Seascapes

The hidden details in Turner's 'The Battle of Trafalgar'

Discover some of the intricacies within J.M.W. Turner’s monumental artwork, on display at the Queen’s House
Coming soon

Reaching for the Moon

Ahead of Luke Jerram's 'Mirror Moon' going on display at the Royal Observatory, we speak to the celebrated artist about his lunar installation
Architecture

Inspiring architecture at the Queen's House

Refined, stylish, revolutionary – the white cube of the Queen's House influenced centuries of British architecture

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Seascapes and landscapes

Follow how artists throughout history have depicted our maritime world, and learn more about scenes in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection

A playful painting with a pressing problem: help preserve 'The Paddle Steamer "Rob Roy" Aground’

Learn more about this comic scene with a surprising back story – and discover how your support helps care for the national collection.

Turner's 'The Battle of Trafalgar': a maligned masterpiece?

J.M.W. Turner's vast naval scene is a treasure of the Royal Museums Greenwich collection, but why was it so controversial when it was unveiled in 1824?

Moving masterpieces: behind the scenes at the Queen's House

How do galleries move and hang artworks? Follow what happens as curators, conservators and art handlers prepare for an exciting new display at the Queen's House

A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes

Why do artists draw, and what can their sketches teach us about their skills and techniques? Take a closer look with the unique Van de Velde drawings collection

The artistic legacy of the Van de Veldes

How the founders of British marine painting inspired generations of artists, including J.M.W. Turner

A Van de Velde drawing lesson

Notes, inscriptions and observations fill many of the Van de Velde drawings. What can they tell us about their artistic process?

Sketching at sea: Van de Velde the war artist

Daring, dedication and an eye for detail – how Van de Velde the Elder risked his life to record naval battles as they happened

Drawing paper and materials

What did the Van de Veldes use to create their detailed ship portraits and maritime sketches?

The Van de Veldes in Greenwich

Find out about the Dutch artists’ time in the Queen’s House
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Portraits

Appearance and reality, status and symbolism - find stories of artists and their sitters

Women artists in the Queen's House

Discover some of the contemporary works and historic pieces taking pride of place at the Queen's House

The Sailor

Sophie Warburton explores the story behind a portrait in Royal Museums Greenwich's collection and their connection with the sitter.

A history of naval portraiture in six artworks

Curator Katherine Gazzard charts the evolution of this complex and creative genre

Moving masterpieces: behind the scenes at the Queen's House

How do galleries move and hang artworks? Follow what happens as curators, conservators and art handlers prepare for an exciting new display at the Queen's House

The search for the lost Wren

A quest to uncover the identity of a female naval officer in the collection

The art of rivalry: Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds

The two leading portrait painters of the 18th century weren't just competing for commissions. They each held fundamentally different beliefs about art

Seeing Ourselves podcast

How does it feel to see 'yourself’ represented – or misrepresented – in museum spaces?

Royal portraits in Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection

Come face to face with Kings and Queens, and discover 500 years of royal portraits at the Queen's House in Greenwich

Art in focus: inside the ship’s cabin

Discover how a little-known painting changed the face of naval portraiture
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What’s on

Find art and culture events in Greenwich.

Workshops | Art and culture

From Object to Art

Join our community of makers at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
First Saturday of every month | 10.30am-12.30pm
Free
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Talks and tours | Art and culture

Valentine's tour: Treasures of the Queen's House with drinks
This Valentine's Day, learn about the history of the former royal residence and enjoy a drink in picturesque surroundings
Saturday 14 February 2026 | Tour at 12.30pm
Adult: £25 (plus £3 booking fee per booking); Adult Members: £22.50
Queen's House
Events and festivals | Museum Lates

DEBUT at the Queen’s House – Valentine’s Day Concert
A romantic night with enchanting classical music performed by DEBUT's acclaimed musicians
Saturday 14 February 2026 | VIP experience at 5.45pm (SOLD OUT) | Performances at 6.15pm (SOLD OUT) and 8.00pm
Adult: £30; VIP Adult: £55 (plus £3 booking fee) | Adult Member: £27; VIP Adult Member: £50
Queen's House
Contemporary art

Discover how artists today are engaging with and responding to Royal Museums Greenwich's collections

Reaching for the Moon

Luke Jerram reveals the inspiration behind Mirror Moon, a large-scale artwork created for the Royal Observatory

Blurring boundaries: the art of Maisie Broadhead

Past or present, photographs or paintings? Artist Maisie Maud Broadhead challenges the viewer’s perceptions in two works now on display in the Queen’s House

Capturing connections – Kingdom of this World: Triptych

Artist Leah Gordon reveals the influences behind Kingdom of this World: Triptych, a series of photographic portraits on display in the Queen’s House

Women artists in the Queen's House

Discover some of the contemporary works and historic pieces taking pride of place at the Queen's House

Crafting identity: the making of Queering Piracy

Queering Piracy is a contemporary artwork that explores how some LGBTQ+ communities have adopted and embraced pirate history and symbolism

Spot the pirate: power, perception and perspective

A new painting by Maïa Walcott seeks to reframe notions of piracy

The art of piracy: imagining the world of Zheng Yi Sao

A series of illustrations by Livia Giorgina Carpineto brings the world of notorious pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao to life

The art of piracy: a fresh perspective on Bonny and Read

A new artwork by Linnea Maertens questions what we think we know about notorious female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. See it on display in Pirates at the National Maritime Museum

Reframing Black history: Joseph Ijoyemi and the Atlantic Worlds gallery

From resilience to resistance, two new paintings in the Atlantic Worlds gallery at the National Maritime Museum celebrate the history of pre-colonial Africa
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Architecture

Find out more about Greenwich and London's most spectacular buildings

History of the Queen's House

The centre of Greenwich for hundreds of years, the beautiful Queen's House has also been at the heart of royal life

Inspiring architecture at the Queen's House

Refined, stylish, revolutionary – the white cube of the Queen's House influenced centuries of British architecture

Inigo Jones and the Queen's House

Discover how England’s first Classical building was created

Musing on a mollusc: Brunel’s inspiration for the Thames Tunnel

The year 2019 marked the 150th anniversary of the opening in 1869 of the East London railway line, completed in 1843 with the help of pioneering technology invented by Marc Isambard Brunel

Art for all, art for free

Whilst cataloguing a collection of papers from the early 19th century, we came across an intriguing note.

The Queen's House - centre of town for 400 years

Discover how the building of the House had a dramatic effect on the history of Greenwich

Andrea Palladio (1508–80)

Andrea Palladio was one of Italy's greatest and most imitated architects, whose influence can be seen in the elegant Queen's House.

Christopher Wren

Best known for designing St. Paul's Cathedral, Christopher Wren's two loves of astronomy and architecture were combined when he worked on the Royal Observatory Greenwich
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Watch

Feeling Blue is a new commission created by multidisciplinary artist Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh. Currently on display in the Queen’s House, the tapestry is rooted in maritime traditions.

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Photography

Life on board a container ship – in pictures

Artist Zoe Childerley is embarking on a project with the National Maritime Museum to bring experiences of modern seafarers to light. How did she find her first voyage on board a container ship?

'Out with the camera, my senses are heightened' – behind the lens with Paul Haworth

Discover the vibrant nocturnal world of East Anglian astrophotographer Paul Haworth, shortlisted in 2024's Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition

Capturing history: Jack Lowe and the RNLI 

How one photographer’s quest to visit every lifeboat station shines a light on our maritime heritage

Seeing the sound of a black hole: the story of Black Echo

How do you picture something that is invisible and inaudible to humans? Artist and photographer John White has the answer

Behind the lens with Monika Deviat

Dancer, educator, heavy metal fan and astrophotographer, discover more about the Aurorae winner of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023

Secrets of the glass plate: The Edward Augustus Inglefield photograph collection

Assistant Curator Alex Grover gives a brief insight into his ongoing research into this small but significant collection of polar photographs

Why conservation photography matters

Human activity has caused significant damage to the world’s ocean and marine life. Photographer Octavio Aburto documents the vital changes local communities in Mexico have made to conserve ocean resources

Life beneath the waves – conservation photographer Jennifer Adler

Conservation photographer Jennifer Adler reveals the photos, dives and projects that give her hope for the future of our ocean

Pioneer maritime photographers at the National Maritime Museum

Names like WH Fox Talbot, Calvert R. Jones and Nicolaas Henneman are not well known within a maritime photographic context. These names are more familiar for their early pioneering photographic work using nature and architecture.
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Decorative arts

The story behind... The Keeper of All The Secrets

Artist Jacqueline Bishop speaks to historian Stella Dadzie about the influences behind her ceramic artwork, now on display in the Queen’s House

Beneath the blue: Alberta Whittle on the making of Feeling Blue

Artist Alberta Whittle shares the inspiration behind Feeling Blue, a tapestry created in collaboration with Dovecot Studios

Knotted histories: addressing Britain's colonial legacy through crochet

Meet Sarah Hawke, the artist behind a new crochet kanga on display at the National Maritime Museum

The conservation process: the Solebay tapestry

What does it take to conserve a 300-year-old tapestry? Conservator Zenzie Tinker offers a glimpse into this complex process

What is a tapestry?

Find out more about the ancient craft of tapestry weaving

The history of the Solebay tapestry

Discover the story behind the largest tapestry in Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection

Asabikeshiinh Aeris by Rowan Mersh joins the Queen's House collection

Royal Museums Greenwich is delighted to acquire ‘Asabikeshiinh Aeris’ by artist Rowan Mersh. The work will go on display as part of the contemporary art collection at the Queen's House.

Beneath the Earth's surface: using X-rays to find out how globes were made

Table globes are truly beautiful objects, with historic representations of the Earth and stars captured in intricate detail. But take a look beneath the surface and the marvels get more mysterious...
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See great art in Greenwich

Visit the Queen's House, see special exhibitions and events, and find books about art and culture in our online shop

An art lover's guide to the Queen’s House
Royal portraits, seascapes and cutting-edge sculptures are just some of the masterpieces to see  
Pirates
The blockbuster Pirates exhibition at the National Maritime Museum ran until 4 January 2026
The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I
See the iconic painting of the Tudor queen, one of the treasures of Royal Museums Greenwich
Shop
The Art of Naval Portraiture
£30.00 £20.00
From elite officers to ordinary sailors, the portrayal of naval personnel has been a significant branch of British art for over 500 years...
Buy now
Shop
Astronomy Photographer of the Year Photography Book: Collection 14
£30.00 £25.00
Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Collection 14 is a stunning gift for admirers of astrophotography. The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 competition's official publication, this spectacular astronomy photography book showcases the most awe-inspiring space photography, taken from locations across the globe...
Buy now
Shop
Spotlight Series: The Keeper of All The Secrets: Ceramic Art, Botanicals and the Caribbean Market Woman
£12.00 £6.00
At the centre of The Keeper of All The Secrets is an important acquisition from artist and writer Jacqueline Bishop, a tea service that is the stage for conversations around empire, enslavement and female resistance...
Buy now

Help keep art accessible to all

Royal Museums Greenwich is a charity, and we rely on your support to care for our collections and help everyone enjoy great art for free. Donate today and help shape the Museum's future.
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