My Somerset House London review isn’t the result of a long-planned money-saving day out, like lots of my content. We were on our way back from a luxurious (but amazingly good value) stay at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel London and wanted to mix up the walk back to Charing Cross and discovered Somerset House by accident. I’d been once before for a Dunelm press preview, but hadn’t put two and two together about how close it was to Charing Cross station.

As someone whose whole brand revolves around “bespoke on a budget”, I am always on the lookout for places that are luxurious & inspiring while still being realistic for families (& ideally free!) and I’m the biggest fan of walking routes through London because you will be amazed at what you miss when you walk the same route or forget to look up as you go!

Somerset House surprised us in the best possible way. Firstly, it was flipping boiling as London was in the middle of a heatwave, so we could not have timed it better. The famous fountains outside had turned into what felt like London’s most stylish free splash park, packed with laughing children cooling down while parents sat nearby soaking up the atmosphere. It was a lovely atmosphere and both me and Mr D said how much we felt like we were on holiday.

If you are looking for free things to do in London with kids, particularly somewhere that also appeals to adults who love interiors, architecture, culture and design, Somerset House is such a good option.

The fountains at Somerset House are perfect in hot weather

The huge courtyard fountains are probably one of the best free family activities in central London during warm weather.

Children were running through the jets of water for hours while adults sat around the edge of the courtyard enjoying the atmosphere and it was a fab free thing to do in what can often feel like the most expensive city in the world (plus there are free toilets close by in the main bulding (a winner with kids).

The scale of the courtyard is incredible too. Somerset House has this grand, almost cinematic (appropriate when you remember that they host outdoor cinema showings!) feel to it with huge archways, sweeping stone architecture and enormous proportions that make the whole place feel dramatic and memorable.

If you are already planning a London day out around Covent Garden, Charing Cross or the Strand, it fits in perfectly.

The free Holy Pop! exhibition

One of the unexpected highlights of our visit was the free Holy Pop! exhibition inside Somerset House.

The exhibition explores modern fandom, pop culture and the way people create shrines and collections around celebrities, musicians and cultural icons. It includes memorabilia, photography, installations and personal collections linked to names including Princess Diana, Prince, David Bowie and even Harry Potter references.

What makes it especially good for a London-on-a-budget day out is that it operates on a “pay what you can” basis, making it accessible for families and visitors who still want a cultural experience without spending a fortune. Being really honest, I wasn’t the hugest fan of the exhibition as it’s not really my cup of tea, but it was a cool thing to check out and I’m glad we popped in – although I noticed we flew round much quicker than most of the visitors!

The exhibition itself feels really immersive and creative rather than stuffy or overly formal. It is spread across several rooms and explores how fandom creates identity, connection and community in modern life.

One of the most talked-about exhibits is apparently even a piece of Nina Simone’s chewing gum, displayed almost like a sacred relic, which sounds bizarre until you actually understand the exhibition’s theme around modern devotion and pop culture obsession.

Interior inspiration hidden inside Somerset House & of course, some wall panelling!

What I particularly loved was that there were so many unexpected interiors and styling details throughout the space. You know how obsessed I am with wall panelling and have a whole DIY wall panelling section on this very site so i was practically drooling over some of the amazing panelling and archways and period features inside Somerset House.

One of the cafes, Aram by Imad, immediately caught my eye because it featured gorgeous green reeded panelling that looked incredibly similar to the DIY postal tube peninsula project I created in our own kitchen at home.

OG readers & followers of my Instagram might remember that slightly unhinged but highly effective kitchen DIY.

I absolutely love spotting real-life interiors inspiration in hotels, cafes and public spaces because it proves that my affordable home DIY projects sometimes mirror high-end design spaces.

There were also softer styling moments throughout the courtyard cafe areas, including lovely blush pink furniture in Cafe Petiole (designed by the boutique interior architecture and design studio DUELLE, relaxed patio seating and layered textures that softened the huge historic architecture beautifully.

If you enjoy interiors-focused travel like I do, Somerset House works brilliantly.

Practical family-friendly touches

As a parent, I know only too well how much these little details matter so am happy to report there are free toilets – we all know how much we parents get nagged for toilet stops on a day out. We had real trouble in Rome finding free toilets and spent a lot on the paid ones. Read more about my Rome trip here.

Other highlights for familes were, baby changing facilities, outdoor seating, easy walking routes, central location and cafes.

Easy ways to save money on a Somerset House day out

A few money-saving tips from our visit:

• Book train tickets in advance where possible, we found Southeastern trains so much cheaper if you book a timed train in advance as even the off peak singles are expensive on the day (unless you are coming back the same day when they tag the return leg on for 10p?!)
• Walk between attractions instead of using the Tube (why not also try my free walking tour around the Southbank)
• Combine Somerset House with nearby free attractions (like St Martin-in-the-Fields church or Sky Garden)
• Visit the free exhibitions
• Use reward apps or restaurant deals nearby for lunch like my Pizza Express £5 deal or Power lunch.

This pairs really well with some of my other London-on-a-budget days out too, including:

Is Somerset House worth visiting with kids?

Yes! But it won’t be a whole day out and they might get bored quickly if the weather is not hot enough to play in the fountains, so combine it with other activities.

What surprised me most was how well Somerset House balances culture, architecture, interiors inspiration and practical family-friendly features without feeling overly commercialised.

The fountains alone are worth visiting during summer, but the exhibitions, cafes and beautiful styling throughout the building make it feel far more memorable than just another quick London stop.

Another top tip is to leave via the back exit and walk along the river visiting the Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Victoria Embankment Gardens are only 5 minutes away as they have a great play area for kids to use for free as well as seating, fountains, statues, cafes, a workout area with fitness equipment and an ice cream bar. All perfect for a free day out in London with kids.