• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Australian Times News
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home Expat Life

Somewhere in Somerset House…

BRON IN THE DON | Our resident adventurer visits number 27 on the Timeout London Top 100 — Somerset House — and discovers hours of entertainment hidden in this oasis of calm in the midst of a busy city.

Bronwyn Spencer by Bronwyn Spencer
01-02-2013 08:43
in Expat Life
somerset house

somerset house

MY first experience with Somerset House was in the summertime when I met friends for a Friday night drink on the River Terrace. We sat in the breeze and chatted over a few wines next to the river, on one of those glorious sunny evenings that occasionally happen in a London summer.

More recently, in the middle of a wintery snowy day, I decided to check it out properly with an afternoon of history, food and art. It was a completely different experience, but just as fun.

We started with the free tour, an excellent insight into the historical and architectural importance of the building. As we wandered and shivered through the courtyard we learnt about the relevance of the sculptures, as well as the history of the area. It was then off to the basement level to check out the light and coal wells, before taking refuge inside away from the cold.

Once inside we headed down the ‘Stamp Stairs’ – a spiraling staircase that takes you down to the remnants of the old Tudor palace previously built on the site before Somerset House.  It was rebuilt in 1780 to be used as government buildings, but only opened to the public in the 1990s.

Now home to London Fashion Week, open air cinemas in the summer and ice skating rinks in the winter, it is hard to imagine it being used for anything else. And that’s not to mention the gallery spaces which are available for some amazing exhibits.

Currently fashion icon Valentino has an exhibit, but with a £12.50 entry fee and long line to get in we decided to skip it and see the photography exhibits instead. First up was the Cartier-Bresson: Expression of Colour, displaying pictures exploding with colour of people and places from all over the world.

AlsoRead...

Best Immigration Lawyers in Birmingham

Best Immigration Lawyers in Birmingham

6 January 2022
Six top reasons to sell your UK house to a cash homebuyer

Six top reasons to sell your UK house to a cash homebuyer

15 November 2021

We then moved on to the Tim Walker: Storyteller – a fashion photographer who takes weird and wacky photographs, with a few celebrities dressed in couture thrown in.

After all that walking it was, of course, time for a coffee. Luckily there are a few choices at Somerset House. There is a resident Ferdandez & Wells café, heaving with people when we poked our heads in, so we decided to head over to the south wing and visit Tim’s Kitchen. A swanky place, with matching prices, we then instead headed to Tim’s Deli. It was the perfect place to grab a warm drink and sandwich before setting off back out into the cold.

Somerset House is the kind of place you could pop into in your lunch break, or spend hours sitting and eating on the terrace in summer. It has a little something for everyone and is worth a look in, no matter how long you plan on staying for.

Tags: Australians in LondonAustralians in the UKBron in the DonBronwyn SpencerGreat Britainliving in Londonliving in the UKliving overseasLondonLondon Top 100tourismUnited Kingdom
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

[mc4wp_form id=”2384248″]

Don't Miss

The Broker who says ‘Yes’ when Banks say NO

by Pauline Torongo
8 July 2025
The Broker who says ‘Yes’ when Banks say NO
Business & Finance

When faced with constant loan rejection or last-minute withdrawals of support, Trelos Finance stands out as a solution.

Read more

Common Mistakes When Buying a Telescope — And How to Avoid Them

by Fazila Olla-Logday
1 July 2025
Common Mistakes When Buying a Telescope
Technology

You’ve spent hours scrolling through telescope specs online, dazzled by features and grand promises. The excitement builds—until your newly arrived...

Read more

From Portugal to Bali: Where Aussies Should Go for Your Next Coastal Holiday

by Fazila Olla-Logday
20 June 2025
Source: Flickr
Travel

Aussies, here is a guide to where you should go for your next coastal holiday.

Read more

Leading with Trust: Why Quality still wins in the AI Era

by Pauline Torongo
5 June 2025
Leading with Trust: Why Quality still wins in the AI Era
Business & Finance

If you're leading a software team today, you've likely noticed the shift: faster feature rollouts, routine automation, and AI taking...

Read more

How to Save on Airport Parking: Budget Tips Every Traveller Should Know

by Fazila Olla-Logday
3 June 2025
How to Save on Airport Parking
Travel

Saving money on airport parking can be a challenge,but here are some budget friendly tips to help you navigate.

Read more

Why Australian Investors are Betting on the Aviation Maverick Louis Belanger-Martin

by Pauline Torongo
28 May 2025
Why Australian Investors are Betting on the Aviation Maverick Louis Belanger-Martin
Business & Finance

Bélanger-Martin’s ambitions stretch beyond redefining inflight comfort—they’re rooted in resurrecting the romance of supersonic travel with a modern twist.

Read more

Why a Gluten Free Hamper is simply the Best Gift for a Coeliac

by Fazila Olla-Logday
22 May 2025
Gluten Free Hamper
at

Buying a thoughtful gift can be tricky at the best of times, but when someone has dietary restrictions like coeliac...

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status