view across the Thames has changed radically, not least with the building and development of Canary Wharf.
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Choose your tickets
Queen's House
- Historic house
- Internationally renowned art
- Stunning architecture
- Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I
- Free tours and audio guides
| Free entry |
|---|
| Book online |
Member tickets
- Unlimited free entry
- Priority booking and exclusive events
- Access using your membership card
| Membership card number required |
|---|
Become a Member
- Unlimited entry all year
- Royal Observatory
- Cutty Sark
- Planetarium Shows
- Special exhibitions
| Direct Debit | One-off |
|---|---|
| Individual: £50 | Individual: £60 |
| Family: from £60 | Family: from £70 |