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.
- 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
