The Tate Modern is one of the largest contemporary and modern art museums in the world. The art gallery, located in Central London, belongs to the Tate group and is part of the UK national collection, owned by the government on behalf of the British people.

The Tate Modern is housed in the Bankside building, a former electricity generating station. The construction is mainly built in steel, brick, and cement, which act as a perfect backdrop for all the modern and contemporary art housed within.

The holdings at the Tate Modern consist of pieces from all over the world dating from the early 20th century until today. The main collection is made up of eight areas divided by theme and subject. The layout of these permanent exhibitions is changed periodically. The temporary exhibitions, housed in the Turbine Hall, are changed more frequently, usually every season.

The scope and artistic merit of these collections, which include paintings, sculptures, and other modern art pieces by renowned artists from all over the world, are what make the Tate Modern so famous. Some of the names featured include Pablo Picasso, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Robert Delaunay, Claude Monet, Jenny Holzer, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Georges Braque, Paul Klee, and Albert Gleizes.

The unique building, the high standard of the permanent collections, and the innovative nature of its temporary exhibits make the Tate Modern an essential stop when visiting London.

Location

Bankside, London SE1 9TG.

The Tate Modern is located in the Bankside area, on the southern bank of the River Thames. It is surrounded by many important landmarks, like the Millennium Bridge (right in front of the museum) and Shakespeare’s Globe. The Tate Modern is also not far from the Borough Market (to its west) and St. Paul’s Cathedral (north).

Tickets and price

All permanent exhibitions at the Tate Modern in London are free to enter.

Temporary exhibitions usually require a fee, unless you are a member. If you want to become a member, you can do so on the Tate Modern’s website .

Schedule

The Tate Modern is open every day of the year, except for the 24th-26th of December. Entries are allowed until half an hour before closure, at 5:30 pm.

Transport

If you are taking the Tube, there are two stops almost equally distant from the Tate Modern. Slightly closer is Southwark, just southwest of the Tate Modern where the Jubilee line stops. On the other side of the river, along lines Circle and District, is the Blackfriars stop.

As for buses, lines 4, 40, 63, 344, and 381 all stop in the proximity of the Tate Modern.

You can find a summary of the public transport options in the table below.

If you want you can also get a cab to take you to the Tate Modern, but we don’t recommend it, since traffic in Central London tends to be heavy and slow.

Nearby sights

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre - right next to the Tate Modern.

Millennium Bridge - in front of the Tate Modern.

St. Paul’s Cathedral - 1 km (0.6 miles) just across the bridge, 13-minute walk.

Borough Market - 1 km (0.6 miles) east, 12-minute walk.

The Old Operating Theatre - 1.1 km (0.7 miles) east, 14-minute walk.

The Shard - 1.4 km (0.9 miles) east, 19-minute walk.

The Monument - 1.6 km (1 mile) north, 19-minute walk.