The Deadhouse, Somerset House
tombstones under the courtyard
A hidden underground passage beneath Somerset House lined with centuries-old tombstones, free to explore.
Free to visit · Strand · Temple · WC2R 1LA
Opening: When Somerset House is open · check access
Beneath the grand courtyard of Somerset House, where fountains dance in summer and an ice rink appears in winter, lies a hidden passage known as the Deadhouse. Its walls are lined with old gravestones and memorials, survivors from a chapel that once stood on the site before the present building rose in the 1700s.
Cool, atmospheric and easy to miss, it is free to walk through when the lower levels are open, often as part of Somerset House's free exhibitions and events. A genuinely eerie and little-known corner under one of London's most elegant public buildings.
Getting there: Beneath the courtyard of Somerset House on the Strand, a couple of minutes from Temple.
Best time to go: A visit when the lower levels are open, often alongside free exhibitions.
Insider tip: Access can depend on what is on, so check at the information desk for the route down to the Deadhouse and lightwells. Somerset House runs many free exhibitions, so you can often combine the two in one visit.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide