London - Somerset House

Somerset House, formerly government offices (notably the general registration departments), today houses the Courtauld Collection. The Royal Academy, the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries were previously also accommodated in the building. Somerset House was built in 1776-86 from designs by Sir William Chambers, the east wing (now King's College, University of London) and the west wing were added in the 19th century. The main entrance of the building is on the The Strand, the main facade, however, about 250m/800ft long, faces the Thames. The central arch of the ground floor arcade acted as a flood gate before the construction of the Victoria Embankment.