Maritime Greenwich
Nearest stations for all attractions: Cutty Sark and Greenwich DLR and Greenwich overground
You could spend an entire day just visiting the museums of Maritime Greenwich. There are free and fun events for families, fascinating places to discover for heritage seekers and plenty more for locals and visitors. The museums are also all within walking distance and can be visited at an easy pace.
Walk through the Old Royal Naval College and pop in to see two of Greenwich's hidden gems: the beautiful Painted Hall and the Chapel. The Painted Hall, Chapel and Visitor Centre are open to the public daily and are free. A rich and varied events programme brings to life the magnificent interiors, courtyards, colonnades and dramatic vistas.
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich SE10 9LW
www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
The National Maritime Museum houses a fine collection of maritime history taking visitors from the times of Viking explorers to visions of the future, using art, sounds, models and modern technology . Displays include exploration, the ocean environment, a wave-making machine as well as temporary exhibitions. Free admission
except for special exhibitions.
The neighbouring Queen’s House (c. 1635) was created by Inigo Jones as the first example
of his palladian style of architecture. It is elegant in its external and
internal proportions. The Great Hall, Orangery and Tulip Staircase attract
the most attention while the loggia gives views over Greenwich Park. The House
provided a place for entertainment for the Stuart Court and is associated
with Henrietta Maria, Queen to Charles I. Its rooms are now used for the
fine portraits and seascapes in the National Maritime Museum collection, many
by notable artists. Costumed drama and interpretation on occasions. Free admission
except for special exhibitions.
If you fancy a walk through Greenwich Park, one of London’s oldest Royal parks, make your way up the hill to enjoy the lovely views back across London before visiting the home of time at the Royal Observatory Greenwich and Meridian Line. It is the original home of the longitude zero which divides east and west and you can also see the real time ball fall at 13.00 – as it has done punctually every day since 1833.
The Royal Observatory's spectacular £15 million redevelopment is now complete. The Observatory opened four new Time Galleries in 2006 as part of its 'Time and Space' project. In May 2007, the project was finally completed with the opening of the state-of-the-art 120-seat Peter Harrison Planetarium (the only planetarium in London) , astronomy galleries and an education centre.
Visit the website for more information.
New exhibitions:
Beside the Seaside: Snapshots of British Coastal Life, 1880-1950
From dramatic coastlines and idyllic fishing villages to sea-bathing, promenades and donkey rides, the popularity of the seaside has led to its enduring status as a quintessential British experience.This exhibition brings together photographs, posters and seaside memorabilia to capture the essence of both working life and early tourism along the British coast.
Turmoil and Tranquillity: the sea through the eyes of Dutch and Flemish masters, 1550 - 1700
This exhibition celebrates the National Maritime Museum's unrivalled collection of 16th- and 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings. These seascapes and coastal views of the Stuart Age are of outstanding quality, whilst the Queen's House itself once housed a studio for featured father and son artists, the van de Veldes. Admission is free.
Other current exhibitions:
Art for the Nation
Atlantic Worlds Gallery
Explorers
Freeze Frame
Stained Glass from the Baltic Exchange
To find out about other exhibitions click here.
Future exhibitions:
Renée Green: Endless Dreams and Water Between
In January 2009, the National Maritime Museum presents the first solo UK exhibition of African-American artist Renée Green, featuring a new commission in the Museum’s largest temporary galleries. Endless Dreams and Water Between is structured around a series of films and objects that the artist describes as ‘an island epic’ that includes footage from Mallorca, Cape Verde, Cape Cod, the Azores and films from the NMM’s own collection, unlocking this archive in an exhibition display for the very first time.
New Planetarium Shows at the Royal Observatory,
Star Life This visually-stunning show looks at the lives of stars – how they are born, grow up, grow old and die; how black holes and pulsars form and how beautiful clouds of glowing gas come into existence.
Admission for Planetarium shows:
For further details or to book tickets please visit nmm.ac.uk
National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Royal Observatory Greenwich, Park Row, London SE10 9NF
At the top right hand corner of the park is the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House, a stunning collection of medieval and Renaissance works of art as well as antique furniture and Georgian paintings amassed by Sir Julius Wernher, a founder of De Beers.
Ranger's House, Greenwich Park, London SE10 8QX
Walking back down the hill from the Ranger’s House you will encounter the Fan Museum, the only museum in the world devoted entirely to every aspect of fans. Housed in a pair of Grade II* listed buildings, constructed in 1721, lovingly and authentically restored to retain their original character and elegance, the museum offers an ever-changing display of some of the world’s best fans and is well worth a visit.
Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ER
For a deeper insight into Greenwich, you could take a walk led by a professionally qualified Greenwich tour guides, whose tours start daily from Greenwich Tourist Information Centre at 12.15pm and 2.15pm. Or you can book to have your own specialised group tour at a time to suit you.
The Cutty Sark has been closed to the public since 2006 in order to start work on the planned conservation programme. Click here for further information.
Useful Websites:
www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
www.nmm.ac.uk
www.greenwichwhs.org.uk
www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/
