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Somerset House - London WC2
The Somerset House that we see today stands on the site of an earlier Tudor palace that was demolished in 1775. The demise of the old Somerset House coincided with a move to house many of the government's offices and the principal learned societies under one roof, and led to the site being chosen for a new building to solve this pressing problem. This approach was a radical departure from the established practice of using separate buildings for different departments of state and was seen as a means to promote greater efficiency among the government bureaucracies. Today, Somerset House is London’s most outstanding 18th century public building and encompasses an astounding collection of venues available for corporate and private hire throughout the year.
Room Capacities
| Maximum Venue Capacity | Reception | Dinner | Dinner & Dance | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard | 2200 | 1000 | 850 | 0 |
| Seamen’s Hall | 200 | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Introductory Gallery | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hermitage Rooms | 60 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilbert Collection | 400 | 180 | 0 | 0 |
| Navy Board Rooms | 80 | 50 | 0 | 60 |
| Somerset House Lecture Theatre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Courtauld Institute of Art Gallery | 200 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
Hire Periods
| Access Times to Venue: | 6.30pm - 11pm |
|---|---|
| Venue Closed Periods: | may extend with prior permission |
Venue Notes
| smoking | No | |
|---|---|---|
| marquee | Yes | |
| dancing | No | outside only |
| garden | No | |
| marriage | No | |
| parking | No |