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Somerset House

  • Art
  • Aldwych
  • price 0 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
  1. Ed Marshall / Time Out
    Ed Marshall / Time Out
  2. Courtyard fountains - © Simon Leigh / Time Out
    Courtyard fountains - © Simon Leigh / Time Out
  3. Fernandez and Wells Cafe © Tricia De Courcy Ling
    Fernandez and Wells Cafe © Tricia De Courcy Ling
  4. © Ed Marshall
    © Ed Marshall
  5. Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
    Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
  6. Kings Barge House © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
    Kings Barge House © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
  7. © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
    © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
  8. © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
    © Jonathan Perugia / Time Out
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Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

The original Somerset House was a Tudor palace commissioned by the Duke of Somerset. In 1775 it was demolished to make way for an entirely new building, effectively the first purpose-built office block in the world. Today it houses a formidable art gallery (the wonderful Courtauld), a beautiful fountain court, a terraced café and a classy restaurant. Having replaced the Hermitage Rooms and Gilbert Collection on the river side of the building in April 2008, the new Embankment Galleries explore connections between art, architecture and design with a series of temporary exhibitions; downstairs a ceremonial Thames barge illustrates the venue’s history. In summer, children never tire of running through the choreographed fountains. Family workshops take place at weekends and holidays, and in recent years Somerset House has hosted an outdoor film screen in summer and a wonderfully atmospheric ice-rink in winter.

Details

Address:
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
Transport:
Tube: Temple/Charing Cross/Covent Garden
Opening hours:
Daily 8am-11pm
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What’s on

Somerset House Terrace with San Miguel

  • pop-ups

Did someone say al fresco? Somerset House’s pop-up riverside terrace with San Miguel is back, offering a slice of summer in the city – as well as ice cold beers, spritz cocktails, and tapas to enjoy while the sun goes down. It promises to be the only UK venue where San Miguel beer is offered on tap, and with its stunning view over London’s skyline, fairy lights and white garden furniture, this space is the closest you’ll get to Ibiza in the big smoke. Open from April 8 until October.  

Eternally Yours: An Exhibition about Repair, Care and Healing

Art has always been focused on new creations, on innovating and making something out of nothing. But this new exhibition at Somerset House is all about repair. The artists included – like Aya Haider, Celia Pym, Carl Clerkin and Aono Fumiaki – create work out of left behind by refugees or in places of natural disasters. In the process, they work becomes about recycling, sure, but also about the emotional potential of caring and repairing. 

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