Somerset House

Somerset House is a large neoclassical building located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, overlooking the Thames Embankment. The current building was designed by Sir William Chambers and built between 1776 and 1786 on the site of a Tudor palace, and was originally constructed to house government offices including the Navy Board and the register of births, marriages, and deaths. The building is now a major arts centre containing the Courtauld Gallery, with its important collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, and its large central courtyard is used for public events including an ice rink in winter and open-air concerts and film screenings in summer. It also houses several luxury brands and restaurants.