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In its place, William Chamberlain designed a new building, which would be open, at least in part, to the public to enjoy (lest they get any more ideas about overthrowing the monarchy). After a recent renovation, the prestigious art gallery has reopened and features brand new exhibition spaces for their impressive collection. Another of the most famous summer Somerset House events is Summer Screen, which sees the beautiful courtyard become London’s premier outdoor cinema. Somerset House plays host to a revolving door of artistic exhibitions. These include visual art across mediums including sculpture, painting, photography as well as live performances.
Practical Information for Visiting
Somerset House sits on the banks of the Thames, one of London’s former riverside palaces, now transformed into a cultural and arts hub. Admission to Somerset House is free, you can book in advance for certain exhibitions and events. Somerset House is a new kind of arts centre in the heart of London, designed for today’s audiences and creatives. Around this time, England fell into a series of bitter civil wars and only after a few years in London, Henrietta fled for Oxford with Charles. Charles was executed as part of the English Civil Wars (I’m sensing a pattern here) and Henrietta Maria returned to Paris, almost destitute.
Places to Eat and Drink in Somerset House
After a campaign to open Somerset House to the public, they once again became a home for arts and culture in 2000. The great Georgian era structure was built to be a grand public building housing various government and public-benefit society offices. Its present tenants are a mixture of various organisations, generally centred around the arts and education.
Filming and Photography
The compilation of listings and each individual listing are © 2024 The MLS/CLAW. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate, and should be independently verified. If you’re looking to get the tube, the closest stop is Temple. This will drop you off just metres from the riverside entrance to Somerset House.
All listing data, including but not limited to square footage and lot size is believed to be accurate, but the listing Agent, listing Broker and CRMLS and its affiliates do not warrant or guarantee such accuracy. London Design Biennale is a three-week long international exhibition and events programme located at historic Somerset House in the heart of London. From 5–29 June 2025, the Biennale will celebrate its fifth edition with Dr Samuel Ross MBE as the Artistic Director. By the mid-1770s, Old Somerset House was in such bad condition that much of it needed to be demolished.
The End of the Palace
G31 Somerset House - Somerset House
G31 Somerset House.
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 09:33:03 GMT [source]
It’s pretty amazing to revel to the sounds of your current faves while in the shadow of one of London’s most historic buildings. Somerset House is one of my favourite places to visit in London – a beautiful palace on the outskirts of Covent Garden that has been turned into one of the city’s coolest cultural hubs. Admission to Somerset House is free, but you’ll need to buy a ticket for some exhibitions and events. As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House connects creativity and the arts with wider society.
Visiting Somerset House: The Former Palace that’s now one of London’s Cool Cultural Venues
Offering a diverse and dynamic public programme of contemporary arts and culture, they are also a home to a large community of creative businesses, artists and makers, including Somerset House Studios. The platform for its work is a neoclassical building at the heart of London with a long history of influence, ideas and counter-perspective. It has always been open to the world, and this spirit of constant curiosity remains at its heart. Today, as host to the UK’s largest creative community working globally across art, technology, business and social enterprise, it continually draws in fresh ideas and new talent.
The History of Somerset House
The story of Somerset House reads much like an epic saga, filled with lords, princesses and dramatic battles. Ultimately, they wanted to create a foundation for the serious study of art – a project that was realised when the Institute opened its doors in 1932 – the first academic centre devoted to the history of art. The Courtauld dates back to 1933 and has been busy amassing an impressive collection of artworks ever since.
Things To Do in Somerset House
One of favourite galleries in London, there are more than 500 paintings and 26,000 other works, spanning from medieval times through to today. Running for two weeks, the event sees the courtyard brimming with movie lovers from everyday Londoners (and visitors) to even a few famous faces. Somerset House looks like pretty much any other Neoclassical Georgian building at first glance – albeit a rather impressive one (there’s a reason I chose it as one of the most handsome spots in London). The buildings are striking, but wait until you hear the stories behind them. Somerset House pursues a spirit of ‘Step Inside, Think Outside’ for everyone, regardless of age, stage or background. Its energy is unending - intensifying creativity, multiplying opportunity, driving artistic and social innovation, sometimes personal transformation, all at once.
Construction began on the beautiful palace, which would be one of the most lavish in all of England. A sleek-yet-approachable bar on the roof of one of London’s most recognisable and impressive buildings? Beautiful as the pieces at the Courtauld are, its history also warrants a glance. The Institute that runs the Gallery (the Courtauld Institute of Art) and the Gallery itself were both founded by three men, Samuel Courtauld, Lord Lee of Fareham and Sir Robert Witt. While by day it’s all very family-friendly, there are also “lates” where DJs spin some great tracks and the vibe becomes significantly more festive.
Perhaps most fitting, given its history, though, was the 2008 film The Duchess starring Keira Knightley. By this time, royal purses were also nearly exhausted by the constant expenses of war, and the decision was made to try to sell Somerset House. Somerset House is really an incredible sight to behold, but it’s even more spectacular when you know the history behind it.
For a time, it was then used by the wife of Charles I, Henrietta Maria of France, who was a Roman Catholic and had a chapel created within the buildings. Unfortunately for Edward, just three years later he was the victim of a dramatic coup which culminated in his execution in the Tower of London in 1552. It’s not only in the summertime when Somerset House’s iconic courtyard is transformed into something spectacular. Each winter, the courtyard becomes a little slice of a winter wonderland, with its own skating rink. The concerts are held in the expansive courtyard area of Somerset House.
Take a look at the website to find out what’s on during your visit. Some of the events are free (as is admission to Somerset House), but you’ll have to cough up for others. By telling the story of the three Catholic queens who lived at Old Somerset House, the building takes on a new – and intriguing – life, in front of your very eyes.
It brings worlds and minds together to intensify creativity and multiply opportunity, driving artistic and social innovation at once. If you’re looking for where Somerset House is, it can be a little tricky as there are actually four entrances. However, each one will take you through to the exhibitions, cafe and restaurant. As it is such a well-known and loved icon of London, Somerset House has featured as a film location in many movies, from James Bond to Sherlock Holmes.
Never one to be put in a box, past exhibitions have ranged from a collection of Snoopy cartoons to shows as part of London Fashion Week and just about everything in between. From the interesting and challenging temporary art exhibitions hosted in its gallery space to the outdoor music gigs and film screenings, there’s always something new to explore. Information provided is for viewer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties the viewer may be interested in purchasing.
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