Courtauld Gallery and Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Details
Accessibility:
There are 5 entrances to Somerset House, Strand, Waterloo Bridge, Lancaster Place (2) and Victoria Embankment. All the galleries, restaurants and outside space can be accessed from any of the entrances. All areas within Somerset House are accessible, apart from the Waterloo Bridge entrance to the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, "Please note there is cobble stone paving’s from the Strand into and in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court with a flat pavement around the edges."
Wheelchair hire. Electric Mobility Scooters allowed.
Please see this link for detailed accessibility: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/accessibility
The recent refurbishment of the Courtauld Gallery has greatly improved its accessibility. The Gallery is immediately on the right as one enters through the gated entrance of the Strand through which disability vehicles/motorists can enter and then park (by prior booking) beside the rear of the Gallery (where there is also a ramp entrance) overlooking the courtyard. The main entrance to the Gallery is under the entrance arch. The Gallery has access details for it on its website; see https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/plan-your-visit/accessibility/
"The nearest tube/train station to The Courtauld with step free access is Charing Cross Station. Visit StepFreeLondon for more information on other step free tube and train stations nearby. In addition to this, the nearest Changing Places facilities are located in Victoria Embankment Gardens, just down from Charing Cross Station.
The Strand Aldwych project has been completed to pedestrianise the area outside of Somerset House to ensure accessibility and safety for the 14 million people who visit each year. The area has been fully flattened to ensure safe wheelchair access, as well as wider footways, new crossings and more green spaces.
If you’re travelling by taxi and need access as close as possible to The Courtauld you may enter via Surrey Street and take a left towards The Courtauld. Or follow Aldwych around and enter via The Strand via the east. The bollards will lower once the vehicle reaches them in which you can drive up to The Courtauld.
The entrance to Somerset House, where The Courtauld Gallery is housed, is step free with ramp access. As you enter the Somerset House through the arches, The Courtauld Gallery entrance is located on the right, where access through the gallery entrance is also step free.
Our closest Disabled Badge parking spaces;
Wellington Street WC2E 7BB (159.85 METERS). For visiting via the Strand Entrance or New Wing Entrance.
Temple Place WC2R 2PH (266.53 METERS). For visiting the Embankment Entrance.
For more Disabled Badge parking nearby please visit www.westminster.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/find-travel-support/disabled-parking
For more information about how to get to Somerset House, please visit somersethouse.org.uk/accessibility "
Brief description:
Somerset House is a large Neoclassical building which originally stood right on the banks of the Thames.
There had been a palace on this site since the mid 1500's, but it was demolished and a new building, Somerset House, was designed by Sir William Chambers and construction began in 1776. It has been used by many organisations over the years, please see this link for a complete history:https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/history
Somerset House is now a contemporary creative arts and culture centre. It offers an extensive programme of events and exhibitions throughout the year. It provides spaces and offices for creative organisations, artists, makers and thinkers. Please see the link for what's on: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on
and for resident organisations: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/residents
Our photos were taken before the Courtauld Gallery closed for refurbishment; please see: https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/closure.
However the rest of Somerset House is open to visitors free of charge.
"The Courtauld’s much-loved permanent collection includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts ranging from the Renaissance through to the 20th century. See https://virtualtour.courtauld.ac.uk/permanentcollection/
The Gallery is renowned for its remarkable group of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including the world-famous A Bar at the Folies Bergère by Édouard Manet, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent van Gogh and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK. These masterpieces are presented in The Courtauld Gallery’s spectacular LVMH Great Room, one of the largest spaces in Somerset House, alongside works by artists including Degas, Gauguin, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and more.
The Blavatnik Fine Rooms, spanning the Piano Nobile across the whole of the second floor, provide the stunning setting for displaying works from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Highlights include Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach the Elder, The Family of Jan Bruegel the Elder and The Descent From The Cross by Peter Paul Rubens, The Trinity with Saints altarpiece by Sandro Botticelli, and Landscape with a flight into Egypt by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
The Ruddock Family Gallery is dedicated to The Courtauld’s important collection of Medieval and Early Renaissance paintings and decorative arts. Rooms devoted to 20th century art and the Bloomsbury Group also showcase lesser-known areas of the collection through rotating displays."
Address:
Somerset House, Strand, London. WC2R 1LA
And The Courtauld Institute of Art
Somerset House
Strand
London WC2R 0RN
Email:
mailto:visitor@somersethouse.org.uk
Phone:
020 7845 4600
"The Courtauld Gallery is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm daily.
If you wish to contact us via telephone, please call +44 (0)20 3947 7777."
Website:
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/
Directions:
Situated between Strand and Victoria Embankment. Just east of Waterloo Bridge and overlooking the river Thames. OS TQ 307 807
Opening Times:
Somerset House: see https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/opening-times-prices
Times may vary depending on exhibition, so please check their website for times.
Free admission, but possible charge for some exhibitions.
The Courtauld Gallery 2023: Open Daily, 10:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:15), Paid entry.
Transport:
The London Congestion Charge Zone ( https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone) runs from Monday to Friday and motorists have ample signage to alert them to the entry points; only vehicles that are registered by the DVLA as ‘Disabled Tax-Exempt’ are NOT liable to the Charge. Disabled Tax-Exempt drivers can also use the Dartford Crossing without charge, which is a river crossing to the east of London which links the north and south of the M25 orbital motorway. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) automatically identifies the registration number plate of these vehicles so that their owners do not need to take any additional action.
Somerset House is inside the Congestion Zone area, if travelling by car, for specific directions it is best to use a satnav, but please be aware that the route may take you in and out of the Central London Congestion Charge zone. It is best to approach Central London using the excellent public transport.
For information on parking and car parks locally see: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parking or download their app to your smartphone, see: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parkright
Nearest stations:
Overground: Charing Cross a 10 min walk, Blackfriars and Waterloo 15 min walk
Underground: Temple (Circle & District lines) 5 min walk.
Covent Garden (Piccadilly)10 min walk
Bus: Plenty of bus stops in the vicinity.
River: Embankment Pier about 10 min walk.
For more information on buses, trains, tube, cycle hire, airports and river traffic please contact Transport For London on 0343 222 1234 (Textphone 0800 112 3456). For further details on accessible services please see the website: https://tfl.gov.uk/
Amenities:
Somerset House Shop, East Wing: see https://www.somersethouseshop.com/
There are various cafes and restaurants on site:https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/eating-and-drinking
Accessible toilets. Baby changing facilities.
Travel Information
For further travel information please see: www.traveline.info
Or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
NB London ULTRA-LOW EMISSION ZONE
This started on 8 April 2019 in the Central London Congestion Charge Zone, and will extend to the whole of the London area within the
M25 Motorway from 25 October 2021.
For more details please see:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle-35896
Vehicles registered with a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles' tax class will benefit from a grace period after the ULEZ starts until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle doesn't change tax class, and this also applies to a 'disabled' vehicle registered outside the UK.
Location
Nearest Venues
Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, London
162 metres*
Aldwych Theatre, Aldwych, London
192 metres*
209 metres*
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London
253 metres*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.