Somerset House to mark 25 years with free weekend event September 13

Somerset House, the central London centre for innovation and contemporary art, will celebrate its 25th anniversary as a public space with "Step Inside 25 Weekend," a free two-day event on September 13-14 featuring interactive activities, exhibitions by resident artists including Turner Prize winner Tai Shani, and unprecedented access to lesser-known areas of the historic 18th-century complex.

Explore Hidden Spaces, no bullet points

The Step Inside 25 Weekend offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore Somerset House's hidden corners and lesser-known spaces that are typically inaccessible to the public. Beyond the iconic courtyard and main galleries, guests will be invited into Maker Street, where Somerset House Studios' 114 resident artists and their teams occupy over 15,000 sq. ft. of creative workspace. This behind-the-scenes access provides insight into where new works and ideas are developed within the historic building's creative ecosystem.somersethouse

The celebratory weekend will feature artistic interventions in some of London's best-kept secrets, including Nick Ryan's The VoiceLine and GAIKA's Tomb of the Sophists installation in the Portico Rooms. As night falls, visitors can witness Waterloo Bridge illuminated in "Somerset House Blue" as part of the Illuminated River project, a striking visual tribute to the institution's new identity. The weekend embodies Somerset House's transformation from government offices and car park to cultural powerhouse, with the entire building "turned inside out" for this milestone celebration.theartnewspaper+3

Access to The Deadhouse and Maker Street

The Deadhouse, running directly beneath Somerset House's Fountain Court, is one of the site's most atmospheric and historically significant spaces. This subterranean tunnel preserves rare remnants of the building's Tudor past, including five tombstones inlaid in its walls from the Catholic chapel commissioned by Queen Henrietta Maria during the 1600s. These gravestones, bearing Latin inscriptions and symbols like skull and crossbones, include the memorial of a Portuguese surgeon and Father Hyacinth, whose curious death date of "1691/2" reflects calendar discrepancies between Britain and mainland Europe.wikipedia+1

While the Deadhouse is rarely accessible to the public and typically used for ducting, wiring, and as an exclusive event venue with a distinctively "otherworldly ambience," the Step Inside 25 Weekend offers visitors unprecedented access to this hidden historical treasure. Alongside the Deadhouse, guests can explore the Lightwells—underground passages surrounding three sides of the courtyard that have become popular filming locations for period productions—and Maker Street, where Somerset House's contemporary creative community develops new works in spaces normally closed to public view.acollectionofcuriosities.wordpress+1

From Government Offices to Cultural Hub

Somerset House was originally designed to consolidate numerous government departments under one roof, as specified in the Crown Lands Act of 1775. The East Wing housed the Duchy of Cornwall Office, Tax Office, and various Exchequer offices including the Pipe Office and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's Office. The West Wing initially accommodated naval offices and the Salt Office (until its abolition in 1798). Other government departments included the Stamp Office, Victualing Office, Lottery Office, and offices for licensing hackney coaches and managing crown lands.collections.soane+4

Over time, Somerset House evolved from administrative headquarters to a cultural center. The North Wing initially hosted prestigious organizations like the Royal Academy, Royal Society, and Society of Antiquaries. As government departments gradually relocated—the Duchy of Cornwall moved to Pimlico in 1854, naval offices left by 1873, and the Inland Revenue finally departed in 2013 after a 224-year presence—the building transformed into its current incarnation as a vibrant arts and education hub. This transition from bureaucratic complex to cultural destination culminates in the 25th anniversary celebration of Somerset House as a public space.somersethouse+2