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Royal Museums Greenwich Reopening on 17 May 2021
Royal Museums Greenwich has announce the reopening of the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory Greenwich on 17 May 2021.
The National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House grounds, the Parkside café and shop have been open to public since 12 April 2021 and from 7 May 2021 visitors will get the chance to dine in the Queen’s House Dining Domes.
During lockdown, the museum carried out various restoration works across the sites and developed a one-way system and some restrictions will initially be in place to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff. Protective screens in the ticket hall and gift shop will be in place. Sanitiser stations will also be available throughout the sites, although to ensure we meet safety guidelines, some interactives will not be accessible.
Tickets must be purchased in advance to ensure social distancing can be maintained on site. Pre-booked time slots ensure that visits are spread throughout the day and sites don’t exceed their capacity.
At the National Maritime Museum, visitors will be able to see images of the cosmos from the world-renowned astrophotography competition Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020.
Another fascinating exhibition reopening its doors at the National Maritime Museum is the Exposure: Lives at Sea. Bringing together photography taken around the world by those in the maritime sector, this exhibition shines a light on the forgotten but integral work of seafarers.
In collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Museums Greenwich will host a major exhibition exploring royal portraiture, opening on 28 May 2021. Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits will give visitors the opportunity to come face-to-face with the kings, queens and their heirs who have shaped British history and were so central to Greenwich. The exhibition will include over 150 works covering five royal dynasties. These are mainly drawn from the unparalleled collection of the National Portrait Gallery, and feature some of the most important artists to have worked in Britain, from Sir Peter Lely and Sir Godfrey Kneller to Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz.
On 17 May 2021 the Queen’s House will be ready to welcome back the public and showcase its incredible artwork collection including works by Reynolds and Canaletto, and the display Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the three surviving Armada portraits; Royal Museums Greenwich’s portrait, and versions from the National Portrait Gallery and Woburn Abbey, side by side in Greenwich.
Also in the Queen’s House, visitors will have the unprecedented opportunity to access for free the Woburn Treasures, the outstanding private art collection of The Duke and Duchess of Bedford, whilst Woburn Abbey is closed for refurbishment. The exhibition includes works by distinguished artists such as Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Poussin and Canaletto.
Cutty Sark, the last-surviving tea clipper in the world, will open its doors once again and the visitors will explore its remarkable history as the fastest, record-breaking ship of its era. Just in time for the half-term, there will be tours to learn the lesser-known extraordinary stories of the Cutty Sark. There is also a brand new exciting experience starting June 2021, ‘Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience’, where visitors will be able to climb from the main deck up the ship’s rigging to experience the heights the crew would have had to scare on a daily basis when out at sea.
Additionally, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the historic home of time and space, will open the North side, which includes the Prime Meridian line, the Flamsteed House, the Camera Obscura and the Great Equatorial Telescope. Visitors will be able to see the magnificent craftmanship of John Harrison’s marine timekeepers, the apartments of the Royal Astronomers and learn about their work and lives at the observatory and step on the historic Prime Meridian line that divides the Eastern and Western hemispheres of the Earth.
For more information , visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website here
London Visitors is the official blog for the Visiting London Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice and latest up to date news and reviews of events in London.
Since our launch in 2014, we attract thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
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Exhibition Review: Woburn Treasures at the Queen’s House in Greenwich from 13 February 2020 to 17 January 2021
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
The Queen’s House in Greenwich in partnership with Woburn Abbey presents a new exhibition entitled Woburn Treasures which features significant works from the private art collection of The Duke and Duchess of Bedford on show in the Queen’s House. The collaboration marks the first time that significant parts of the Woburn collection have been on public display in a national museum since the 1950s.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
The private art collection of The Duke and Duchess of Bedford is considered to be one of the most important art collections still in private hands and the Woburn Abbey loans comprise of over 20 works by artists such as Van Dyck, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Poussin and Canaletto. The artworks will hang alongside important works from the national collection of Royal Museums Greenwich.The collaboration has been made possible due to the 18-month closure of Woburn Abbey as it undergoes the biggest refurbishment and conservation project since it first opened to the public in 1955.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
Highlights from the Woburn Treasures include a full length portrait of Anne of Denmark by Flemish artist Gheeraerts the Younger. Anne, queen consort of James I commissioned Inigo Jones to build the Queen’s House, the first Palladian villa in England.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
There is a large full length portrait of Lady Elizabeth Keppel by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
The exhibition includes Canaletto’s large-scale Regatta on the Grand Canal, one of 24 paintings by the Italian artist commissioned for Lord John Russell, the Fourth Duke of Bedford, following his visit to Venice in 1731.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
There is an intimate portrait of Daniel Mytens and his wife by Sir Anthony van Dyck.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
A wonderful pastoral scene is shown in Woodcutter and the Milk Maid by Thomas Gainsborough.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
One of the more unusual portraits is that of Queen Mary I and Phillip II of Spain by an unknown artist, 1558.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
Alongside the paintings is a selection of sculptures, ceramics and a silver-gilt toilette set spanning the 17th to 19th century. Many of the artworks showcased in the exhibition have been collected over many generations of the Russell family.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
This fascinating Woburn Treasures exhibition is a rare opportunity to understand themes related to British country house collecting within the beautiful and architecturally important Queen’s House. To see many of these works of art before, you would have needed to go to Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire and pay an admission fee, this exhibition is an opportunity to access this outstanding collection for free in the capital.
The Woburn Treasures exhibition runs from 13 February to 17 January 2021 alongside Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I which is open from 13 February – 31 August 2020 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich , both are free to visit.
Visiting London Guide Rating – Highly Recommended
For more information , visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website here
London Visitors is the official blog for the Visiting London Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice and latest up to date news and reviews of events in London.
Since our launch in 2014, we attract thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on Museums and Art Galleries, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Music, Sport, Books and many more.
There are also hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
Review – Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I Exhibition at the Queen’s House in Greenwich from 13 February 2020 to 31 August 2020
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
The three surviving versions of the famous Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I are on public display together in a free exhibition at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. The exhibition, entitled Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I, is the first time the paintings have been displayed together in their 430-year history.
The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I, circa 1588 © National Maritime Museum, London
Considered to be, one of the most iconic images in British history, the Armada Portraits commemorates the most famous conflict in Elizabeth’s reign when the Spanish Armada failed in their attempt to invade England in 1588. Royal Museums Greenwich showcases its own version of the Armada Portrait alongside the two other surviving versions, from the collections of Woburn Abbey and the National Portrait Gallery.
The Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. From the Woburn Abbey Collection
All three versions of the Armada Portrait are believed to have been painted shortly after the event, circa 1588. Despite their iconic status, the origins of the paintings are shrouded in mystery with experts suggesting that three different artists or studios could be responsible for the three principal Armada Portraits working from a single template.
Queen Elizabeth I by Unknown English artist, circa 1588 © National Portrait Gallery, London
This historic exhibition presents an unprecedented opportunity for visitors to come face-to-face with three iconic depictions of Elizabeth I. In all three versions, the Queen is shown in a rich gold-embroidered and jewelled dress, presenting her as a powerful and majestic figure with seascapes showing different episodes of the Spanish Armada story.
© 2020 Visiting London Guide.com – Photograph by Alan Kean
The paintings relate to an important part of British history, England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada was considered one of the greatest military victories in English history and Elizabeth was celebrated in portraits, pageants, and the literature of the day. The Elizabethan era provided important stability for the country and helped forge a sense of national identity. These portraits were more than just paintings, they were part of a ‘personality cult’ that represented the monarch as a strong and charismatic leader.
The portraits are on public display in the Queen’s House, part of Royal Museums Greenwich. The 17th century Palladian villa, designed by Inigo Jones, is situated on the site of the original Greenwich Palace complex, which was a major political centre of the Tudor dynasty and the birthplace of Elizabeth I herself.
Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I is open from 13 February – 31 August 2020 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich alongside the Woburn Treasures exhibition that runs from 13 February to 17 January 2021, both are free to visit.
Visiting London Guide Rating – Highly Recommended
For more information , visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website here
London Visitors is the official blog for the Visiting London Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice and latest up to date news and reviews of events in London.
Since our launch in 2014, we attract thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on Museums and Art Galleries, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Music, Sport, Books and many more.
There are also hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I Exhibition at the Queen’s House in Greenwich from 13 February 2020 to 31 August 2020
The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I, circa 1588 © National Maritime Museum, London
The three surviving versions of the famous Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I are to go on public display together in a free exhibition at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. The exhibition, entitled Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I, is the first time the paintings have been displayed together in their 430-year history.
Considered to be, one of the most iconic images in British history, the Armada Portraits commemorates the most famous conflict in Elizabeth’s reign when the Spanish Armada failed in their attempt to invade England in 1588. Royal Museums Greenwich showcases its own version of the Armada Portrait alongside the two other surviving versions, from the collections of Woburn Abbey and the National Portrait Gallery.
The Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I. From the Woburn Abbey Collection
All three versions of the Armada Portrait are believed to have been painted shortly after the event, circa 1588. The paintings were once attributed to the Queen’s Sergeant-Painter, George Gower but many experts have suggested that three different artists or studios could be responsible for the three principal Armada Portraits.
Queen Elizabeth I by Unknown English artist, circa 1588 © National Portrait Gallery, London
This historic exhibition presents an unprecedented opportunity for visitors to come face-to-face with three iconic depictions of Elizabeth I. In all three versions, the Queen is shown in a rich gold-embroidered and jewelled dress, presenting her as a powerful, authoritative and majestic figure with seascapes showing different episodes of the Spanish Armada story. In both the Greenwich and Woburn Abbey versions, Elizabeth I’s right hand is resting on a globe showing the Americas, an imperial covered crown on the table behind, a fan made of ostrich feathers in her left hand, and beside her a chair of state.
The portraits will be united on public display in the Queen’s House, part of Royal Museums Greenwich. The 17th century Palladian villa, designed by Inigo Jones, is situated on the site of the original Greenwich Palace complex, which was a major political centre of the Tudor dynasty and the birthplace of Elizabeth I herself.
Faces of a Queen: The Armada Portraits of Elizabeth I will be open from 13 February – 31 August 2020 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich and is free to visit.
For more information , visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website here
London Visitors is the official blog for the Visiting London Guide .com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice and latest up to date news and reviews of events in London.
Since our launch in 2014, we attract thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on Museums and Art Galleries, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Music, Sport, Books and many more.
There are also hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
Review : The Queen’s House in Greenwich
Greenwich is a favourite destination for visitors who come to admire its many delights. One treasure that is often overlooked is the Queen’s House located near the National Maritime Museum.
The House’s has recently been closed to allow the Royal Museums Greenwich the opportunity to refurbish galleries and introduce new displays and colour schemes, bespoke lighting and new interpretation. It will be reopened on October 11th 2016 to celebrate its 400th anniversary featuring paintings that illustrate its Royal connections and work from the National Maritime Museum’s outstanding art collection.
The Queen’s House has a remarkable history and is considered one of the most important buildings architecturally in the country. The famous architect Inigo Jones was commissioned to design the building in 1616 by King James I’s wife, Anne of Denmark , although she never saw Inigo Jones’s Classical design completed because she died in 1619 when only the first floor had been built. In 1629, James’s son Charles I gave Greenwich to his wife Henrietta Maria and work on the Queen’s House resumed to be finally completed around 1636. The house is considered one of the first fully Classical building in England and marked a distinct break from the traditional, red-brick Tudor style of building.
The Civil War in 1640’s meant that Henrietta Maria had little time in the house before she went into exile and her husband was executed, although she did eventually return after the restoration in 1660. The house was then used by members of the royal family and for other purposes until 1805, when George III granted the Queen’s House to a charity for the orphans of seamen, called the Royal Naval Asylum. This remained until 1933, when the charity moved to Suffolk. It was taken over by the National Maritime Museum in 1934.
As part of the new refurbishment Turner Prize winner Richard Wright has created a new artwork for the ceiling of the Great Hall which is inspired by the remarkable Tulip Stairs.
Visitors to the re-opened house will also be able to see Orazio Gentileschi’s Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife displayed in this iconic building for the first time since 1650. The painting, which is part of the Royal Collection, was one of a sequence commissioned for the Queen’s House by King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria.
The King’s Presence Chamber and Queen’s Presence Chamber have been used to house paintings illustrating the kings, queens, consorts and courtiers associated with the House and Greenwich during this period. This helps to bring the history of the Queen’s House to life and illustrates the connection with the Tudor Placentia Palace that once stood near the site.
Walking around the remarkable house provides plenty of evidence of how Greenwich was at the centre of Royal life for centuries and how little remains to remind us of its Royal connections. Rather strangely, the entrance to the house is via the colonnade and not through the front and back of the building. From the house you can enjoy great views of Greenwich Park and the Naval College.
Visiting London Guide Rating – Highly Recommended
For more information, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website here
Entrance is Free to Queen’s House
London Visitors is the official blog for the Visiting London Guide.com website. The website was developed to bring practical advice and latest up to date news and reviews of events in London.
Since our launch in 2014 , we have attracted thousands of readers each month, the site is constantly updated.
We have sections on Museums and Art Galleries, Transport, Food and Drink, Places to Stay, Security, Music, Sport, Books and many more.
There are also hundreds of links to interesting articles on our blog.
To find out more visit the website here
Exhibitions – War Artists at Sea – Queen House Greenwich 15th Feb 2014 – Feb 2015
WAR ARTISTS AT SEA
Location Queen’s House, Greenwich
15 February 2014 – February 2015
The Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection of First and Second World War art is bought together for this new programme of displays in the Queen’s House includes visually arresting and moving portraits, battle scenes, and depictions of everyday life during conflict, by artists including: Leslie Cole, Eric Ravilious, Richard Eurich, Norman Wilkinson, Stephen Bone, William Dring, John Worsley, Gladys E Reed, John Kingsley Cook and Charles Wheeler.
Paintings and Sculpture
15 February 2014 – February 2015
Charged with the task of revealing a ‘truth’ that went beyond the simple recording of events, official war art served the purposes of commemoration, instruction, documentation and propaganda as well as raising morale at home and on the front line. These four rooms examine the home front, action at sea, life above and below deck and the faces of war though exemplary works by Eurich, Wilkinson, Bone and Wheeler, among others.
Works on Paper: William Dring, Gladys E Reed, John Kingsley Cook and John Worsley
15 March – 15 July 2014
Two rooms are devoted to sketches, pastels and watercolours, all of which tell a personal story of war. William Dring was a portraitist and an official war artist to the Admiralty and Air Ministry; his works predominantly in pastel captured the faces of distinguished war heroes and young naval servicemen with the same psychological intensity. The highly talented but as yet unknown Gladys E Reed provides a contrast to the well-documented Dring, and her intimate sketches, made throughout her service as a Wren on her ‘off-watch’ time reveal what life was like for women working during the war.
Works on Paper: Everett and Ravilious
15 August – 15 December 2014
The themes of Modern British Art and the War at Sea make up the focus of two rooms displaying works by First and Second World War artists. The first room is devoted to John Everett, an official First World War artist and a practical deep-water sailor. Everett’s work showcases his interest in, and interpretation of, the military’s use of ‘dazzle’ – a colourful camouflaging technique used to disguise ships. At his death in 1949, he bequeathed all remaining maritime works in his possession to the National Maritime Museum which holds the most important collection of his paintings and works on paper in the world. The second room concentrates on Second World War artists’ responses to modernity, among them Eric Ravilious, one of the few official war artists to be killed whilst on duty.
Exhibition information for visitors:
Venue: Queen’s House, Greenwich
Dates: 15 February 2014 – February 2015
Opening times: every day, 10.00 – 17.00. The Queen’s House occasionally closes for private events, please call or check online before making your journey
Visitor enquiries: 020 8312 6565
Admission: Free
London Visitors 