Which neoclassical building in London was originally the Royal Academy of Arts?

The story behind the answer

Somerset House in London was the former home of the Royal Academy of Arts.

The present Somerset House was designed chiefly by William Chambers and built between 1776 and 1801 on the site of an earlier Tudor palace. The new complex was created for government offices and cultural institutions, and its North Wing became an important center for art and learning. The Royal Academy moved into Somerset House in 1780, sharing the complex with the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries.

The Royal Academy held its annual exhibitions there and remained in the building until 1837, when it moved to its present home at Burlington House. Thus, the quiz’s wording refers to Somerset House as the former location of the Royal Academy, not as a building literally founded as the academy itself. Another common mix-up is the National Gallery, which was established later and occupies a different site in Trafalgar Square.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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