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.
COVID 19 UPDATE: The Queen's House will reopen on 10 August 2020. Entry remains free but tickets for entry must be prebooked.
Table of Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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. If you are in Greenwich for the day how about visiting the Painted Hall or stepping onboard the Cutty Sark?
That staircase! I’d go just to see that. Beautiful photos.
beautiful staircase #citytripping
I love that staircase and I’m definitely pinning this for something to do in London! #citytripping
Oh gosh, that’s beautiful! Sometimes it’s strange to be in a building and think about all of the historic figures who’ve stood there before you.
Author
It is! I love walking along ancient trackways for that reason!
A fascinating read. I really enjoyed this – thanks! #CityTripping
I love the tulip staircase! #CityTripping
Your photo of the tulip staircase is beautiful!
Author
Thank you!
That spiral staircase is beautiful! I love the tulip details! #citytripping
And who doesn’t just wake up one morning and decide they need a new “hunting lodge?” But seriously, that staircase! (And you’ve captured it beyond perfectly!)
Author
I have often thought just that but so far failed to build one
Impressive house! I love the perfect spiral staircase, the blue tulips and the shimmering gold shapes. I am going to London next month and will plan a visit t to this beautiful place. 🙂
Author
Enjoy!
The thing I love most about visiting London is that so much is free to visit. It’s accessibility isn’t based on whether you can afford to go or not and that’s absolutely right! I would love to see the Armada paintings, as a student of Tudor history, I’ve seen those in text books many times, but never in real life!
Author
We are very lucky in London to have so much that is free
I’ve never actually heard of this place, even though I’ve been to London multiple times. It looks super interesting.
Author
It has royal history and architectural history just oozing out of every brick
I love Greenwich, and will definitely look out for this palace on my next visit. Spectacular and free – a winning combination.
Author
Two of my favourite words, especially when combined
A friend and I are committed to doing one cultural activity a month so this is certainly being added to my list when its time to plan. Thanks, it looks beautiful. Visited Greenwich but never here
A friend and I organise monthly cultural activities – this is being added to my list. I love Greenwich but never heard of here and its beautiful. Thank you for sharing
Author
Weekly outings is how Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays started!
This building is beautiful and not one I’m familiar with. That staircase is gorgeous, but don’t you wish you could just remove those ropes…then it would be perfect! And the feature wall in my lounge is that exact shade of blue and I love it. Couldn’t do the whole room in it…but maybe go for one wall like me! Thank you for putting this place on my radar. I really must visit sometime! #FarawayFiles
I love your posts, they always give me a whole other view of London than in the Streatham Hill days of my youth!! This sounds like such a fascinating architectural and historical storybook; the stairs, the paint, the Queen’s death, and a road runs through it! Gotta love the rich. #FarawayFiles
Ahhh – didn’t know the Danish royal connection to Greenwich! That staircase is decidedly swoony. Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles. Cheers from Denmark!
I have to confess I went just to see the stair case earlier this year but was totally blown away by the incredible art collection. Queen Liz was still solo when I was there though! #farawayfiles
On my next visit to London I must do a proper Greenwich explore – this will definitely be on my list. #farawayfiles
Author
There is so much to see in Greenwich