Somerset House

Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
England

Website

Website

www.somersethouse.org.uk

E-mail

info@somersethouse.org.uk

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Fax

020 7836 7613

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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baby changing facilities icon Food icon Guided tours icon Shop icon Hearing disability facilities icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. During summer months a 'grove' of 55 fountains dance in the courtyard, and in winter you can skate on London's favourite outdoor ice rink. Somerset House also hosts open-air concerts and films, contemporary art and design exhibitions, family workshops and free guided tours of spaces usually hidden to visitors.

Venue Type:

Gallery, Heritage site, Historic house or home

See also

 Opening hours

Daily: 10.00-18.00
Extended opening hours apply for the Courtyard, River Terrace and the Admiralty Restaurant

 Admission charges

Entrance to Somerset House is free.
There is a charge for some temporary exhibitions.
The Courtauld Gallery - £5 (concessions £4).

 General services and facilities
  • Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
  • Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
  • Guided tours
  • Information point provided
  • Pre-booking service for groups
  • Auditorium
  • Cafeteria
  • Picnic area
  • Refreshments
  • Restaurant
  • Shop
 Children and families
  • Activities for pre-school children
  • Events and resources for children and families
  • Baby changing facilities
 Disability access
  • Braille information and/or interpretation
  • Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
  • Induction loops in lecture theatres
  • Large print information and/or interpretation
  • Touch exhibits
  • Parking for disabled available
  • Toilets for disabled
  • Wheelchair access to all public areas
  • Wheelchairs available for loan
 Schools services and facilities
  • Direct teaching services for schools
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education
  • Primary school education service available
  • Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
  • Secondary school education service available
  • Education facilities available
  • Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
 Research and adult learning
  • Academic publications and resources available
  • Adult lectures and courses held
  • Mail order service available
 Commercial and hire services
  • Facilities for private functions and events

Additional info

For a copy of our What's On leaflet, detailing events and new exhibitions please call 020 7845 4600

Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
England

Website

Website

www.somersethouse.org.uk

E-mail

info@somersethouse.org.uk

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Fax

020 7836 7613

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The Courtauld Gallery:
From Old Master Paintings to Impressionist and twentieth century art, the Courtauld Institute of Art Gallery has an exceptional, world-renowned collection and, as part of the Courtauld Institute of Art, is a dynamic centre for the study and enjoyment of the history of art.

Collection details

Social History, Photography, Maritime, Fine Art, Design, Decorative and Applied Art, Architecture

Collections services

  • General guide to collections available
  • Specialist publications on collections available

Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
England

Website

Website

www.somersethouse.org.uk

E-mail

info@somersethouse.org.uk

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Fax

020 7836 7613

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

A Positive View

10 March — 5 April 2010 *on now

For one month only A Positive View returns to showcase an extraordinary range of photography on a truly international scale, under the Royal Patronage of Prince William, supporting Crisis, the homeless charity.
The third edition of this photographic exhibition, to be held at Somerset House, will bring together more than 100 rare and signed vintage works across almost a century of photography. The works will cross a variety of genres, from still-life, fashion, landscape, portraiture and reportage.

Suitable for

  • All ages

When

10am-6pm

Where

Embankment Galleries & Terrace Rooms

Admission

Admission free

Pick Me Up

23 April — 3 May 2010

Pick Me Up is the first contemporary graphic art fair in the UK. The fair will bring together a selection of the most innovative galleries, collectives and designers all under one roof, and showcase affordable work by the world's most cutting-edge graphic designers and illustrators.

Suitable for

  • All ages

When

10am-6pm

Where

Embankment Galleries

Admission

Admission £5 (Concession £4)

Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
England

Website

Website

www.somersethouse.org.uk

E-mail

info@somersethouse.org.uk

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Fax

020 7836 7613

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Face to face resources

A Box Full of Stories for KS1 and KS2 to support the Literacy Hour

This workshop uses the Gilbert Collection’s
outstanding collection of sparkling gold
boxes to extend literacy skills. Using drama
games and descriptive exercises, the
children create their own stories and art
work inspired by the gold box collection.
This workshop is available on Thursdays at either 10.30am
or 1.30pm and includes entrance to the
Gilbert Collection.
Cost £30.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

For further information or to book a session please call the Education Department on 020 7420 9406

A Very Grand Tour for KS1 or KS2

Embark on a tour of the Gilbert Collection
with our eighteenth century aristocrat the
Marquis di Macaroni. Listen to his tales of
European travel in the past and marvel at the
exotic objects in the Gilbert Collection. This
workshop can be used to support work on
leisure, transport and clothing in the past.
This tour is available on Fridays at either
10.30am or at 1.30pm and includes
entrance into the Gilbert Collection.
Cost £30.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

Call the Education Department on 020 7420 9406 for more information or to make a booking

A Victorian Excursion – History workshop for KS1 or KS2

This lively lesson based in the Gilbert Collection looks at the Victorian fashion for European travel. After an imaginary journey, the children will ‘arrive in Italy’ where they can wander amongst the Gilbert Collection’s unique display of micromosaic pictures, jewellery and furniture and ‘select a
souvenir’ to sketch for those back home.
This workshop is available at either 10.30am
or 1.30pm and includes entrance to the
Gilbert Collection.
Cost £30.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

For further information or to book a session please call the Education Department on 020 7420 9406

Cabinet of Curiosities – Art Workshop for KS1 or KS2

This workshop uses the amazing objects in
the Gilbert Collection to inspire the children
to create their own ‘cabinet of curiosities’.
A tour of the Gilbert Collection is the
stimulus for 3D and collage work resulting in
the creation of a replica 17th century
collector’s cabinet.
This all day workshop starting at 10.30am
includes entrance to the Gilbert Collection.
Cost £45.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

For further information or to book a session please call the Education Department on 020 7420 9406

Investigating the Tudors – History workshop for KS2

This session based around the spectacular
Gilbert Collection encourages the interactive
use of historical sources to investigate life in
Tudor times and develops skills of historical
enquiry. Children will have opportunities to
create their own art work and learn about
Elizabethan banqueting; the session draws
on the rich history of Somerset House and
includes a teachers’ follow up pack.
This workshop is available at either 10.30am
or 1.30pm and includes entrance into the
Gilbert Collection.
Cost £30.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

For further information or to make a booking please call 020 7420 9406

 Resources

Britain 1750-1900 – Tour of Somerset House

As home of the British Navy, Somerset House
had a vital role in this period. This tour
provides a unique insight in to the role of a
key government institution at this time of
great social, political and economic change.
This tour is available at either 10.30am
or 1.30am.
Cost £30.00 plus VAT per class.

How to obtain

For further information or to book a session please call the Education Department on 0207 420 9406

Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
England

Website

Website

www.somersethouse.org.uk

E-mail

info@somersethouse.org.uk

Telephone

020 7845 4600

Fax

020 7836 7613

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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