FAQs for the venues

We offer a full range of options across our collection to accommodate all your needs from day time meetings, corporate receptions, private dining, product launches, filming and photography. Our venues are home to pioneering architecture and astronomy, British art, and a rich maritime history, situated in the heart of Greenwich. 

All the money that we raise through hosting events is vital to us as a charity and goes towards the care of a national collection, which tells stories of our place in the world and in the universe, as well as ensure the buildings are preserved for future generations. 

We believe that accessibility should be regarded as continual work in progress. As a collection of historical buildings, we have tried our best to incorporate accessibility across our sites. We are pleased to say that currently Cutty Sark, Queen’s House, The National Maritime Museum and the Peter Harrison Planetarium are all wheelchair accessible.

For further access requirements kindly contact us and we will be very happy to discuss with your in more detail. 

Please note, sadly some areas of the Royal Observatory are not fully accessible at this time. 

We are constantly looking at how we can improve accessibility across our museums, and we welcome any feedback you may have. Please reach out to events@rmg.co.uk or call us on 0208 312 8517. 

Thank you. 

Each off our spaces offer a different capacity, our recommendations are as follows:

• Cutty Sark - 240 seated or 400 standing reception
• National Maritime Museum - 550 seated, 1000 standing reception
• Lecture Theatre - 120 seated (daytime)
• Queens House - 120 seated dinner, reception or ceremony, 20 boardroom
• Royal Observatory - 60 seated 120 standing reception
• Peter Harrison Planetarium - 80 seated dinner, 130 standing reception, 130 for a show

Provisional dates can be held on confirmation of a showround, without commitment for two weeks. Clients will always be given notice and an opportunity to confirm before a provisionally held date is released.

Once clients have notified us they would like to book an event, a contract is issued which needs to be returned within 7 days along with a deposit invoice.

As the majority of our venues are public museums, access for set up is from 1700 with hire from 1900 to midnight with the exception of the Queen’s House, which is available for daytime hire as well. We can offer extensions until 0100 upon request at all venues.

Due to the sensitive nature of our buildings and collections, only our approved catering, floristry, and production suppliers are permitted. We work with a handpicked approved suppliers list who you can contact for more information. We've worked hard to ensure there is a good selection of suppliers to accommodate each clients' specific needs and price points. Working closely with these suppliers, we are more than happy to make specific recommendations that we think will work well for your event. 

Due to the historic floors and collections, you will need to consider the following:

• We allow light coloured drink service only during standing receptions in the Queen’s House, the Cutty Sark Decks, Flamsteed House and Ocean Court.
• Lilies and flowers with staining stamens are permitted only with stamens removed.
• Each venue has outdoor space permitted for smoking, however indoor smoking, naked flames, candles, confetti, balloons, and dry ice are not permitted.
• We kindly ask guests not to wear stiletto heels in the Queen’s House or on the Cutty Sark Decks, any guests who do will be given a heel protector upon arrival.
• Free standing branding and product displays are welcome, however attachment onto the fabric of our buildings is not authorized.

• Exclusive use of the venue on your chosen evening for the full hire period. 
• The full operational support from the Event Team in the run-up to your event.
• One of our Event Managers to co-ordinate and deliver your event on the day.
• Security staff and cleaning.

Unfortunately there is no parking available on site, however there are local car parks and we are just a few minutes walk from Cutty Sark DLR and Greenwich mainline train. Access is also available on Thames riverboat services.

For all our transport event options, take a look here.