Arts in a NeoClassical Somerset House

• March 5, 2009
• Rated 3 of 5 by tvordj from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

A little bit about Somerset House, it was built in the early 19th century to house the Royal Academy of Art which is now in Burlington House off Picadilly. Now there are several collections in there but the Courtauld Gallery is most well known. It's not a large overwhelming gallery like the National Gallery. There are three floors though only one room on the ground. The proper entrance is off the Strand but we were not there. To get to it, we had to come in from the Embankment entrance and walk across a large courtyard with a large fountain display in the center. They set up an ice skating ring there in winter.

There are free tours of Somerset House but there are stairs involved so if you have mobility issues, this might not be an option. They also have open air concerts and films in summer and there are other exhibitions going on in Somerset House all the time. The building has lovely detail that you don't always see because it's up so high, both inside and out.

At the Courtauld, The ground floor was the 14th and 15th century Northern Europe religious works, altar pieces and delicate and intricate ivory carving and triptychs. Each of the other two floors only had a few rooms and followed the timeline through the Renaissance, Baroque, a bit of Dutch and Italian and of course the Impressionists, my favourites. There were only one or two Monets, and only a few of each of the more famous painters though there were a number of Seurats, both before and after his divisionist (painting with little dots, I didn't know the proper name before!) period. I saw another Cezanne and Renoir I liked, about 3 or 4 all told that I wanted to get postcards of and was successful in that quest.

Cost is 5 pounds and that includes any temporary or special exhibits. It's free on Mondays between 10 and 2 p.m. though! It's very friendly for disabled access with level entry or ramps and a lift.

From journal London in the rain (2000)

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Christmas Shopping Ideas in London

• December 9, 2008
• Rated 4 of 5 by Abby071 from London, United Kingdom

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Somerset House

• August 9, 2004
• Rated 5 of 5 by JenniferM from State College, Pennsylvania

"Free time" at Somerset House

The last two summers, Somerset House (in the Strand, by Waterloo Bridge) put on a fantastic weekend of fun for children and families. Our now 3-year-old daughter loved running through the fountains (towels provided!), putting stickers on a giant snake kite, painting her own flag, dancing on a stage, listening to a captivating storyteller inside the Gilbert Collection, and building a potato spinner out of beads, potatoes, and plastic spoons.

All free, and well attended but not overrun. Other possibilities for older children included treasure hunts in the Courtauld and Gilbert collections (free entry!), pirate games, and dressing up like genies.

Put this on your calendar now...in 2004, it was 23 to 26 July.

To get there...
Rail: Charing Cross, Waterloo and Blackfriars. Tube: Temple (except Sundays), Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Embankment. Buses: 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 77a, 91 and 176. The RV1 (stroller accessible) also goes right by.

From journal Obscure museums in London for young families

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Somerset House - Palladian Mansion on the river

• November 4, 2000
• Rated 4 of 5 by actonsteve from London, United Kingdom

This undiscovered Palladian gem was fully opened to the public this year. For 100 years the headquarters for the Revenue service, the great courtyard was cleared to create a magnificent palladian space complete with statues and fountains.

It also contains the Cortauld gallery with contains works collected by the textile magnate Samuel Cortauld including Cezanne, Gaugin and a room full of Rubens. Originally residence of the dukes of Somerset, the entry rooms are still accessible and below is the watergate where it was accessible by boat from the Thames. But best of all is the restaurant terrace (entry gained from Waterloo bridge) where you can dine overlooking the river and enjoy the view of the boats going past. But kids will love the newly restored palladian courtyard with fountains. Every half an hour these soar into the air and dance in unison. There are plans to open an ice-rink in the courtyard for Christmas.

From journal London - Cultural Powerhouse of Europe

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