Courtauld Gallery
Art gallery in Somerset House with masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, including major Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Courtauld Gallery belongs to the Courtauld Institute of Art, which was founded in 1932 by Samuel Courtauld, Lord Lee of Fareham and Sir Robert Witt as a centre for the study of art history. In the same year Courtauld gave a large group of mainly French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. He made further gifts in the 1930s and left more works after his death in 1948.
The collection was first housed in the Warburg Institute's premises in Woburn Square. Since 1989 the gallery has been in the Strand block of Somerset House, in rooms designed in the 18th century by William Chambers for learned societies.
The gallery holds about 530 paintings and more than 26,000 drawings and prints. Famous works include Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, many paintings by Cezanne and a large group of works by Rubens. The collection also includes sculpture and decorative arts.
The gallery closed in 2018 for a major redevelopment known as Courtauld Connects, and reopened in November 2021 with refurbished galleries, new teaching spaces and new displays.
Highlights
- Van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
- Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere
- Paintings by Cezanne and a large group of Rubens works
- Drawings and prints, shown in rotating displays
- The Courtauld Cafe and Shop in the vaulted spaces of Somerset House
- Free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects
Permanent exhibition
- The Courtauld Collection – Paintings, drawings, sculpture and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with highlights by Van Gogh, Manet, Cezanne and Rubens.
- Founded
- 1932
- Operated by
- The Courtauld Institute of Art
- Director
- Ernst Vegelin
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £14 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Children and young people aged 18 and under enter free, with family activities free with one adult ticket. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A companion of a visitor with a disability is free. |
| Students & apprentices | freeStudents enter the permanent collection free; the temporary exhibition ticket for students is £7. |
| Permanent collection with donation | £16 |
| Permanent collection and temporary exhibition Salman Toor: Someone Like You (adult, until 10 January 2027) | £16£18 with donation. |
| Permanent collection and temporary exhibition (student, Universal Credit or Pension Credit) | £7 |
| Permanent collection and temporary exhibition (teacher) | £8.50 |
| Permanent collection and temporary exhibition (Museums Association member) | £8 |
The adult ticket for the permanent collection costs £14 without donation (£16 with donation). Entry covers the permanent collection and the smaller displays; temporary exhibitions cost extra. Courtauld Members and Patrons, Art Fund (National Art Pass) members, ICOM and Museums Association members, teachers and recipients of Universal or Pension Credit enter the permanent collection free. Tickets can be booked online or bought at the ticket desk.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Somerset House entrance and the gallery entrance are step-free. Five steps lead from the entrance hall to the main lift, but a small platform lift in the ticket hall bypasses them; the main lift serves all floors. One accessible toilet is on the lower ground floor. Three wheelchairs and a walker with seat can be borrowed at the ticket desk, and folding stools, magnifying glasses, large-print texts and ear defenders are available. Hearing loops are at the ticket office, shop and cafe. Assistance dogs are welcome. The nearest Changing Places toilets are in Victoria Embankment Gardens. The gallery has relaxed opening sessions for selected exhibitions.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
Children aged 18 and under are free. There are free family trails such as Animals! and The Great Portrait Makeover from the ticket desk, a Family Backpack and Family Friday sessions in school holidays. Pushchairs can be taken around the gallery, but there is no space to leave them. Baby changing is on the lower ground floor.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Temple station
Nearest Underground stations are Temple (Circle and District lines), Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern), Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern) and Covent Garden (Piccadilly). Nearest railway stations are Waterloo, via Waterloo Bridge, and Charing Cross.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no gallery car park. The nearest public car parks are at Drury Lane to the north and the Southbank Centre to the south; the nearest Blue Badge bays are at Temple Place (WC2R 2PH).
The gallery is entered through the Strand entrance of Somerset House; taxi passengers should ask for the Courtauld at Somerset House. Bicycle parking is opposite the main entrance of Somerset House.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available. The Courtauld Cafe is an all-day cafe and restaurant on the ground floor opposite the gallery entrance, and the shop is in the vaults on the lower ground floor. The gallery, shop and cafe accept only card and digital payments. Small key-operated lockers are on the lower ground floor; large luggage cannot be stored.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A free digital guide with talks by curators and other experts is available on Bloomberg Connects; visitors should bring headphones. Groups can book visits in advance. |
