Somerset House Audio Guide: Georgian Powerhouse to Arts Hub

one hour – 1 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

Somerset House Audio Guide: Georgian Powerhouse to Arts Hub, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Archaeology Tours Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: one hour – 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–30
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

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

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones

Itinerary

Somerset House

one hour

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

Passing 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

Passing 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

Passing 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.
Stop 5

Passing 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

Passing 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 point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

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.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It's best to download before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you'll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]