Somerset House

The Strand, London, WC2R 1LA Full details & map
© Richard Bryant

Somerset House review

The original Somerset House was a Tudor palace commissioned by the Duke of Somerset. In 1775 it was demolished to make way for an entirely new building, effectively the first purpose-built office block in the world. Today it houses a formidable art gallery (the wonderful Courtauld), a beautiful fountain court, a terraced café and a classy restaurant. Having replaced the Hermitage Rooms and Gilbert Collection on the river side of the building in April 2008, the new Embankment Galleries explore connections between art, architecture and design with a series of temporary exhibitions; downstairs a ceremonial Thames barge illustrates the venue's history. In summer, children never tire of running through the choreographed fountains. Family workshops take place at weekends and holidays, and in recent years Somerset House has hosted an outdoor film screen in summer and a wonderfully atmospheric ice-rink in winter.


Events at Somerset House

Somerset House

Until Aug 31 2010 Museums & Attractions

A palladian civic palace between the Strand and the Thames by Waterloo Bridge, built as government offices in the last quarter of the 18th century by George III's architect William Chambers, Somers...

SHOWstudio: Fashion Revolution

Until Tue Dec 22 Kids

Exhibition bringing to life the process of creating fashion imagery through film, interactive installations and live fashion shoots. Contributing photographers, designers and models include Nick Kn...

SHOWStudio: Fashion Revolution

Until Sun Dec 20 Art  

Launched in November 2000, when the internet was still in its infancy, Brit photographer Nick Knight's SHOWstudio website seemed a rather odd premise: fashion and art refracted through wobbly techn...

Somerset House details

Address
The Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Transport Charing Cross 

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Somerset House website

Somerset House map

Add your comment