Question of the week: Tell us about one of your favourite London buildings "My favourite building in London is Somerset House.
Over the years it has served as the Queen's official palace, the home of Oliver Cromwell, and the venue for masquerade balls. It is still possible to go through the old water gate, and even though it leads onto the Victoria Embankment now, it's a reminder of the fact that for most of London's history the easiest way to travel around the city was by boat! (The Thames used to be wider, and it was possible to row a boat straight into the palaces that lined the Thames, including Somerset House, the Tower of London, and the Savoy Palace [where the Savoy Hotel now stands]).
Now it is used for a variety of purposes, including the Inland Revenue (the Tax Service), and the Courtauld Gallery, which houses major pieces of Impressionist art, as well as other works from the Middle Ages through to the present day. In the summer, the beautiful fountain is on display most days, surrounded by tables where you can sit and read or eat lunch. In the winter the central courtyard hosts the famous ice rink!
You can take a free tour of Somerset House, and have access to places not usually open to public view, every Thursday at 13.15 and 14.45 and every Saturday at 12.15, 13.15, 14.15 and 15.15. You can pick up tickets from the Information Desk from 10.30 the morning of the tour.
For more information see www.somersethouse.org.uk, there are often fun things going on!"
- Kris
* Photo by Leeks, used under Creative Commons.
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