Tate Modern: a practical visitor guide

More Tate Modern guides

• Tate Modern in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through Tate Modern: Turbine Hall, Picasso, Rothko, Warhol, Kusama and the Viewing Level, with timings and tips to avoid crowds.
• Hours & free entryTate Modern is free: opening hours, last entry, paid exhibitions, lockers and the best time to visit without crowds. Checked in 2026.
• Must-see worksThe 10 key artists and works at Tate Modern: Picasso, Matisse, Dalí, Rothko, Warhol, Kusama, Bourgeois and the Turbine Hall. What to look for and why.
• Tate Modern with kidsHow to visit Tate Modern with kids: a 75-minute route, games, free collection, quiet rooms, baby changing and practical tips for families.

Why Tate Modern is a must

It occupies the former Bankside Power Station on the Thames. It brings together international modern and contemporary art, from Picasso, Matisse and Dalí to Warhol, Rothko, Kusama and Bourgeois. Its vast Turbine Hall hosts monumental installations. The collection is free, so you can come back as often as you like.

How to plan your visit

• Enter by the Turbine Hall ramp or through the Blavatnik Building (South Entrance, Level 1).
• The collection is free; special exhibitions are ticketed and booking is recommended.
• On Fridays and Saturdays the museum is open until 9pm, with fewer people late in the day.
• Paid lockers are on Level 0 of the Blavatnik Building.
• With the AnyArt app, point your camera at any artwork to hear its story, an alternative to an audio guide.

Combine it with the rest of the South Bank

On foot you have Shakespeare's Globe, the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral and Borough Market. For a full day, pair Tate Modern with the National Gallery or the British Museum.