Explore our current exhibitions and discover the surprising royal connections hidden in our collections.

Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits

Come face-to-face with British royalty in a new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum
Find out more Look inside the exhibition

Greenwich royal history

Royal portraits in the collection
From iconic portraits to miniature masterpieces, discover the royal portraits in our collection
Queens of the Queen’s House
Greenwich has been a key location for the royal family for over 500 years
Greenwich Palace and the Tudors
Situated beside the River Thames, Greenwich had been a popular royal residence for centuries
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

Faces of a Queen

See the Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I together for the very first time
Visit the exhibition Plan your visit to the Queen's House

Elizabeth I and the Tudors

Greenwich was the birthplace of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Mary I

Symbolism in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I
Find out more about the Tudor symbols used in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and discover what they mean
Greenwich Palace and the Tudors
Situated beside the River Thames, Greenwich had been a popular royal residence for centuries
The Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I
The Tudor dynasty was founded in 1485 by Elizabeth's grandfather, Henry VII, when he emerged victorious after the dynastic Wars of the Roses
Queen Elizabeth I facts and myths
Did Elizabeth I have red hair? Was she really a virgin? Sift the facts from the fiction surrounding Elizabeth I
Where did King Henry VIII live and die?
Discover how a jousting accident at Greenwich precipitated King Henry VIII's later obesity and death.
Henry VIII and his navy
An important part of Henry VIII's legacy was his establishment of the Royal Navy, encouraging shipbuilding and creating dockyards
Who were Henry VIII's wives?
Henry VIII is one of history's most famous monarchs and best known for his six marriages

Delve deeper

Discover the hidden symbolism of the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I with historian Mary Beard.

Charles I and the Stuarts

The Stuart era saw the founding of the Royal Observatory and the building of the Queen's House

Henrietta Maria
Wife to King Charles I and Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, Henrietta Maria was a patron of the arts who oversaw Inigo Jones's completion of the Queen's House in 1635
History of the Royal Observatory
Find out more about the founding of the Royal Observatory and how it came to be known as the 'Home of Time'
Why was King Charles I executed?
Learn about the events that led up to the beheading of a monarch
‘God preserve us all!’: Samuel Pepys and the Great Plague
The Great Plague was one of the worst disasters in London's history. Samuel Pepys's diaries provide a fascinating insight into how Londoner's dealt with this tragedy.
Who really was Charles II?
BBC historian Clare Jackson discusses the life and legacy of one of England's most flamboyant monarchs

Royal history books and gifts

Shop
Royal Greenwich: A History in Kings and Queens by Pieter van der Merwe
£20.00
Discover the rich royal history of the area where Henry VIII built his first tournament ground, Elizabeth I took daily walks in the Park, and where Charles II raced early royal yachts against his brother...
Buy Now
Shop
Henry VIII Decoration
£12.00
This Henry VIII decoration is a fantastic collectable that would make a lovely gift for any lover of Tudor history. King Henry VIII was the most magnificent of all the Tudors...
Buy Now
Shop
Armada Portrait Of Elizabeth I Print
£8.00
The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I commemorates the most famous conflict of her reign – the failed invasion of England by the Spanish Armada in summer 1588...
Buy Now

The Victorians

What happened during the Victorian era?
The Victorian era of the United Kingdom and its overseas Empire was the period of Queen Victoria's rule from June 1837 to January 1901
The life of Queen Victoria and her family
Find out more about her fascinating life with Prince Albert and her nine children
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's relationship remains one of the most well known in British royal history
The Death of Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria's death in 1901 ended a 63-year reign. Learn more about her death and her funeral

Visit Royal Greenwich

Explore the museums and galleries at the heart of one of London's most historic areas

Queen's House
Royal Observatory
National Maritime Museum

Choose your tickets

National Maritime Museum

  • Guaranteed entry time
  • More space to explore
  • Access to all free galleries
  • Paid exhibitions not included
Free entry
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Queen's House

  • Guaranteed entry time
  • See amazing art
  • Explore the historic building
  • Woburn Treasures exhibition
Free entry
Book in advance
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Member tickets

  • Free entry
  • Priority booking
  • Membership card number required
Members go free
Advance booking essential
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National Maritime Museum

Become a Member

  • Unlimited entry all year
  • Royal Observatory
  • Cutty Sark
  • Planetarium Shows
  • Special exhibitions
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Individual: £50 Individual: £60
Family: from £65 Family: from £75
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