QUEEN’S HOUSE GREENWICH

Queen Anne of Denmark, Consort to James I decided that she needed a new hunting lodge in the latest style. The Queen’s House was built in the midst of the great Tudor palace of Greenwich. Nowadays it is the centre piece of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Greenwich.

View of Old Royal Naval College Greenwich with Canary Wharf beyond taken from Queens House — View from the Great Hall

Queen’s House – the first Palladian Building in England

Imagine, if you will, that Prince Philip took it into his head to build somewhere to rest and entertain friends whilst hunting. Not only that he wants the building to be in a brand new never seen before in England style. That is exactly what Anne of Denmark, consort of James I did. She commissioned Inigo Jones to build the first Palladian structure in England. Well it was the first to be started but construction stalled when the Queen died before even the first floor was complete making way for the Banqueting House in Whitehall to be the first completed English Palladian building. The completion of the Queen’s House was left to Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I.

Queen Anne and the shipmakers coat of arms Queen's House Greenwich — Queen Anne

Tulip Staircase – not only an Instagram sensation

Take a look at Instagram and pretty soon you will come across a shot of the Tulip Staircase at the Queen’s House. Looking up or looking down it doesn’t matter as it looks pretty spectacular either way. The staircase is not just just pretty set of steps it was the first geometric self supporting spiral staircase in Britain. That deep blue that the tulips are painted in is called Smalt.

Grand Hall – a perfect cube

At the heart of the Queen’s House is the Great Hall a perfect cube. Whilst you might not look and say wow a cube you will look and say wow what a fantastic floor. Those swirling black and white tiles are quite something.

Looking down onto black and white tiled floor in Palladian room Queen's House Greenwich — When I grow up I will have tiles like this.

Look up in the Great Hall and you will see shimmering golden shapes, these are the work of Turner Prize winner Richard Wright. Back when the Queen’s House was home to Queens the ceiling was painted by Orazio Gentileschi. Queen Anne decided to give it to her favourite the Duchess of Marlborough who cut it down and installed it in Marlborough House on the Mall.

Balaustrade with doorway beyond upper floor of Great Hal Queen's House Greenwich — Look very closely to see the golden shapes

A road runs through the Queen’s House

Imagine the Old Kent Road running through the middle of Buckingham Palace. In the middle of the Queen’s House is a curious bridge like structure. Back when the Queens lived here the main Woolwich – Depford road went through here. Anybody could walk or ride through the middle of the Royal home.

Stone archway looking onto a colonnade at Queen's House Greenwich — Main Woolwich – Depford Road

A rather fine art gallery

Nowadays the Queen’s House no longer lived in by the Royal family or anybody else it is home to a rather fine collection of paintings. 300 of them ranging from Lowry to Rubens by way of Turner, with a Canaletto thrown in for good measure.

Portrait of Charles 1 on blue and gold walls Queen's House Greenwich — I would love a room as blue as the King’s Presence Room

Armada Portraits

Open any school text book about the Tudors and you will see the Armada portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. In fact there are three of them and one of them lives at the Queen’s House. 2020 is special because all three Armada Paintings are together in the same room on public display for the first time ever! Go now whilst you can to see this historic sight.

What else to do in Greenwich

You could happily spend a few days seeing all that Greenwich has to offer. Up the hill the Royal Observatory and the line of the Greenwich Meridian. From outside the Observatory you can take in what is one of the best views of London. Next door to the Queen’s House is the National Maritime Museum. Over the road is the Old Royal Naval College with the splendid Painted Hall at its heart. Down on the riverside is the Cutty Sark once the fastest tea clipper in the world.

Ornately painted ceiling Queen's presence room Queen's House Greenwich — Look up!

Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Armada Portraits are all together until 31 August 2020

The Queen’s House features in my list of Free things to do in London with Teens and of Cultural Wedding Venues, why not pop along for more inspiration.

Queen's House Greenwich first Palladian building in England designed by Inigo Jones. Now a free art gallery with an instagrammable spiral staircase #London #DayOut #LondonArchitecture

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