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.

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.

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.

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.