Essential Information
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| 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.
For bespoke tours, exclusive offers, or group (15+) enquiries, please make a group booking enquiry.
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The Queen's House Classic 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.
At the end of the tour, you will gain exclusive access to the balcony with views of Greenwich Park.
- Timings: Tours run on select dates at 12.30pm or 2.30pm.
- Duration: 50-60 minutes.
- Meeting point: Undercroft, located through the door between the curved exterior staircases.
- Prices: £5 for adults; £3.50 for students; £2.50 for children; free for Members.
- How to book: Tickets can be bought online or at the Admissions Desk, located in the Undercroft. Online sales open on a week-by-week basis.
- 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.
- Accessibility: The tour passes through several galleries located on different floors of the House. Step-free access is available via lift and access ramps.
T&Cs: Please note that children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the balcony for health and safety reasons.
Book Member classic tour tickets
Can't make an in-person tour? You can purchase our audio Treasures Tour for £5 and explore at your own pace - or even from the comfort of your home.
Volunteer tours - Highlights of the Queen’s House
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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.
Gallery favourites
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From the iconic Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I to the artists who created artworks for the ceilings of this former royal residence, dive deeper into stories about the Queen’s House and our collection during our free gallery talks.
- Timings: Select dates 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 dark art of forgeries: Discover some remarkable stories of fake art in history, as well as the artists who tricked the world into believing their deceptions, whether for money or for a laugh.
- 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 Charles II's escape from the country after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
- Five queens and the Queen's House: Learn about five queens and their direct and indirect connections with the Queen's House and test your knowledge in our interactive quiz.
- The incredible stories of Victoria Cross: Dig deeper into some of the most incredible tales of bravery and courage from a diverse mix of Victoria Cross winners, who put their lives on the line in the most dangerous moments of war and earned the highest and most prestigious military honour.
- Inigo Jones, the ingenious architect behind the Queen’s House: Discover more about the world of Inigo Jones, the pioneer and ingenious architect behind the Queen’s House, whose artistic brilliance reshaped England’s architecture – and set the stage for modern design.
- 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.
- Kehinde Wiley and Ship of Fools: Dig deeper into Ship of Fools, a painting by the world-renowned visual artist Kehinde Wiley.
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- The Fall of James II, the last Catholic King of England: Dig deeper into the fall of James II, 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.
- Royal Courtship: Swoon over stories of three royal relationships played out in Greenwich’s romantic scenery.
- Royalists and Roundheads: Discover facts related to English Civil Wars of the mid-1600s and explore the history of the conflicts through some artworks.
- 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 Van de Veldes: Dig deeper into the Van de Veldes who established a studio at the Queen’s House over 350 years ago – and find out how these Dutch artists changed the course of British maritime art.
- The View from One Tree Hill: Discover more about Greenwich in the 1680s and the shaping of the Greenwich we know today.
More information
For bespoke tours and for larger groups, please contact the bookings office at bookings@rmg.co.uk
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