Best for
Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art fans, time-pressed art lovers
Time needed
1–2 hours
Worth it?
Yes — an exceptional collection for its size, inside a beautiful historic building
Skip if
You've already seen extensive Impressionist collections elsewhere and want variety
About Courtauld Gallery
Founded in 1932 on textile magnate Samuel Courtauld's personal collection, the Courtauld Gallery is the teaching museum of the Courtauld Institute of Art and punches remarkably far above its physical size — a handful of rooms holding one of the finest concentrations of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings outside France.
Manet's "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère," his last major completed work before his death, anchors the collection, alongside Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear," Cézanne's card players and Provençal landscapes, Degas's dancers and bathers, and major works by Renoir, Gauguin, Seurat and Modigliani.
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The gallery occupies the North Wing of Somerset House, reopened in 2021 after a major renovation that added new ground-floor galleries and improved the historic Great Room, originally built as the Royal Academy's first exhibition space in the 1780s — meaning the building itself has centuries of art-exhibiting history behind it.
Because the collection is genuinely compact, it's one of the few major London art museums that can be seen properly in under two hours without feeling rushed.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Manet's "A Bar at the Folies-Bergère," his last major completed painting
- 2Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear"
- 3Cézanne, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin and Seurat in one compact collection
- 4The historic Great Room, the Royal Academy's original 1780s exhibition space
- 5A collection genuinely walkable in under two hours
- 6Somerset House's courtyard and riverside terrace right outside
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Insider Tips
Free entry for under-18s and students with valid ID
The compact size makes it ideal for a focused visit if you're short on gallery time
Combine with a walk through Somerset House's courtyard and river terrace
Weekday visits are noticeably cheaper and quieter than weekends
The gallery shop has a strong selection of Impressionist-focused books and prints
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Getting There
Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Open in Google Maps →- 1Temple (Circle, District lines) — a 5-minute walk. Covent Garden (Piccadilly) is also close.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You love Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting
- You want a world-class collection you can see properly in under two hours
- You're already visiting Somerset House for its courtyard or events
- You appreciate historic exhibition spaces like the original Royal Academy Great Room
Skip if...
- You've recently toured major Impressionist collections in Paris or elsewhere
- Fine art painting specifically isn't a priority for your visit
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in London
National Gallery
Over 2,300 Western European paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, free to view, filling the north side of Trafalgar Square.
Covent Garden
London's original planned public square, now a lively piazza of street performers, an indoor Apple Market, the Royal Opera House and London's oldest working theatre.
Somerset House
A grand neoclassical courtyard on the Strand that hosts a summer fountain display, a winter ice rink and year-round free exhibitions, alongside the Courtauld Gallery.