Royal Museums Greenwich launches exclusive out-of-hours private tours

Royal Museums Greenwich has launched a new collection of exclusive private tours, giving groups the opportunity to explore four of London’s most celebrated attractions outside normal public opening hours.

The experiences are available at Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Queen’s House and the National Maritime Museum. Tours take place either before the attractions open to the public or after they have closed, allowing groups to discover the collections and historic buildings away from the usual crowds.

Located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich, each private tour is led by a dedicated expert guide who provides detailed insight into the attraction, its collections and its history.

What is included?

Each private tour includes:

• Exclusive access to the chosen attraction outside normal opening hours
• A dedicated expert guide providing detailed commentary and storytelling
• Admission during regular opening hours for guests booked on a morning tour, allowing them to continue exploring afterwards

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Founded in 1675, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is Britain’s oldest purpose-built scientific institution and the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian.

During the private tour, guests can enjoy close-up access to some of the Observatory’s most important treasures, including the pioneering Harrison clocks and one of the world’s largest telescopes. Groups will also have the opportunity to take photographs while standing on the iconic Prime Meridian.

Queen’s House

The Queen’s House was Britain’s first classical building and originally served as a royal retreat. It is now home to an internationally significant collection of art.

With exclusive access and a dedicated guide, guests can discover the stories behind celebrated works including Elizabeth I’s Armada Portrait and the Solebay Tapestry, while experiencing the tranquillity of this important historic building outside public opening hours.

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum is the largest maritime museum in the world, telling stories of exploration, trade and conflict from across the globe.

Out-of-hours visitors can encounter some of the museum’s most prized objects, including artefacts recovered from RMS Titanic and the uniform worn by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark is the world’s only surviving tea clipper and remains one of Britain’s most famous ships.

Groups can explore the historic vessel in complete exclusivity while learning about life at sea and the ship’s record-breaking voyages. Highlights include viewing its copper-clad hull from beneath the ship in the dry berth and discovering the world’s largest collection of merchant-ship figureheads.

Tour times and prices

Tours are available on request at the following times:

• Morning tour: 9.00am to 10.00am
• Evening tour: 5.00pm to 6.00pm

Planning a group visit

Royal Museums Greenwich is easily accessible from Central London by train, Underground, riverboat and bus. Private parking options are also available for groups arriving by private transport.

For further information or to arrange a private tour, contact the Royal Museums Greenwich Travel Trade team at traveltrade@rmg.co.uk or visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.