Somerset House has an illustrious past. The site was once the home of Lord Protector Somerset then Tudor and Stuart queens of the realm before becoming the first home of the Royal Academy (1771-1836), the Royal Society (1780-1857), a London headquarters of the Royal Navy – and then a government tax and records office (1789-1985). Today, Somerset House is a stylish exhibition, retail and restaurant complex occupying a grand neoclassical building (architect: Sir William Chambers begun 1776) that you may recognise from films – such as The Duchess and Tomorrow Never Dies. The site is currently hosting the London Design Biennale 2023.
