The Queen’s House in Greenwich is a historic 17th-century former royal residence designed by architect Inigo Jones and built between 1616 and 1635. Originally commissioned by Queen Anne of Denmark and completed under Queen Henrietta Maria, it is England’s first classical building and now serves as a public art gallery housing an internationally renowned collection.
Located within the Old Royal Naval College grounds, it has stunning views of the River Thames and Canary Wharf. The Naval College was designed not to block these views. The building is famous for its architectural features like the Tulip Stairs and original black-and-white marble floor in the Great Hall (see below)
It is said that King James I commissioned the Queen’s House as a gift to his wife Anne of Denmark to apologize after he swore in front of her when she accidentally killed his favorite hunting dog.
Architecturally interesting:
The famous Tulip Stairs inside the house are the first geometric self-supporting spiral staircase in Britain, giving the illusion of floating without visible support.
The Great Hall is a perfect cube, with walls, floor, and ceiling all the same dimensions, a unique architectural feature in the UK