Hotels near the Somerset House
Somerset House is a large neoclassical complex on the south side of the Strand, set directly above the River Thames just east of Waterloo Bridge.
Why stay near Somerset House
Somerset House is a large neoclassical complex on the south side of the Strand, set directly above the River Thames just east of Waterloo Bridge. People come for the central courtyard with seasonal fountains and events, the Courtauld Gallery inside the building, and a steady programme of exhibitions, films, concerts, and winter ice skating. What makes it different is that it isn’t a single-ticket attraction. It works as an open cultural campus where you can cross the courtyard, step onto the river terrace, see an exhibition, or simply pass through without paying to enter.
About Somerset House
The present Somerset House was designed by Sir William Chambers, with construction beginning in 1776 on the site of an earlier Tudor palace. It was built as a purpose-designed government complex, housing bodies such as the Royal Navy, the Royal Society, and later the General Register Office, which stayed until 1973. The vast Georgian courtyard was originally open to the Thames before the Victoria Embankment reshaped the riverfront in the 1860s. Today the building is run by the Somerset House Trust and functions as an arts centre, creative workspace, and exhibition venue. The Courtauld Gallery is its most permanent cultural presence, while the courtyard, river terrace, and event spaces keep the site active throughout the year.
