A hub of creative works and an amazing London attraction, the Tate Modern is a museum of modern and contemporary art, housed in the Bankside Power Station. With artwork from Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Damien Hirst and more, visitors can see over 60,000 pieces across four galleries. Located at the south of the Millennium Bridge, level three of the museum allows for stunning views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames.
Made from 4.2 million bricks, the Tate Modern building was designed by architects Herzog and de Meuron who revamped the old Battersea Power Station, leaving the stunning 99 metre high chimney. Opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2000, since then it has seen a number of changes and extensions to this unique style of building. Reaching dizzy heights in the upwards direction, it now has a two-story glass roof and a ten-story Switch House which shows art from the 1960s and onwards.
Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Tate Modern
Essential Information
Climb to the tenth floor of the Switch House for amazing views across the city. You’ll see St Paul’s Cathedral, Waterloo Bridge, The Shard and so much more. It’s windy up there though so keep hold of your hats!
Things to see
With exhibitions changing regularly, there will always be something interesting and thought provoking to see. At The Tanks, also known as The Switch House, look out video installations, community exhibitions and and interactive pieces that’ll always be showing new art across all ten floors. Over in The Turbine Hall, there are large scale sculptures and commissioned work that changes year on year. On the next level, see small exhibition spaces for regional and international contemporary artists before heading to the 4th and 5th levels where you can feast your eyes on exhibit and artwork spanning Cubism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art and Minimalism by artists like Picasso and Roy Lichenstein.
Free guided tours are available as well as ‘tours for two’ which give you a tour of the collection highlights or a specific exhibition, just for the two of you. And, don’t forget to pick up a gift or souvenir from the Turbine Hall shop and Terrace Shop to commemorate your day being a culture vulture.
Facilities
Entry to the Tate Modern is free with an additional cost for special exhibitions. With five entrances to the Tate Modern, all of them have either ramps or quick and convenient access to lifts. Facilities include toilets, a cloakroom, seating areas and benches to rest tired feet or just to sit back and take it all in as well as water fountains on levels 0, 2 ,3 and 4. It’s important to note that there is accessible parking on the south side of the building but these spaces must be booked in advance.
Eating and Drinking
After a wander around the museum, grab a light meal or sandwich at the Cafe at Tate Modern, all of which use seasonal produce. The menu is also home to homemade smoothies, hot drinks and leaf teas. For something a little more substantial, head to the restaurant serving British cuisine on level nine of the Switch House or enjoy a lovely evening meal the Kitchen & Bar for hearty dinners, desserts and cheeses. Coffee lovers can grab a latte to go at the Boiler House Espresso Bar, too.
Getting to Tate Modern
Located on the Southbank, getting to the Tate Modern is easy whether you’re on the underground or want to try something different and add to your day out experience by taking the Tate Boat. What’s more, you can rest tired feet after a day of wandering the galleries with a room at our London Blackfriars (Fleet Street) Premier Inn hotel just a short stroll away from the Tate Modern.
By bus
Buses 45, 63 and 100 stop on Blackfriars Bridge Road which is a short walk away from the Tate Modern.
By tube
Due to its Southbank location, stations Southwark, Blackfriars and St. Paul’s are a short walk away from the museum.
By bike
Cycle hire docking stations are nearby on New Globe Street and Southwark Street.
By Tate Boat
Enjoy a ride on the Tate Boat which runs every 40 minutes across the Thames between the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain.