Queens House

With this elegant house Inigo Jones introduced Palladian style to England. Commissioned by King James I for his wife, Anne of Denmark, it was a garden villa to complement the Tudor palace at Greenwich. Completed in 1635 during the turbulent years before the English Civil War and Charles I gave it to his queen, Henrietta Maria. It survived the destruction of the Tudor palace by Cromwell’s army to become the focal point around which Wren created the grand architectural landscape that is Greenwich today.
Special features of the House are the ‘Tulip Staircase’, the cubic Great Hall and a logia and orangery opening onto Greenwich Park with fine views of Wren’s unusual Flamsteed House (the Royal Observatory) and Vanburgh’s castle on Maze Hill.
The House now displays a series of historical paintings portraying the history of these Greenwich buildings and portraits of Tudor and Stuart kings and queens associated with its history. Rooms and galleries throughout the building are a fine setting for several superb maritime art collections which are held by the National Maritime Museum. New artists and photographers are showcased through modern art and touring exhibitions.
Restaurant facilities are in the adjacent National Maritime Museum.
Related Categories
| Opening times: | The museum stays open later in the summer - check for details. |
|---|
Lonely Planet review of Queens House

This building was first called the 'House of Delight' and that's certainly still true. The first Palladian building by architect Inigo Jones after he returned from Italy, it's far more enticing than the art collection in it, even though that contains some Turners, Holbeins, Hogarths and Gainsboroughs. The house was begun in 1616 for Anne of Denmark, wife of James I. However, it wasn't completed until 1635, when it became the home of Charles I and his queen, Henrietta Maria. The Great Hall is the principal room - a lovely cube shape, with a helix-shaped Tulip Staircase and a gallery on level 3, where marine paintings and portraits from the National Maritime Museum's fine art collection are shown.
Are you a representative of Queens House?
Respond to Reviews
Read more reviews on Trip Advisor
About Trip Advisor and Visit London
Please be advised that any comments, opinions and statements submitted herewith are entirely independent and do not represent views held by, or are in any way connected to Visit London.
Freeze Frame Exhibition
Recurring event
To coincide with International Polar Year, the National Maritime Museum displays some of the earliest photographs of the Arctic, its landscape and people, in a new temporary exhibition in the Queen's House. Freeze Frame will showcase a selection of prints taken from the Museum's world-class historic photographs collection. The exhibition will look at two expeditions to the Arctic under Captain Edward Inglefield in 1854, and Captain George Nares in 1875-76. Both expeditions used photographic processes that were in their infancy, having been announced to the public only a few years before. Both processes involved a significant amount of bulky equipment and chemicals in order to develop the negatives. However, the technique used by Nares had a shorter exposure time allowing more photographs of the expedition activities to be recorded.Secret of the Cardboard Rocket - Planetarium Show Show/display
Recurring event
Embark on an outstanding adventure as two children spend a night touring the solar system in a magic cardboard rocket, visiting the Sun, Moon and Planets. With state of the art 3D-animation and spectacular effects, this show is a must-see attraction for visiting family groups.Sky Tonight Live: planetarium show Show/display
Recurring event
Tickets can be purchased at the Planetarium on the day.A Journey into Space Special event
Recurring event
A digital planetarium show to allow children to explore the daytime and night time sky and the solar system. A chance to investigate the apparent motion of the sun, moon and stars from the surface of the Earth. Only available to school groups.
Location Information Queens House
| Address: | Greenwich, Romney Road, London London SE10 9NF |
|---|---|
| Telephone: | +44 (0)20 8312 6565 |
| Fax: | +44 (0)20 8312 6572 |
| Email: | bookings@nmm.ac.uk |
| Website: | www.nmm.ac.uk |
| Public transport: | Rail – Greenwich (zone 2) DLR – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich By boat – from most central London piers |
Getting to Queens House using public transport? Find the fastest route below:

What else is near here?
Find what's around using the tabs below.

13°C
Clear intervals
Visitor Reviews







© Collins Bartholomew 2008
