Ideally located in the center of the city, close to King's College London, the Strand and the River Thames, Somerset House (built between 1776 and 1796) is a landmark of London's architectural landscape. This neoclassical building houses various attractions such as an ice rink in winter and the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court in summer. This versatile cultural venue will surely inspire you every time you visit.
Somerset House is a source of inspiration for and a great supporter of the creative industries. During past London Fashion weeks (of which Somerset House is a major host), expositions dedicated to British fashion icon Isabella Blow and the celebrated fashion designer Martin Margiela were showcased within its grounds. Somerset House is also very much loved by Hollywood producers, who regularly choose it as an ideal location for their movies, such as Bond’s GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies, The Duchess starring Keira Knightley and others.
The spectacular courtyard, where the above mentioned Fountain is installed during summer and the ice rink during winter, will impress any first time visitor.
You will find several coffee shops and restaurant venues at Sommerset House. One of the busiest and most popular is Fernandez & Wells, which has six spots across London and attracts many Londoners with the beautiful terrace and the vast choice of delicious coffee and cakes. In particular, we loved the mouth-watering cappuccino with extra creamy milk.
But what makes Fernandez & Wells so inviting is the tapas and legendary jamon, considered one of the best in London according to London's most widely circulated evening newspaper, London Evening Standard. Carefully selected French wines (most of them biodynamically produced) are perfectly paired with cured meats and cheeses.
You must also try some of the traditional English pastries made at Fernandez & Wells including scones and eccles, a round shape cake filled with currants, and other cakes with a wide range of wonderful flavors such as Marrakech orange and coffee glace.
Whether it is for an aperitivo, afternoon tea or just for a quick coffee, Fernandez & Wells is a great venue for any moment of the day. For special occasions at Somerset House, you can also choose the well known Tom’s Kitchen, a great restaurant by celebrated British chef, Tom Aikens. They are known for using the best seasonal ingredients from locally sourced farmers. We suggest you book a table in advance!
