Somerset House Audio Guide: Georgian Powerhouse to Arts Hub

Duration1h - 1h 30m

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Somerset House has anchored London life for centuries — a Tudor palace, then a government complex, and now a cultural hub. This self-guided walking tour follows that journey from naval administration and tax collection to art and gastronomy, alongside Aldwych's ties to broadcasting, diplomacy, and education.

On Strand Street, you'll admire early 20th-century buildings before entering Sir William Chambers' 1776 neoclassical quadrangle, where doorways recall past occupants like the Stamp Office and Navy Board. The route continues through the Embankment Galleries and Victorian New Wing, once home to the Inland Revenue, ending back on the Strand.

Highlights include the Courtauld Gallery's Manet and Van Gogh; St Mary Le Strand, where Dickens' parents married in 1809; the Nelson Stair; India House, India's diplomatic mission since 1947; and Bush House, former home of the BBC World Service.

Take time to browse the Courtauld shop or linger over the river view.

What's included

Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
The VoiceMap App for Android and iOS

Smartphone and headphones

What to expect

Somerset House
1h

You'll walk through the courtyard of Somerset House, a Georgian quadrangle designed by Sir William Chambers and begun in 1776 on the site of a former Tudor palace. Any costs related to visiting the courtyard or attending events there are not covered in this tour.
St. Mary Le Strand
Pass by

You'll pass St Mary le Strand, a Baroque church designed by James Gibbs and completed in 1717, marooned on a traffic island in the middle of the Strand. Any costs related to visiting the church are not covered in this tour.
The Courtauld Gallery
Pass by

The route takes you past the entrance to the Courtauld Gallery, in Somerset House's North Wing, home to Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Please note that admission to the gallery is not included in this tour.
Waterloo Bridge
Pass by

You may spot Waterloo Bridge, completed in 1945 and still known as the Ladies' Bridge after the women who helped build it during the war. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
Pass by

The route takes you past King's College London, its Strand frontage designed by Robert Smirke soon after the college was founded in 1829. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
Bush House
Pass by

You'll pass Bush House, its stone portico still bearing the inscription "to the friendship of English speaking peoples," added when the building was completed in 1935. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts outside the Gibraltar Government Office. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

This tour starts outside the Gibraltar Government Office. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.