Ticketed Event

Essential Information

Type Talks and tours
Location
Date and Times Friday 1 December 2023 | 1pm-2pm

Join historian and BSL guide John Wilson for a tour of our exhibition The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea at the Queen’s House. This tour is exclusively for Deaf and hard of hearing visitors and will highlight the key paintings and drawings on display.

Important information

Please note that our BSL tours are for deaf people or hearing signers who can follow BSL fluently. There are no voice-overs provided.

About this exhibition:

Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger were the most influential maritime artists of the 17th century.

A giant naval tapestry hung in the Queen's House in Greenwich

This exhibition follows the journey of these émigré artists, and explores how they changed the course of British maritime art. Come face-to-face with colossal tapestries, dramatic seascapes and detailed drawings of naval battles.

Set sail for Greenwich, and experience the art of the Van de Veldes.

What’s On

Family fun

Character Actors at the Queen's House

Meet historical characters connected to the Queen's House and take part in exciting performances
Sundays | 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Free
Queen's House
Experiences

Talk & Drink: drinks on the balcony and a gallery favourite talk

Venture to the Queen's House and join a gallery favourite talk with drinks on the balcony.
Select Sundays | Talk at 3.30pm | Sales now open for Sunday 21 September 2025
Adult: £16 (plus £3 booking fee per booking); Adult Members: £13
Queen's House
Events and festivals | Ocean Court

Caribbean Takeover

Join the Caribbean Social Forum as they take over the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House for another spectacular year of celebration
Saturday 27 September 2025 | 10am – 5pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Talks and tours | Salons in the Queen's House

Salons in the Queen's House: Breadfruit and the Creolising of Caribbean Foodways

In this free lunchtime talk historian Jade Lindo will explore the historical and cultural significance of breadfruit in the Caribbean
Wednesday 15 October 2025 | 1pm-1.30pm
Free
Queen's House
Family fun

October half term family activities at the Queen's House

Find fun for all the family at the Queen's House this October half term
19 October – 30 October 2025 | See page for times
Free | Drop in | All ages and abilities
Queen's House
Talks and tours | Member events

Members' Lecture: The Battle of Trafalgar at the Queen’s House

Celebrate Trafalgar Day with us and hear from art curator Katherine Gazzard on the history and symbolism of this awe-inspiring naval scene
Tuesday 21 October 2025 | 6.45pm
Free Entry
Queen's House
Talks and tours | Salons in the Queen's House

Salons in the Queen's House: Visualising the Invisible in Jacqueline Bishop’s Collage Histories

In this free lunchtime talk art historian Dr. Freya Gowrley will explore the artistic potential of collage for telling colonial histories
Wednesday 22 October 2025 | 1pm-1.30pm
Free
Queen's House
Talks and tours | Salons in the Queen's House

Salons in the Queen's House: The Seeds of Survival

In this free lunchtime talk historian Akosua Paries-Osei will explore the empire-disrupting botanical knowledge of enslaved women
Wednesday 29 October 2025 | 1pm-1.30pm
Free
Queen's House
Workshops

Historical pocket making workshop

Create a timeless tie-on pocket as part of this project providing community workshops accessible for people with memory loss, Alzheimer’s and dementia
Tuesday 4 November and 2 December | 11am-1pm
Free, drop-in
National Maritime Museum
Events and festivals | Art and culture

Lunchtime Concerts at the Queen's House

Enjoy musical performances in the Queen's House given by students from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance 
Select Wednesdays (see page for details) | 1pm-2pm
Free, drop in
Queen's House
Experiences | Christmas

The Queen's House Ice Rink

Discover the most beautiful outdoor ice skating location in London
21 November 2025 - 4 January 2026 | 10am-9pm
Free Entry
Queen's House
Experiences | Christmas

Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House

Meet Santa and journey to a magical wonderland. Pre-booking recommended
Selected dates from 22 November – 24 December 2025
General tickets: £27 per person, Member tickets: £24.30 per person, Under 1s: Free | Early bird ticket offers available until 30 September (see below for details)
Queen's House
Talks and tours | BSL tours

BSL Tour: Portraits in the Queen's House

Join guide John Wilson for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of the portraits in the Queen's House
Friday 12 December 2025 | 2pm-3pm
Free
Queen's House