Friends excursions: Penshurst Place
Thursday 8 December 2016 9am - 7.30pm
Join the coach on Piccadilly outside the RA. Please note that the coach will leave promptly at 9am.
£94 (includes coach, coffee, Christmas lunch, glass of wine, tea & mince pies). Booking required, Patrons and Friends only.
Friends of the RA book first
Booking and attending Friends excursions and events
Our festive tour this year takes us once again to the magnificent Penshurst Place, home to kings and noblemen for over 650 years. This year’s visit includes a special tour of St John the Baptist Church at Penshurst.
Penshurst Place has belonged to the Sidney family since 1341. They warmly welcome Friends for a private visit, where we learn about the history of the family and the house while touring the magnificent Baron’s Hall, State Rooms, Long Room and Buttery. Our tour focuses on the fine collections of portraits, furniture, porcelain and needlework, as we learn about life as it would have been experienced at Penshurst in Mediaeval times.
We will particularly focus on Penshurst’s most significant portrait La Volta. The painting, by an unknown artist, is of Queen Elizabeth I dancing La Volta with her favourite courtier, Robert Dudley. The background in the painting bears a resemblance to the Solar at Penshurst and could possibly have been painted there. The subject of the painting is about the potential match with the French court and is full of court characters and symbolism.
A traditional Christmas lunch will be served in the Sunderland Room with its mullioned windows, part-panelled walls and views across the garden. Fires will be lit and the house decorated for Christmas on this popular festive tour.
Booking Friends Excursions
The way to book Friends Excursions is changing. Friends are now able to book both online and over the phone on a first come, first served basis, replacing the postal booking form.
For Friends of the RA, booking opens on 6 September at 10am. Click ‘Book now’ to book online or call 020 7300 8090 to book by phone; lines may be busy in the initial booking period. Once your booking has been made, we will post your tickets and any additional information to you as we have done in the past.
If you have any questions about the new booking process, please email tickets@royalacademy.org.uk or call 020 7300 8090.