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Somerset House

 
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Address: Somerset House,  Strand, Covent Garden,  WC2R 1LA
Telephone: 020 7845 4600
Map Maps: Location map, Print map (A4),
Also featured in: Venue Hire
Nearby: Hotels, Events, Entertainment, Shopping, Restaurants, Education, Leisure, Pubs, Nightlife, Business
Somerset House is in the London Borough of Westminster
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Somerset HouseSomerset House, once the site of a spectacular Tudor palace, now includes a magnificent 18th century art gallery housing celebrated collections belonging to the Courtauld Institute Gallery, as well as the Embankment Galleries (which replaced the Hermitage Rooms and The Gilbert Collection - the latter re-opened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in June 2009). Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector of Edward VI, built the great mansion on the banks of the river to match his new-found status and rank. Following the Duke's execution for treason in 1552, the house passed onto Queen Elizabeth I and then Anne of Denmark and Norway - wife of James I - who christened it 'Denmark House'. Charles I's Queen, Henrietta Maria of France, was the next royal occupant. Having lived through the Civil War, the Great Fire, various refurbishments and other regal guests including Queen Catherine of Braganza, the palace fell into disrepair in the 1700s and was eventually demolished. Sir William Chambers was commissioned to design a replacement building whose purpose was to house various learned societies of the day. The current building still looks and feels like a palace with its great courtyard and elegant fountains, riverside terrace and magnificent collection of art and sculpture. It's easy to imagine a time when kings, queens and courtiers graced its grounds. Modern-day concerts now held in the courtyard echo the dramatic and musical masque entertainments popular during the reign of Anne of Denmark. While visitors have to pay to view the main galleries, admission to the courtyard, riverside terrace, restored Seamen's Hall, Nelson Stair, interpretation gallery and 18th century Commissioner's Barge are all free.

(Image: © Richard Bryant)
What's on at Somerset House
Somerset House Fountains Somerset House Fountains
1st January 2009 - 1st January 2015
The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House is...
  Price:
FREE

Visiting Somerset House

 
 

Travel

 
Underground Stations
Temple Tube (3 minutes)
Embankment Tube (8 minutes)
Railway Stations
Charing Cross Railway Station (9 minutes)
Blackfriars Railway Station (14 minutes)
Docklands Light Railway
Bank (28 minutes)
 
More
 
 
 
 

Opening Times

10am-6pm
 
 

Car Parks

 
Drury Lane NCP (9 minutes)
St Martins Lane NCP (10 minutes)
 
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Pricing

Courtauld Gallery: £5 (Adults), £4 (Concs), FREE (Mondays 10am-2pm excl Public Holidays) | Embankment Galleries: £8 (Adults), £6 (Concs)

London Location Map of Somerset House

Strand
 
Printable map of Somerset House
 
Further articles featuring Somerset House on LondonTown.com
London's Al Fresco Food Spots  (Published June 2010)
Tom's Terrace at Somerset House Strand, WC2R 1LA Sun traps, river breezes and 18th-century grandeur off the Strand For summer 2010, Michelin starred chef Tom Aikens takes over the riverside...  More
 
Summer Swimming in London 2010  (Published June 2010)
Somerset House Fountains Somerset House, WC2R 1LA 10am-11pm Daily So you can't actually swim here but the Somerset House Fountains, also known as the Edmond J. Safra...  More
 
July 2010  (Published April 2010)
Somerset House Summer Series Somerset House, WC2R 1LA 8th - 18th July 2010 Some of the best current live acts drop into the central courtyard of ...  More
 
London Hotels in Films  (Published February 2010)
Langham Hotel - GoldenEye (1995) 1C Portland Place, Regent Street, Marylebone, W1B 1JA The beauty about film locations is that they don't have to tell the...  More
 
February 2010  (Published January 2010)
London Fashion Week Somerset House, WC2R 1LA 19th - 23rd February 2010 In February, London Fashion Week A/W 2010 arrives at Somerset House, the iconic...  More
 
 
 

Alternative Historic Buildings

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Middle Temple Hall
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London Sights and Attractions / Historic Buildings

Middle Temple Hall

Middle Temple Lane, Holborn,  London,  EC4Y Map
6 minutes walk from Somerset House
Middle Temple Hall, completed in 1574, is late-Gothic in style. Its attractions are a rare double-hammer beam roof, an intricately carved screen (which, although heavily ... More
 
 
 
Inns of Court and Royal Courts of Justice
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London Sights and Attractions / Historic Buildings

Inns of Court and Royal Courts of Justice

Strand, Holborn,  London,  WC2A Map
6 minutes walk from Somerset House
A stunning example of Gothic architecture, London's Inns of Court date back to before the 14th century. It is here that barristers train and traditionally ... More
 
 
 
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Alternative Local Sights and Attractions

Near Somerset House
 
Courtauld Institute Gallery
Best
London Sights and Attractions / Art Galleries

Courtauld Institute Gallery

Courtauld Institute of Art,  Somerset House, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
Manet's 'Bar at the Folies-Bergeres', Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear' and Renoir's 'La Loge' are just a few of the celebrated artworks displayed ... More
 
 
 
Somerset House: Embankment Galleries
Best
London Sights and Attractions / Art Galleries

Somerset House: Embankment Galleries

Strand, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
Opened on 24th April 2008, the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House offer 750 square metres of exhibition space where the Hermitage Rooms used to be. ... More
 
 
 
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Sights and Attractions near Somerset House
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Local Hotels

Near Somerset House
 
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Swissotel The Howard
London Hotels / Luxury Chain Hotel

Swissotel The Howard

Temple Place, London,  WC2R Map
3 minutes walk from Somerset House
Just off the Embankment and overlooking the River Thames, this highly rated hotel is close to Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the South Bank. Premium ... More
 
 
 
The Strand Palace
London Hotels / Mid Range Chain Hotel

The Strand Palace

372 Strand, London,  WC2R Map
4 minutes walk from Somerset House
This West End Art Deco hotel right on the Strand and next to Covent Garden is in a fantastic location for accessing central London and ... More
 
 
 
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Local Events on today or on tomorrow or on a particular date

Near Somerset House
 
London Events / Kids Events
Best
1st January 2009 until 1st January 2015
Somerset House, Strand,  WC2R Map
The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House is always a favourite with kids. These jets of water are especially popular when they provide ... More
 
 
 
London Events / Theatre
Best
10th September 2010 until 25th September 2010
Novello Theatre, Aldwych,  WC2B Map
3 minutes walk from Somerset House
A Disappearing Number returns to the West End for a limited run this September at the Novello Theatre. Complicite's play tells the story of one ... More
 
 
 
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Local Entertainment

Near Somerset House
 
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Show Theatre Distance Tickets from
Dirty Dancing Aldwych Theatre 3 minutes £81.50
Tap Dogs Novello Theatre 3 minutes £19.50
The Lion King The Lyceum Theatre 3 minutes £39.00
 
 
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Local Shopping

Near Somerset House
 
The Albion Emporium
Best
London Shopping / Food and Drink Shops

The Albion Emporium

38 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
4 minutes walk from Somerset House
As British as a bacon buttie, buying your groceries at The Albion Emporium is like getting first dibs on Mrs Beeton's pantry. A bastion of ... More
 
 
 
Primrose Bakery
Best
London Shopping / Food and Drink Shops

Primrose Bakery

42 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
4 minutes walk from Somerset House
If cupcakes are you cup of tea then head to the Covent Garden outlet of Primrose Bakery, a family owned enterprise which makes the most ... More
 
 
 
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Local Restaurants

Near Somerset House
 
The Admiralty
Best
London Restaurants / French Cuisine

The Admiralty

Somerset House,  The Strand, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
In the evenings, approach this restaurant through the fountained courtyard of Somerset House to get yourself in the mood for a magical meal. The Admiralty ... More
 
 
 
Christopher's American Grill and Martini Bar
Best
London Restaurants / American Cuisine

Christopher's American Grill and Martini Bar

18 Wellington Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
4 minutes walk from Somerset House
The best of the Americas over two floors of this grade II listed building in the heart of Covent Garden and overlooking Waterloo Bridge. Lobsters ... More
 
 
 
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Local Education

Near Somerset House
 
Courtauld Institute of Art
Best
London Education / Arts and Drama

Courtauld Institute of Art

Somerset House, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
 
 
 
King's College Medical School
Best
London Education / Medical Schools

King's College Medical School

Strand, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the ... More
 
 
 
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Local Leisure

Near Somerset House
 
The Sanctuary
Best
London Leisure / Fitness

The Sanctuary

12 Floral Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
8 minutes walk from Somerset House
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
 
 
 
The Hospital Club
Best
London Leisure /

The Hospital Club

24 Endell Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2H Map
10 minutes walk from Somerset House
Before it was a hip private members' club designed specifically for the creative industries - complete with bar and dining rooms, cinema, TV and recording ... More
 
 
 
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Local Pubs

Near Somerset House
 
The Cove
Best
London Pubs / Pubs

The Cove

1 The Piazza, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2E Map
6 minutes walk from Somerset House
Overlooking Covent Garden Piazza, the Cove is a world away from the crowds outside. Tucked up in a worn, leather armchair under the pub’s low, ... More
 
 
 
Gordon's Wine Bar
Best
London Pubs / Wine Bars

Gordon's Wine Bar

47 Villiers Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2N Map
8 minutes walk from Somerset House
London's oldest wine bar and family-run underground tavern. Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon’s is now home to a regular, thriving ... More
 
 
 
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Local Nightlife

Near Somerset House
 
LSE Student Union
London Nightlife / Nightclubs

LSE Student Union

East Building,  Houghton Street, Holborn,  London,  WC2A Map
5 minutes walk from Somerset House
Cheap, cheerful and drunken are three words that spring immediately to mind when you think of a student union - and LSE is guilty as ... More
 
 
 
Heaven
London Nightlife / Nightclubs

Heaven

Under the Arches,  Villiers Street, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2N Map
8 minutes walk from Somerset House
London's most famous gay club is a vast labyrinth of dancefloors, bars, cafes and shops. This is the kind of place where it's perfectly ok- ... More
 
 
 
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London Private Hire Venues

Near Somerset House
 
Somerset House
Best
London Business / Venue Hire

Somerset House

Somerset House,  Strand, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
... More
 
 
 
London Business / Venue Hire
Courtauld Institute of Art,  Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden,  London,  WC2R Map
The Courtauld Institute Gallery houses wonderful Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections. Manet's 'Bar at the Folies-Bergeres', Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear' and Renoir's 'La ... More
 
 
 
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