Somerset House

About

Somerset House is a large neoclassical building complex situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadrangle is built on the site of a Tudor palace ("Old Somerset House") originally belonging to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. The present Somerset House was designed by Sir William Chambers, begun in 1776, and was further extended with Victorian era outer wings to the east and west in 1831 and 1856 respectively. The site of Somerset House stood directly on the River Thames until the Victoria Embankment was built in the late 1860s.

The great Georgian era structure was built to be a grand public building housing various government and public-benefit society offices. Since the early 21st century, Somerset House has been redeveloped as a cultural centre. It is home to a community of arts organisations, creative businesses and artist studios, and hosts a year-round programme of exhibitions, performances, music, film and public events.