Somerset House is a grand Neoclassical complex overlooking the River Thames in central London, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The site of this Georgian era building originally belonged to the Duke of Somerset and was home to a Tudor palace until the Victoria Embankment was built in the late 1860s. Designed by Sir William Chambers, construction began in 1776 and was extended with Victorian wings on both the east and west ends some 60-90 years later. The house today boasts a mixture of organisation centred around art and education; it also holds a Grade I listed status and is a filming location for many big-name films. Since the middle of the 18th century, it has been the centre of national pride where people of all backgrounds can come together to admire the building's beauty and highlight of British culture.