In the heart of London, just between the Strand and the Thames, there’s a wonderfully peaceful courtyard that feels at the same time deeply connected with the city and like an escape from it. Built on the site of a Tudor palace and once a public government building, Somerset House is now a complex dedicated to the arts, with studios, galleries, classrooms and more.
Among the many many museums and galleries in London, the Courtauld Gallery feels like one hidden in plain sight. Tucked into central London’s historic Somerset House, this art gallery is perhaps more accurately described as an art history institution. The Courtauld is an extension of the University of London with a leading community of historians and researchers and conservators. The Courtauld Gallery is open to the public, showing a rotating, highly curated selection of their impressive collection that extends from the Middle Ages through the 21st century, including their most famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
Within the network of Neoclassical and Georgian buildings that make up Somerset House, The Courtauld Gallery feels surprisingly intimate inside. The historic architecture makes for a cozy setting for the artwork, much more homey than stark white gallery walls.
And then there’s the beautiful staircase that spirals up, connecting the various rooms, various art periods, together into one cohesive experience. Their permanent collection covers a lot of ground, but this is a place to come back to for their exhibition programming and lectures, drawing an in-the-know crowd of art enthusiasts and students.
the details
| Address | Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN |
| Website | https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/ |
| @courtauld | |
| Hours | 10:00 – 18:00 every day |
| Price | $$ – general admission is £12, with free admission for students, youth, with a premium for special exhibitions |
| Aesthetic | elegant, intimate, historic |
good to know
Go here for: a low key, untouristy museum outing, a rainy day activity
Don’t miss: their gift shop, which honestly feels less like a museum gift shop, more just like an art leaning shoppy shop
Amount of time to spend: 2-3 hours, to give yourself some time to peruse the shop and stop by the cafe
When to come: weekday mornings or late afternoon tend to be more peaceful
Getting here: the closest tube station is Temple (Circle and District lines), also just a short walk from Charing Cross, Embankment and Covent Garden
Last visited: March 2025
Last updated: December 2025