The Queen’s House is the jewel in the crown of Greenwich’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The House is England’s first classical building, designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century. With its graceful exterior, geometric Great Hall and the intricate Tulip Stairs, it is an architectural wonder in its own right.
Artistic ingenuity has been part of the fabric of the Queen’s House since its foundation. Anne of Denmark – the Stuart monarch who commissioned the building in 1616 – was a renowned patron of the arts. Then under Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles I, the building was transformed into a ‘House of Delights’, complete with a painted ceiling by Italian artist Orazio Gentileschi and his daughter Artemisia. It later became a working artists’ studio during the reign of King Charles II.
Today the Queen’s House is an acclaimed art gallery, containing over 450 artworks and featuring pieces by Holbein, L.S. Lowry, Kehinde Wiley and Tania Kovats.
But where to begin? Discover just some of the highlights of the Queen’s House collection, and make sure to look out for them during your visit.