Somerset House, London

Somerset House is a Neoclassical building, situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central section was designed by architect Sir William Chambers. It was extended by classical Victorian wings to north and south.

In the winter the central courtyard is home to an open air ice rink (as shown on the satellite image and in the video). At other times an array of fountains display vertical jets of water rising to random heights. The building itself houses The Courtauld Gallery, The Gilbert Collection of decorative arts, and the Hermitage Rooms, which stage exhibitions of items loaned from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

View a video of Somerset House in Google Maps

Posted in: London, Somerset House, UK