Somerset House - Sightseeing, Museums, Galleries & Attractions, London Attractions

Home | Sightseeing | Museums, Galleries & Attractions | London Attractions

Somerset House

Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Somerset House has been at the heart of English history since the 16th century. After extensive renovation, this magnificent building opened to the public for the first time in May 2000 as a place for enjoyment, refreshment, arts and culture.

The Gilbert Collection, London's newest museum of decorative arts has joined the Courtauld Gallery as the second major art collection in this inspirational setting. Now in addition , Hermitage Rooms at Somerset House will provide London with a unique window on Russian art and history.

The expansive Courtyard at the centre of Somerset House with the fabulous Edmond J Safra fountain is now a summer venue for open-air events.

The dramatic Nelson Stair, the Stamp and Office Stair and the Seamen's Waiting Hall are all to be found in the South Building. An exhibition explains the building and the intriguing story of Somerset House, including such characters as Protector Somerset, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I), Oliver Cromwell and Admiral Lord Nelson.

The South Building also houses exhibitions, workshops and seminars on changing themes.

The River Terrace with its panoramic views is re-opened to visitors after more than 100 years and provides the perfect setting for the summer café.

Visitors to Somerset House can not only enjoy great art collections but also learn more about the role of Somerset House in the history of England, appreciate the fine architecture of Sir William Chambers and discover the views and open spaces of its stunning Thames side location.

The Gilbert collection is London's newest museum of the decorative arts. Given to the nation by Sir Arthur Gilbert, the magnificent collections of European silver, gold snuffboxes and Italian mosaics are pre-eminent in the world. Other displays include furniture, Russian Church art and portrait miniatures. The vaulted spaces of Somerset House provide an inspirational setting for these works of great historical and artistic importance.

The Courtauld Gallery, one of the country's most outstanding art collection finds a worthy setting in one of London's noblest Georgian buildings. The extraordinary array of French Impressionists and Post-Impressionist masterpieces - Manet's great Un Bar aux Folies-Bergère, Renoir's La Loge, no fewer than eight Cézannes - rival those of the National Collection. Other treasures cover six centuries of Western art. (Daily Telegraph.)

Hermitage Rooms - This exhibition offers an introduction to Russia's leading museum, the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. The Hermitage holds one of the finest art collections in the world with some 3 million pieces housed in the Imperial Winter Palace and the magnificent buildings erected specially for the Russian royal family's ever-increasing picture gallery.

Opening Hours for all Collections
Daily: 10am - 6pm.