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Offered languages
- English
- English
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
Meeting and pickup
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.
Itinerary
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1Somerset House
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.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
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.
Admission ticket free -
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.
Admission ticket free -
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.
Admission ticket free -
(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.
Admission ticket free -
(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.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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